The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-02-19

W corrcci, lot the extremes of iemperA-
iure are greater. aud there Is more hu-
midily. The seasons arc divided into
vet and dry. Drought. prevail during
a portion Of the year, though vegetation
!. sustained by heavy dews at night
Once 10 cycle Of ten or twelve years
there is season OF severe drought
when no rain falls, which is succeeded
by n very wet year. The seasons Of
course, are the reverse Of those in our
bemisphere--January being midsUm-
mor, and July midwinter March, April,
and August are rainy months. Tic
elevated regions are much cooler than
The .eashore, aud the temperature APP
pears 10 decline more rapidly with the
increase OF elevation, than il does in the
same latitude in Europe or America
This is attributed TO the cooling influence
of the immense expanse OF water over
which the southerly winds blow. Frost
occurs in the coast district but rarely.
and though snow sometimes falls. il
never remains upon the ground. The
mean temperature nj daylight during
the winter months is from 40 deg. TO 80
deg. and at noon from 55 to 60 deg
The mean hea, during the summer
months is about so deg. at noon. Du-
ring the three autumn months, the iher-
momeier ranges from 81 deg. at mid
night, TO 15 deg. at noon. Further in
land, where the gold diggings are stu
ated, the temperature is lower in sum
mer and the cold is more excessive in
winter.
The natural phenomena OF the island
present some marked peculiarities.
Earthquakes are not common. though
they are sometimes felt in the intertrop-
ical portion of the island. Hail storms
often occur, and thunder and lightning
are frequent. Sometimes brilliant
display Of the most vivid electricity may
be witnessed for succession of DAYS
flash following fash, with but brief in
termissions, and unaccompanied by eth
er thunder or rain. In the sandy dis
iricts, a singular phenomena is often
witnessed, which is thus described in
the Journal of the L. S. Exploring Ex-
pedition -" Tall columns of dust or
whiriwinds, twenty feet broad and from
seventy to one hundred feet high, may
be seen moving along in stately process
sion, striding majestically, like giant
spirits, over brook and plain, with the
speed Of race-horse. At Sydney,
these dust winds, or "brick -iielders,"
rs they are called, are y great source Of
annoyance and, though doors and win
dows are always carefully closed when
they are seen approaching, everything
in the house is soon covered with a
thick, fine powder, which penetra,cs
through the smallest crcvice."
All accounts agree that the climate
OF Australia is very salubrious. What
diseases exist are easily managed, and
one writer remarks that the climate ap-
pears TO exert n rejuvenating effect up
on Europeans, and that " old persons
find much of the hiliarity OF youth re-
stored 10 lhcm.' The soil is in many
places very fertile, but for the most part
is but moderately productive, and is
better adapted for sheep ranges, and
Tor pas,uring of cattle, than for cultiva.
lion. The fertile portion of the soil
generally occurs in patches, often on the
sides and summit OF hill, the soil Of
The valleys being light and unproduc-
live.
Although the soil and climate Is ca
pable of producing most of the vegeta-
lion of the tropical and temperate zones,
The island Is singulsrly destitute of raj.
'abie natural productions. Neither grain
DR. the larger fruits are natives Of the
ISLAND, although both have been intro
luced aud cultivated with good success.
The natural vegetation is generally Of
he mammoth species. We have al
ready remarked that Australia is land
of sineBlsritics, and in nothing is this
more apparent 10 the eye than in It's boz
anical features. Here the grass, in
'tead Of being spread evenly over the
plains, grows in large clamps or clu.-
Iers the honey suckle is a sclf-sustain.
ing tree the trees are all cvergreens
raspbcrrics, currnuts and chcrric. grow
the curranis nrc Ike cram
berries, and The cherries are singular
the fruit consisting Of
'pongy pulp, and the stone or pit firmly
adbcrins 10 the outside. There Is fruit
resembling our pear in outward appear
lnce, bot within !, Is as hard as lgnum
vita. and it il justly called the wooden
pear, We arc speaking now Of the nat
lral fruits and vegetation. !, should
be remarked iha, nearly sll the useful
'Fuils and vegetables Of other lands have
now been acolimated The trees Of the
Iorcsl are Of gigantic size. Tie most
common is The gum tree large but
very unprcposses'ing ifec,viih a ragged
bark, leaves wide apart and casting li,.
10 shade. Nearly all ihe timber IS Of
hard wood Kind. Of greater specific gray.
~ ilan waller, and very liable 10 rot
Il shripks greatly IN seasoning, and is
comparatively valueless 10 The architect.
Pines, the mountain ash. an1 some oh
r. valuable tres arc found ia some
iaTti q the leland Ihs iofcsl scenery
4 Australia bar. marked resem-
5'ance 70 that of Brazil There u no
1adorbrush, ani he trees arc rarely -