The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-01-25
Australia.


The greatest difficulty of all this
country Is this one of water. There are
no great rivers such as we have in
America, and such as there are either
appear in raging torrents or o success
sion of water-holes. Many of the
larger streams have no outlet, but end
in 1agoOns or sappear by evaporation
Experiments show that there IL quite
sufficient rainfall to supply the wants
of the country, but 1t is so Irregular that
to depend upon it would be precarious
in the extreme. Artesian wells have
been discovered in certain localities,
but they are as yet not numerous
enough to test their practicability. Tho
only remedy that at present appears
feasible is that of making reservoirs for
the storage of water during the rainy
season for supply during the long
drouths. Necessity is the mother OF
invention" and l have no doubt that
this or some other plan will be adopted
for irrigating the land, thus making it
capable supporting millions of peo-
pie. During the dry season it is ex-
tremely hot in the interior. the Their
mometer often rising to 120 deg.
Fahrenheit in the shade. The ground be-
comes baked and cracked and so hot as
TO burn the feet into blisters if not well
protected. The atmosphere is extreme
" dry, otherwise it would be impossible
for human beings to endure it.
Thousands of cattle and sheep perish
during the dry seasons. The only way
of keeping them alive is in driving them
to some water-hole where they may
drink. while for food they subsist on
the drv and parched grasses of the
plain. which, strange to say, have re-
tanned all their nutritive qualities,
though withered by the sun.
Shepherds say that sheep. as well as
cattle and horses. will fatten on this
grass. and that they will choose it in
preference to the greener grass of the
rainy season.
Large droves of horses and cattle,
sleek and fat. may be seen running wild
over these plains in the dryest seasons,
especially in districts where plentiful
supply ofwater may be found in water
holes, as above mentioned These
horses are often so numerous as to be-
come a pest. and as they are of no use
on account of their intractability. they
are often driven into corrals and killed
by the thousand.
The timber on these plains is of one
genus, namely, the eucalyptus. There
are many species, but all have the same
general appearance. Generally speak
inc, the trees are sparsely scattered
over the ground, and but very seldom
do we find thick-set forests as We have
in America. The eucalyptus does not
look unlike our sycamore. 1t does not
shed its leaves, which are of a somber
green color and very crisp. but annually
the bark dries up into thin shreds and
falls off. So light and dry is it that the
east wind will carry it away "a our
leaves are driven by the autumn wind.
New bark is formed before the old falls
of. and the tree is left quite white and
new-looking at the beginning of each
year of its life. Some of these trees
grow to enormous height Indeed, the
highest trees in the word are of this
genus. and are to be found in Gipps-
land, in the eastern portion of Austria
La. Some of the tallest are over 500
feet in height. They grow very straight,
and as much as 100 feet from the
ground there is neither limb nor per-
ceptible diminut on of diameter. The
lumber from this tree is an important
article of commerce and very durable.
Cor UereldnI Herald