The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-07
PASTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
Millions of Acres of Lands That Pro-
duct, Fine Grazing

duCs Fine GTAZinS-
The Australian pastoral country, that
which supplies such large and increasing
quantities of wool and meat feT the
worlds markets. is of enormous extent,
embracing an area of many million acres,
situated principally in the interior AID
northern districts In New South Wales
the country IS generally known as the
Western Palms. and with the excep-
ton Of the Broken Hill silver mining
district. situated near the boundary Of
South Australia, and the White Cliffs
opal-Inining fields, is given up to the de
pasturing Of stock, principally sheep. the
general character of the land initiating
against the successful rearing Of cattle.
1t has been assumed that these western
plains formed, at a comparatively recent
period, the bed of an ocean, and there are
many characteristics which give weight
To the superstition The underlying rock
is granite which in many places has up
lifted the thick sedimentary deposits sev-
eraI thousands of feet above the original
levels. the mountains and hills thus form
cd weatherins into the existing clays,
sands, and Intermediate soils of the sur
rounding country These hills and higher
levels have regulated the channels OF the
rivers which have deposited an alluvium
of varied thickness and fertility over ex-
tensive areas for many miles surround
! ing the position Of the streams. The rain
fall varies considerably. being extremely
/ slight in some places, while frosts are fire.
queut during the winter months. The
! chief characteristic of the climate. how
ever, is its general dryness- 1t is here
that the adaptabnity of vegetation to sur
| rounding circumstances receives u strik-
/ ing Illustration.
! According to Mr. Peacock. of the New
/ South " aIeS Agricultural Department, if
! IL were Rot Tor this adaptabiliLy of plants.
/ large areas Of " eStern country would be
( a hungry. untraEeTSable desert The mod
/ iucatiOnS OF this principle are found in the
! vertical leaves and sparse foliage of the
/ eucalyptus. the DerSISLeuCy OF the older
! bark upon the trunks and branches, the
/ thickening OF the cuticleS Of the leaves,
and many other modes varying with the
( variety The IuberOuS roots OF the hur-
/ rajOng are capable of storing large sup
/ plies of moisture to aid it over dry perl
! DDS The Spiny habit OF many of the
/ shrubs and bushes enables them to exist,
| which would be impossible otherwise The
! hairy covering of some varieties also IN
| crease their drought resistance. The IN
turned edges OF many of the grasses en-
/ able them TO successfully defy a mOder-
ateIy lengthy drought The tuberous, non
/ conducting coating Of the roots also en-
| ables them 10 thrive in severely heat
ed surface soil. and ensures their es-
cape from bush fires, which would other
wise destroy them.
/ Where water is procurable, by cOnser-
! VatiOn- well sinking. or otherwise, the fer
! tiiity Of the soil in many places is re-
/ markable. Nothing but q fair supply OF
! moisture is required TO transform a con-
/ SiGera bic portion of the pastoral country
/ into an agricultural paradise. and with
( the progress Of the system Of Obta lining
I water from Subterranean sources, the
| wheat growing area of the State Will be-
come considerably extended For pastoral
| purposes, the country is all that could be
| desired. with the exception Of its liability
/ to periods of drought more or less pro-
lOnged The growth of the pastoral in
| duStry in the State has been renarka bic
| " hen Captain Philip landed in $ Iney
/ HarbOr he brought with him % sheep In
I ~ the number mad increased TO 10, and
| in $500 to 6l2- In 1925 the number OF
sheep was 23l. 622: in 1872, 4,S04,9t5, and in
I 1850, g 1882. The severance in 1851 OF
| Victoria then the fairest province Of the
| mother State. involved a loss Of 65S9 81;
1 sheep, 50 that st the close Of 1871 the
/ hocks of New South Wales were reduced
/ to l,5yj.hsJ sheep After the separation Of
/ Queensland At the close OF 1S-9- the num-
/ bers OF each kind of live stock within the
| existing boundaries Of the colony laciud-
| ed 6.li9.163 sheep
In the following year the number show
| ed considerable decline, both on &C
| count Of the effects Of the season, and
| OF the large demand which arose fol-
| stock for the stations of the new State
! and in 1861 there were in New South
Wales only 5.6l5.D54 sheep. In 1891 the
/ NUMBER OF Sheep ldu risen 10 bi.S5l.dig
| but since then il has diminished to So
213,5l4 in 1893. q result partly of adverse
climatic conditions, and partly Of the in
creased development OF the mixed farm.
ing SySteTn-u2nV p1StnraiiStS placing
| suitable portions of then land under
| wheat cultivation. which Is making great
strides in the State. At the same time
| the character of the wool and muttor
/ produced has become considerably i'm
| proved. quality. rather thar. quantity. be
Ing the chief object aimed at. a change
| which promises well for the future of the
| industry