I know nothing to which I can more appropriately liken the
noise that resounded along the swampy portions of the road, from the
beach to Melbourne.
Much has been said of the climate of Australia, and many are the
conflicting statements thereon. The following table contains all the
information - personal and otherwise - which I have been enabled to
collect.
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. - Generally the hottest months; average of the
thermometer, 78 in the shade; thunder-storms and COLONIAL showers of
rain occasionally visit us.
MARCH. - Fine genial weather; average temperature, 73 in the shade.
APRIL. - Weather more uncertain; mosquitos depart; average temperature,
70 in the shade:
MAY. - Fine, till towards the latter part of the month, when sometimes
the rainy season commences; average temperature in the shade, 64.
JUNE. - Rainy, and much cooler; temperature at an average of 58 in the
shade.
JULY. - Coldest month in the year; midwinter in the colonies; average
temperature, 53. Ice and snow may be seen inland.
AUGUST. - Very rainy. Average temperature, 58 in the shade.
SEPTEMBER. - Windy stormy month; weather getting warmer. Average
temperature, 63 in the shade.
OCTOBER - The presence of the mosquito, a sure proof that the weather is
permanently warm. Average temperature in the shade, 66.
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. - Tropically warm. Locusts, mosquitos, and
unnumbered creeping things swarm both in bush and town. Towards the end
of December the creeks commence to dry up, and the earth looks parched
for want of rain. No yule-log needed on Christmas Day. Thermometer as
high as 97 in the shade; average 75.
The principal trees in Australia are the gum, stringy bark, manna tree,
wild cherry (so called), iron bark, shea oak, peppermint,
acacia, and the mimosa, which last, however, should more properly be
called a shrub. These and others, like the Indian malelucas, are
remarkable for the Cajeput oil contained in their leaves, and in the
gums which exude from their sterns, and in this point of view alone,
considering their boundless number, their value can hardly be over
estimated. The gum of some of the acacias will bear comparison with
gum-arabic. Their bark and timber are likewise useful, and when the
gold fever has subsided, will become valuable as exports.
Wild flowers there are in abundance, and some exquisite specimens of
ferns. For the benefit of those better skilled in botany than myself, I
give the following list of Dr. Muller's indigenous plants of Victoria.
Correaochrolenca and Phebalium Asteriscophorum, both with the medical
properties of the Bucco-bush, Eurybia Rhodochaeta, E. Rugosa, E.
Adenophylla, E. Asterotristia, Sambucus, Gaudichaudiana, Prostanthera
Hirsuta, Pimelea axiflora (powerful Surrogat of the Mezerion
shrub), Bossidea decumbcus, Asterotristia asperifolia, Patersonia
aspera, Grevilliea repens, Dallachiana, &c.
