Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/328

306 orange tree in full bearing. The Anthistiria australis, or kangaroo grass; Mesembryanthemum officinale, or Hottentot fig; and the Anigozanthos (several species), a beautiful plant, called by some the 'kangaroo's claw,' from the resemblance of its flower to the fore-foot of that animal.

The trees and shrubs which are evergreens, are a great ornament to the country, and furnish fuel to the inhabitants, shelter to the cattle, and the leaves manure to the soil.

Of the indigenous edible plants which were found most useful to the early settler, are the sow thistle (Sonchus) Hottentot fig, the young stem and pith of the grass tree (Zanthorea), wild celery (Apium prostratum), wild carrots (Daucus sylvester), a species of Orach (Atriplex Halimus); and samphire (Chrithmum): these boiled with the salt provisions were a good substitute for spinach and other fresh vegetables. Of the edible fruits none were found deserving mention.

The soil is of three different kinds—1st, sandy—2d, alluvial—3d, red loam; the first is found near the coast, and, though unpromising in appearance, trees, shrubs, and grasses grow on it abundantly, and with the assistance of manure excellent esculent vegetables are obtained from it, as the valuable gardens in the farms of Perth and Freemantle sufficiently testify. The second or alluvial is in extensive fiats, and produces admirable crops of wheat, barley, oats, &c, without any assistance from manure. The third, or red loam, which is met with on the high ground on the banks of the rivers, produces the same crops as the alluvial, but requires the assistance of manure.

There is a great deal of subterraneous moisture, which appears to be retained by a sub-soil of clay, which is to be met with at an average depth of five or six feet.

The mineral kingdom does not afford much variety; iron is abundant; mica and mica slate have been found at Kelmscott, and coal in the neighbourhood of King George's Sound. There is a blue clay of which bricks are made; calcarious rock is found along the coast; a ferruginous sandstone in several places; also soft grit, or calcarious