The climate la noticed generally under AcsraAmt, vol. 1., col. 700.
The rains are not, as between the tropics, limited to certain seasons, but fall all the year round ; they are, however, most frequent in winter (June to August). The most characteristic peculiarities of tho climate of New South Wales are the long drew:riots which occasion ally prevail, and which are generally succeeded by excessively long and heavy rains. The winds are as variable as in England. Westerly winds, especially from the north-west, prevail in winter, and easterly winds are more frequent in summer (December to February). Iu summer, iu the morning, the winds blow, almost every day, from west and south-west, but towards noon they pass to north-east and north. Dews are frequent and heavy. Hailstones are common in December and January, and are of much larger size than in England. Thunder storms prevail from December to February, and occur also in No vember and March. On the Table-Lands and in tho Plains of Bathurst, which are more than 2000 feet above the sea-level, the winters are much more severe than in the lower country. As in summer the heat is several degrees less on these elevated countries than at Port Jackson, the grass is not so quickly burned up, and thus the flocks of sheep find here, nearly all the year round, sufficient food for their sustenance.
Soil, Ageless/lure, and Agricultural soil of so extensive a country must necessarily vary greatly. Many parts are distinguished for their fertility, and it is probable that at least one fourth part is well adapted for cultivation, and that one-half would afford good pasturage for sheep and cattle. In addition to the various species of grain and artificial European fruits and vegetables, that succeed well in various places, the sugar-cane, the vine, and tobacco are raised. Although the growth of grain has been constantly on tho increase, New South Wales has always been an importing country, and the influx of population in consequence of the discovery of the gold-fields must render it for a considerable time still more so. In 1852 the total number of acres in crop was 152,057, of which tho respective proportions were—wheat, 82,110; maize, 25,017; barley, 6725; oats, 2470; rye, 245; millet, 54; potatoes, 4079; tobacco, 731; wheat, barley, and oats, for hay, 27,598 ; and sown grasses, 3028.
The produce was as follows :—Wheat, 1,407,465 bushels; maize, 717,053 bushels; barley, 133,914 bushels ; oats, 49,060 bushels ; rye, 4891 bushels ; millet, 731 bushels; potatoes, 13,644 tons; tobacco, 12,530 cwt.; wheat, barley, and oats, for hay, 31,801 tons; and sown grasses, for hay, 4711 tons.
The colonists have been at some pains to introduce many kinds of fruit-trees and vegetables, and they have in most cases done it with tolerable success. There are oranges, lemons, citrons, nectarine; apricots, peaches, plums, cherries, Sgs, quinces, pears, apples, mul berries, pomegranates, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, bananas, guavas, pineapples, gooseberries, currants; almonds, walnuts, chest nuts, and filberts. Gooseberries succeed in the colder and more elevated countries, as near Bathurst. In the kitchen-gardens are raised melons, water-melons, pumpkins, capsicums, cabbages, turnips, and some other vegetables.
The first sheep introduced into the colony were from England, and the wool was of indifferent quality ; but as soon as it became evident that wool might become a source of wealth, and yield an important article of export to the mother country, several landed proprietors were at considerable expense to get merino aheep. The quality of tho wool has beeu much improved. The wool imported into Great Britain from New South Wales in 1853 amounted to 16,674,933 lbs. ; the tallow received in British ports from the colony was 115,933 cwts.; of sheep skins undreamed there were 8196. The breed of cattle is a mixture of the Bengal buffalo variety with humpy shoulders, and various English breeds which have been introduced. They are fine large animals. In some parts, especially on the Plains of Bathurst, the dairies are well attended to, butter being made to a great extent, and also cheese not inferior to the common cheeses of England.