of an inferior description—­in other respects, the Port has advantages that will always render it an agreeable, if not altogether a desirable residence.  It appears to be gradually improving, but the amount of its population is still low, not more than sixty.  It is frequented by American and other whalers, but the duties collected add little to the revenues of the province.  Port Lincoln, however, could hardly now be abandoned, since there are considerable interests at stake there.  It has been stated that copper has been found in the interior, and I see no reason why it should not exist in the mountain formation of the Gawler Range, in such case an impulse will be given to the whole district, that would even change its prospects, and increase the mercantile operations of the province.

It does not appear to be the disposition of the English settlers to try experiments on the growth of intertropical productions.  It must be admitted, however, that there are not many places in South Australia where they could be cultivated with advantage; for although both the plains of Adelaide and the valley of the Murray are warm in summer, the frosts, which are sufficient to blight potatoes, would necessarily injure, if they did not destroy, perennials, whilst in the hills the cold is adverse to any plants the growth of a tropical climate, if we except those which, as annuals, come to maturity in the course of a summer; but the true reason why the growth of extraneous productions is neglected in South Australia, is the expense consequent on the state of the labour market—­for no doubt many pursuits might be followed there that would be remunerative.  It is exceedingly difficult, however, to lead the pursuits of a community out of their ordinary course, and it is only where direct advantages are to be gained, that the spirit of enterprise and speculation breaks forth.

The climate of South Australia is admirably adapted for the growth of fruit trees of the hardier tropical kinds, for although the tenderer kinds grow there also, they do not arrive at perfection.  The loquat, the guava, the orange, and the banana, are of slow growth, but the vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and others, flourish beyond description, as do English fruit trees of every kind.  It is to be observed, that the climate of the plains of Adelaide and that of the hills are distinct.  I have been in considerable heat in the former at noon, and on the hills have been in frost in the evening.  The forest trees of Europe will grow in the ranges, but on the plains they languish; in the ranges also the gooseberry and the currant bear well, but in the gardens on the plains they are admitted only to say you have such fruits; the pomegranate will not mature in the open air, but melons of all kinds are weeds.  Yet, such trees as are congenial to the climate arrive at maturity with incredible rapidity, and bear in the greatest abundance.  The show of grapes in Mr. Stephenson’s garden in North Adelaide, and the show of apples and