That there are many spots cursed with everlasting and unconquerable sterility no one who has seen the country will deny.

At the same time I am decidedly of opinion that many large tracts of land between Rose Hill and the Hawkesbury, even now, are of a nature sufficiently favourable to produce moderate crops of whatever may be sown in them.

And provided a sufficient number of cattle* be imported to afford manure for dressing the ground, no doubt can exist that subsistence for a limited number of inhabitants may be drawn from it.

To imperfect husbandry, and dry seasons, must indubitably be attributed part of the deficiency of former years.

Hitherto all our endeavours to derive advantage from mixing the different soils have proved fruitless, though possibly only from want of skill on our side.
[*In my former narrative I have particularly noticed the sudden disappearance of the cattle, which we had brought with us into the country.
Not a trace of them has ever since been observed.