,,commonwealth ,,of ,,australia4 ,,wheat ,,growing ,,in ,,australia4 ,,issued ,,under ,,the ,,authority ,,of ,,the ,,minister ,,of ,,state ,,for ,,external ,,affairs1 ,,melbourne1 ,,australia1 #aiae4 ,by authority3 ,mc,c,a,r,r,o,n1 ,,bird ,,co41 ,,printers1 #dgi ,,collins ,,street1 ,,melbourne4 ,information ,concerning ,,australia may be obtained on application to-- ,,in ,,america3 ,,the ,,australian ,,pavilion1 ,,panama ,,pacific ,,exhibition1 ,,san ,,francisco4 ,,niel ,,nielsen1 ,esq41 ,trade and ,immigration ,commissioner for ,new ,south ,wales1 #dai ,market ,street1 ,san ,francisco4 ,f4 ,t4 ,a4 ,,fricke1 ,esq41 ,land and ,immigration ,agent for ,victoria1 #fhg ,market ,street1 ,san ,francisco4 ,,in ,,london3 ,the ,high ,commissioner for ,,the ,,commonwealth ,,of ,,australia1 #gb ,victoria ,street1 ,westminster4 ,,in ,,australia3 ,the ,secretary ,,department ,,of ,,external ,,affairs1 ,collins and ,spring ,streets1 ,melbourne4 ,,contents4 ,introduction #e ,australian ,wheat ,area #ab ,factors ,governing ,wheatgrowing #ah ,securing a ,wheat ,farm #bb ,working ,plant ,required #bc ,working the ,wheat ,farm #bf ,cost of ,production #cd ,share ,farming #ch ,how the ,settler is ,assisted #dc ,social ,life in ,australia #di ,,wheatgrowing ,,in ,,australia4 ,with the growing scarcity of foodstuffs that has become a world-wide feature of the last few years1 the wheatgrower is one of the most important necessities in civilisation4 ,he has prospered in the past1 but the future holds still greater and richer prospects4 ,and in no country in the world are those prospects brighter than in the ,commonwealth of ,australia4 ,the world's surface is gradually filling up1 and most of the older countries have reached sight of the limit of cultivation1 so the world's millions have to look to newer lands to provide them with food4 ,the great island continent in the southern seas possesses a vast area of proven wheat land1 as yet untouched by the plough4 ,it lies dormant1 fertile1 and responsive1 awaiting the union of labour and land to yield abundance of food4 ,illustration3 ,,breaking ,,up ,,new ,,ground4 ,australia has many rural industries1 but of agriculture wheat is the most important1 just as it is the most important of the world's crops4 ,wheat is the king of cereals--the prime essential of civilised life4 ,nearly half the inhabitants of the globe are wheat-eaters4 ,and the number is growing1 for the ,eastern races are becoming consumers of wheat1 which is significant of a higher standard of living4 ,for as races rise in the human scale wheat becomes a more important part of their food4 ,this alone shows the increasing importance of the cereal1 and the importance of the men who grow it4 ,indeed1 the food value of wheat1 its ease of cultivation and preparation for human use1 the fact that it will grow and flourish in so many different soils and climates1 and can be made into so many and various products1 combined with its quick and bountiful return1 all go to enhance the value of wheat grain1 and the prospects of the man who grows it4 ,science is teaching how to produce more wheat from the same area1 is improving the varieties of wheat and the methods of cultivating it1 and teaching how to restore impoverished lands4 ,and there is still an enormous area as yet untouched1 while land is being utilised now that twenty years ago was deemed incapable of growing wheat4 ,who can tell what the future will find8 ,australia alone has many millions of acres of wheat land as yet unused for that purpose4 ,one of the youngest of nations1 yet one of the oldest parts of the world geologically1 it can house and feed millions more than its present population4 ,there is room for the extension and continuation of the magnificent progress that wheatgrowing has already made4 ,the story of wheat cultivation is the story of progress4 ,in ,australia1 within the last decade1 wheatgrowing has advanced rapidly4 ,railways have been built out into new districts1 and freight is cheap4 ,towns have sprung into existence1 and the whole aspect of the countryside in district after district being altered by increasing settlement1 where wheatfields have taken the place of sheep paddocks4 ,these towns are solvent and prosperous1 and certain of a great future1 for there is room for immensely greater settlement4 ,the majority of the wheat farms are larger than necessary1 and only a small percentage of the wheat land is cultivated4 ,the urgent necessity is for more men to build homes and farm these lands4 ,there are both private and public lands awaiting settlement4 ,illustration3 ,,typical ,,classes ,,of ,,farming ,,lands4 ,the profitable nature of wheatgrowing in ,australia is shown by the comfortable homesteads and the strong financial position of numerous families in the wheat districts4 ,many of these successful wheatgrowers1 indeed most of them1 are men who started with little or no capital in cash1 but with plenty of energy and willingness to work4 ,they have built homes for themselves in the bush1 and found prosperity1 and there is room for thousands of other men to follow in their footsteps4 ,in a favourable year a wheatfarmer will often receive as much1 or more1 for his crop than the capital value of his land4 ,illustration3 ,,first ,,stages ,,of ,,cropping4 ,in the early stages of wheatgrowing in ,australia mistakes were made and progress was slow4 ,wheat was grown in the wrong soil and districts1 and suitable varieties of the cereal were not available4 ,cultivation was confined to the moist coastal country1 with its annual rainfall of #cj to #dj in41 and wheat was not a success4 ,the discovery that the drier districts inland were more suitable for wheatgrowing altered the position very happily4 ,the bulk of the wheat is now grown in districts with a rainfall of #bj to #be in4 and under4 ,this averaged rainfall is considered sufficient for wheatgrowing1 and safer than a heavier rainfall4 ,wheatgrowing has been most profitable in districts with a rainfall below #bj in41 and an average of #dj bushels per acre has been harvested from #fjj acres4 ,on well-worked fallowed land splendid money-making crops have been gathered1 although the growing crop only had #b or #c in4 of rain4 ,in ,australian wheat districts the quantity of rain is not as important as the time of the year in which it falls4 ,rain is wanted in the early autumn1 so that ploughing can be done1 and in the spring1 when the wheat is heading and flowering4 ,with rain in ,april and ,may1 and again in ,september or ,october1 the ,australian wheatgrower is assured of a fine crop4 ,in the wheat districts those are the seasonable times to get rain4 ,the summer is usually dry and warm1 and this is one of the main advantages from the wheatgrower's standpoint4 ,this fine dry weather--which is exceptionally healthy for the human being--means the production of a high-class grain1 for which there is an unlimited demand in the world's markets4 ,unless the common rule is broken1 and the season is unduly wet1 there is no fear of rust1 and nothing to interfere with the haymaking4 ,the main crop1 which is kept for grain1 can be left standing safely in the paddocks until it is thoroughly ripe1 when it is taken off with a stripper or harvester and bagged4 ,so the districts that have heavy summer rains are largely unsuitable for wheatgrowing1 but those in which the rains fall during the autumn1 winter1 and spring1 and have dry summers1 are most suitable4 ,while the present average is low in the ,australian wheatgrowing districts compared with other countries1 the cost of production is also remarkably low4 ,furthermore1 methods are improving generally1 and a considerable increase in yield can be expected with confidence4 ,the very richness of the soil and the kindliness of the climate has tempted growers to adopt speculative methods of growing wheat4 ,the main idea has been to put a large area under crop on the chance of striking a good year1 when a small fortune may be realised4 ,but growers are being educated to the value of more careful methods as paying best in the long run4 ,the average yield in ,australia has been about #aa to #ac bushels per acre4 ,the total area under wheat and the wheat yield in the different ,australian ,states for the season #aiac-ad was3-- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ,average ,state4 ,area4--,acres4 ,yield4--,bushels4 per ,acre4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ,new ,south ,wales #c1bjf1fjj #ch1jdc1cfj #aa4ji ,victoria #b1ghf1dba #cb1icf1bde #ab4hd ,south ,australia #b1fii1fcb #af1gcf1ihh #g4dg ,western ,australia #a1ajd1gec #ac1dif1bdb #ab4jb ,queensland #acb1fee #a1gfi1dcb #ac4cd ,tasmania,a #ah1jed #dba1chj #bc4cc ---------------------------------------- ---- #i1idh1aae #ajc1djc1fdg #aj4ci ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ,footnote ,a3 ,estimated4 ,as stated1 compared with some of the older countries1 such averages seem small1 yet in the dry districts of ,australia they mean a reasonable margin of profit4 ,in such districts it is estimated that a #aj-;bushel crop per acre will pay #j4fj per bushel4 ,of late years the price received by growers has averaged about #j4hd per bushel4 ,illustration3 ,,disc ,,ploughs ,,are ,,popular ,,in ,,australia4 ,the average return does not show what a district or country is capable of producing1 as it is reduced by the low yields of careless and unskilled farmers4 ,the men are responsible1 and not the soil or climate4 ,there are thousands of farmers who never have a lower average than #bj to #be bushels1 while in some well-farmed districts a whole locality has averaged nearly #cj bushels to the acre4 ,the whole tendency now is towards more careful methods and higher averages1 and this will mean greater prosperity for the farmers4 ,as it is1 men have been wonderfully successful in growing wheat in ,australia1 and if this is the case with the careless1 largely happy-go-lucky style of the past1 the prospect is extremely promising for the future4 ,in a way1 new men coming into ,australia1 and taking up wheatgrowing1 stand a better chance than many of the long-settled farmers who have got into a groove--even a profitable one--and who do not care to bother greatly with progressive ideas4 ,the new comer has no preconceived notions1 and comes with an open mind adaptable to the teachings of experience4 ,the new settler has his path made easy by the attention the ,governments of the different ,states are giving to wheatgrowing4 ,in all the ,states there is a ,department of ,agriculture1 and all its accumulated knowledge is available to the farmer4 ,in all the principal ,states there are ,government ,experiment ,farms1 where new wheats are tried1 and also the best methods2 the results are furnished to the public4 ,in most of the wheat districts there are demonstration plots showing the best varieties to grow in the different localities4 ,the new settler is advised what varieties to grow in his locality1 and when to grow them1 what amount of fertiliser to use1 and the best methods of handling his land4 ,in any difficulty the resources of the ,department of ,agriculture are at his service4 ,at the ,government farms crops of the best wheats are grown1 and the seed distributed amongst the farmers1 while inspectors are continually travelling through the country lecturing and visiting the growers1 and advising them1 whenever advice is asked for4 ,with such facilities the future of the settler practically depends upon the use he makes of his opportunities1 and the opportunities are unsurpassed in any other country4 ,illustration3 ,,putting ,,in ,,seed4 ,in the wheat districts the summer is warm1 and the thermometer often registers over #ajj degs4 ,fahr41 but it is a dry1 healthy heat that is not as uncomfortable as the lower temperatures in moister climates4 ,the warm weather holds for two or three months in midsummer1 when the heat during the day is trying1 but for the remainder of the year the climate is perfect4 ,the winter is mild1 so much so that live stock need no shelter1 and often fatten on the natural pasture throughout the year4 ,farming operations can be conducted throughout the year4 ,there is no snow or period when work is practically at a standstill4 ,,australian ,,wheat ,,area4 ,on the average of the past five years the wheat yield of ,australia represents about #b per cent4 of the world's production4 ,the return per acre is low1 but as has been pointed out1 the cost of production is likewise low1 and it is doubtful if in any other country the business of growing wheat is more profitable4 ,the area now cultivated is but a mere percentage of what could be put under wheat profitably4 ,the exact area is almost impossible to arrive at1 for the simple reason that with improved methods and better varieties of wheat1 the extent of country in which the cereal can be successfully grown increases4 ,for practical purposes the area deemed suitable for wheatgrowing is that which has sufficient rainfall to admit of ploughing being carried out at the right time of the year1 as already stated1 from ,march to ,june1 to cover the growing period1 and to fill the grain during ,september and ,october4 ,in other words1 it is not so much a matter of what the annual rainfall is as when the rain usually falls4 ,the ,state of ,new ,south ,wales for example4 ,for a long time land with less than a rainfall of #bj in4 has been excluded from the area considered safe for profitable wheatgrowing4 ,even then the area in that ,state suitable for wheat covers #be million acres4 ,in the ,state of ,south ,australia farmers place the annual rainfall limit at #af in41 provided it is regular and the land is properly worked4 ,if wheat can be grown on that rainfall in the latter ,state1 and the evidence is that it certainly can1 at least another #aj1jjj1jjj acres can be added to the wheat belt of the ,state4 ,although1 therefore1 the present area under wheat 7#aiac-ad7 is only #c1bjf1fjj acres1 there are #ce1jjj1jjj acres on a moderate estimate in ,new ,south ,wales alone that can grow wheat profitably4 ,and experiments in the west show that a still greater extension of the wheat belt can be looked for1 especially with improvement in the breeding of varieties suitable for the dryer districts4 ,at present1 however1 there is no necessity for settlers to go outside the area of safe country4 ,illustration3 7#a7 ,,typical ,,australian ,,farm ,,scene4 7#b7 ,,preparing ,,wheat ,,for ,,harvest4 7#c7 ,,ploughing4 ,what can be achieved in dry districts with a limited and intermittent rainfall has been most forcibly proved by experience4 ,at ,messrs4 ,gagie ,bros4' farm1 ,spy ,hill1 ,west ,wyalong1 ,new ,south ,wales1 a yield of #bd bushels of wheat was obtained in the #aiaa-ab season on a rainfall of #ffh points--less than #g in46 ,of course1 such a crop could not be grown on such a rainfall alone1 as a much larger quantity of water would be required to produce that amount of wheat4 ,the crop during the growing period only received #ffh points of rain1 but in the land on which it was grown1 and which was fallowed and properly worked1 a large quantity of moisture was stored from the previous year1 and on this reserve the growing crop grew1 and with the additional #ffh points that fell during the growing period a yield of #bd bushels per acre was obtained4 ,still more remarkable were the results obtained in the same season from experiment plots on the farm of ,mr4 ,carew1 ,deniliquin1 in the same ,state4 ,the seed was sown on well-worked fallow land in which a good amount of the previous year's rainfall had been conserved4 ,the rainfall during the growing period was #cbb points1 distributed as follows3--,may1 #baj2 ,june1 #fj2 ,july1 #ab2 ,august1 nil2 ,september1 #cg2 ,october1 #c points4 ,under ordinary conditions such a rainfall would mean utter failure of a wheat crop1 yet in this case a yield of #ad bushels per acre was obtained4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,fine ,,crop ,,of ,,wheat4 ,again at ,mr4 ,g4 ,laidlaw's farm1 ,elm ,park1 ,jindera1 ,albury1 ,new ,south ,wales1 #bh bushels #ef lbs4 were obtained on fallowed land with a rainfall of #geb points4 ,with a seasonal distribution of rain wheat can be successfully grown with an average of #aj in4 ,there are growers in country that ten years ago was considered outside the wheat belt1 that is1 the safe country1 who for the last five years have never harvested less than an average of #be bushels per acre4 ,yet an average of #ab to #ae bushels has proved profitable4 ,in ,victoria1 wheatgrowing can increase fivefold before the whole of the suitable land is brought under the plough4 ,the wheat crop of that ,state should1 if the settlers are forthcoming1 within a few years reach #h1jjj1jjj acres1 provided that one-third of each farm is regularly cultivated4 ,the area under wheat in #aiac-ad was #b1ghf1dba acres1 so there is room for thousands of growers yet4 ,in ,south ,australia and in ,western ,australia there are immense areas1 running into millions of acres1 which yet remain to be brought under wheat4 ,in ,queensland wheatgrowing practically remains to be developed4 ,at present stockraising proves most profitable1 but there is no question that in the course of time that ,state will add immensely to the wheat belt of the ,commonwealth4 ,in all the ,states the usual course has been for wheat to follow stockraising1 after the latter have sweetened and improved the soil1 making it more compact and suitable for cultivation4 ,in new lands1 where the soil has been practically untrodden for ages1 it is seldom immediately suitable for the cultivation of wheat1 in what later on proved to be ideal wheat districts4 ,therefore1 in such a vast country as ,australia1 which totals #b1igd1eha square miles1 it is beyond man's calculations to even estimate what proportion may ultimately come under the plough4 ,at the present time1 however1 it is far from extravagant to say that while ,australia is now1 roughly1 producing #ajj1jjj1jjj bushels of wheat on #aj1jjj1jjj acres1 it is capable1 without improving the average yield1 of producing #a1jjj1jjj1jjj bushels of wheat from #ajj1jjj1jjj acres4 ,and as the experience of good farms has conclusively demonstrated that the average yield could be much greater than it is at present1 with good farming methods1 the general use of more suitable varieties of wheat1 not to mention the still greater improvement in the breeding of suitable wheats1 that yield should certainly be half as much again4 ,australia therefore stands out as promising to be one of the greatest wheat-producing countries in the world4 ,illustration3 ,,australia',s ,,average ,,wheat ,,yield ,,is ,,from #aa ,,to #ac ,,bushels ,,per ,,acre1 ,,but ,,thousands ,,of ,,farms ,,yield ,,from #bj ,,to #be ,,bushels ,,per ,,acre4 ,australia has the land and climate2 she wants the men4 ,there is a large area of country in ,victoria1 ,south ,australia1 and ,new ,south ,wales known as the ,mallee1 the name being derived from a dense dwarf eucalyptus scrub which covers the land in its natural state4 ,for a long period this land was deemed unfit for wheatgrowing on account mainly of the low rainfall1 and1 away from the ,river ,murray1 absence of water supply4 ,experience has long since proved that it is very profitable wheat land when properly worked1 while the discovery of a sub-artesian water supply and good water-holding country has overcome most of the difficulty that first faced settlement4 ,there is a large area of this land available for share farming1 and a great area is also being opened up for settlement1 particularly in ,south ,australia4 ,there is thus a sound prospect fronting the new settler1 as he might start on the ,mallee country share farming1 and on what he has earned establish himself on a holding of his own1 with all the advantage of a practical experience of that particular type of land and the climate4 ,the ,mallee soil is mostly sandy loam1 but red and black loams1 varying from sand to clay1 are found4 ,it is a low elevation above sea level1 but the country is undulating4 ,the vegetation is reckoned a sound guide to the quality of the soil for wheatgrowing2 indeed1 this same principle can be accepted in all parts of the wheat belt4 ,on the ,mallee the richest parts are denoted by the pines and bull oak trees1 while the large and small ,mallee marks good and medium loams and clays4 ,the ,mallee land is suitable for handling by the man with small means1 either on a farm of his own or as a share farmer1 as in the first case the clearing is cheap1 while in the second he can handle a large area4 ,the scrub is broken down by rollers1 and is comparatively easily eradicated4 ,for a time young suckers come up amongst the wheat crop1 but they are burnt off when the standing stubble is burnt after the crop has been taken off1 and in time quite cleaned out4 ,the soil is naturally rich in potash1 nitrogen1 and lime1 but requires superphosphate1 as the percentage of phosphoric acid is low4 ,although the average yield is lower than other parts of the wheat belt1 wheatgrowing has proved very profitable in the ,mallee country1 and there is plenty of evidence of that fact4 ,in ,victoria the ,mallee country is an important part of the wheat belt of that ,state1 there being over #hjj1jjj acres under wheat last season 7#aiac-ad7 out of a total area for that ,state of #b1ghf1dba acres4 ,yet it is only within the last ten years that it has had any reputation for farming1 being mostly looked upon as useless4 ,most of the first settlers were share farmers with little capital1 but with brains and energy1 and many of them are now worth from #ej1jjj4jj to #ajj1jjj4jj4 ,there were failures in the early days1 because there was want of knowledge of the proper methods of working low-rainfall country for growing wheat1 and also proper methods and lack of proper implements for that class of country4 ,suitable implements1 especially stump-jump implements1 have been evolved1 and there is a solid guide for the new settlers to follow4 ,one of the leading farmers in the ,mallee country in ,victoria1 ,mr4 ,r4 ,blackwood1 at ,hopetoun1 where the soil is of average quality and the rainfall less than #ad in41 started on the share system in #ahib4 ,it was seven years before he adopted the bare fallow method1 an essential in such country1 and since doing so he has averaged #af bushels per acre4 ,in the record dry year 7#aijb7 his crop went #h bushels to the acre1 and paid working expenses4 ,by #aiac he was the owner of #ejjj acres4 ,he crops about #fej acres each year1 and fallows about the same area1 working on a three-year rotation of fallow1 wheat1 grazing4 ,illustration3 ,,carting ,,stooks4 ,,factors ,,governing ,,wheatgrowing4 ,the principal factors governing wheatgrowing in ,australia are3-- ,conservation of soil moisture by fallowing the land4 ,sowing of varieties of wheat most suitable for the different districts4 ,judicious use of fertilisers4 ,the settler has not to find these things out for himself4 ,he has the assistance of well-organised and progressive departments of agriculture in the different ,states to tell him what to do1 how and when to do it4 ,the working of his land is a matter upon which he will be fully informed4 ,he will have the scientific experience of the departmental experts1 the examples of local experimental plots1 and the experience of working farmers to guide him in regard to the best method of working his soil4 ,methods vary somewhat in different soils and districts1 as has been previously stated4 ,he is informed as to the best varieties to sow in his district and the proper time to sow them4 ,the completeness of that information can be gathered from the following particulars which are supplied by the ,department of ,agriculture in ,new ,south ,wales every season4 ,similar information is furnished in other ,states4 ,in ,new ,south ,wales a classification of varieties of wheat is made by the department1 and a table published for the information of wheatgrowers4 ,the following is the classification for the season #aiac-ad3-- ,with regard to time of maturity varieties of wheat recommended were classified as follows3-- ,very ,early4--,bunyip1 ,florence1 ,firbank4 ,early4--,comeback1 ,thew1 ,steinwedel4 ,mid-season4--,bobs1 ,john ,brown1 ,cedar1 ,warren1 ,federation1 ,bayah1 ,rymer4 ,late4--,jonathan1 ,marshall's ,no4 #c1 ,zealand1 ,yandilla ,king1 ,cleveland1 ,huguenot4 ,very ,late4--,hayne's ,blue ,stem4 ,in respect of time of sowing the varieties mentioned above were recommended in inverse order4 ,just as the farmer is advised as to the most suitable varieties of wheat for his district1 so experiments are conducted to ascertain the most useful quantity of manure1 and full particulars made available in the agricultural gazettes or journals which are published in the different ,states1 as well as being made available in bulletin form4 ,the question of manuring is a very important one to the wheatgrower1 as it influences the yield greatly in most of the principal areas1 if not all4 ,as ,australian wheat soils possess abundance of nitrogen and sufficient potash1 but are mostly deficient in phosphoric acid1 the manure chiefly used on the wheatfields is superphosphates4 ,there are some localities where further experiment is required to definitely ascertain the most suitable fertiliser1 but in the main superphosphate is the requirement1 and practically the only manure used4 ,this has been the course proved most satisfactory by practical experience in wheatgrowing1 and careful experiment also with nitrogenous1 pathonic1 and phosphate manures1 singly and combined4 ,superphosphate has proved superior to bonedust or basic slag2 sulphate of potash has not increased the yield1 while nitrogenous fertilisers1 such as dried blood or sulphate of ammonia1 have proved either useless or harmful4 ,in ,new ,south ,wales the quantity of superphosphate usually used is #ef lbs4 per acre1 and the same quantity is generally applied in ,victoria1 but in ,south ,australia the dressings are much heavier1 running from #a cwt4 to #b cwts4 per acre4 ,in ,new ,south ,wales experiments carried out clearly prove that larger quantities1 say1 #hd-aab lbs4 to the acre1 do not result in bigger yields being obtained1 while the still heavier quantities1 #a-a_/b to #b cwt41 have actually resulted in poorer yields4 ,in ,victoria about #ef lbs4 of superphosphate to the acre is also the usual thing1 but the amount used averages probably from #ef to #hd lbs42 the drier districts require less1 and the wetter districts more1 than these amounts4 ,remarkable results are obtained from such small dressings as #cj lbs4 of superphosphate4 ,in ,south ,australia heavier dressings of superphosphate are used than in the other ,states4 ,wheatgrowing in ,south ,australia was1 in fact1 revolutionised and changed into a most profitable business through the introduction and general practice of using this artificial fertiliser4 ,illustration3 ,,with ,,australian ,,stripper ,,harvesters ,,wheat ,,is ,,harvested1 ,,threshed ,,and ,,put ,,into ,,the ,,bag ,,for #h ,,to #aj ,,cents ,,per ,,bushel4 ,commercial fertilisers are analysed by the ,departments of ,agriculture1 and official lists are published showing their content4 ,the ,australian wheatgrower is practically not troubled with wheat diseases4 ,thirty years ago rust was a trouble1 but the breeding of rust-resistant varieties of wheat has effectually overcome that drawback1 and rust is seldom1 if ever1 heard of now4 ,in addition1 wheatgrowing is now carried on in districts where the conditions are seldom favourable to rust1 which is only liable to cause serious loss when there is hot1 moist weather late in the spring4 ,this weather is very rarely experienced in the ,australian wheat belt1 and certainly little has been heard of rust for many years4 ,smut is the only other important parasitic disease1 but as the practice of pickling seed before sowing is extending1 this trouble has practically disappeared4 ,bunt or stinking smut is so called because it has an objectionable smell1 which makes its presence known in the grain and deteriorates its value4 ,as stated1 it can be readily prevented by treating the seed4 ,smut belongs to a low form of plant life1 and the plant is produced from a seed1 which in its turn matures and produces other seed1 which are microscopic and are known as spores4 ,these spores are found when matured in masses occupying the place of the wheat kernels1 and these masses are called bunt-balls4 ,the chief and almost only cause of smut is sowing wheat seed which has healthy smut spores attached to it4 ,by destroying the vitality of these spores the grain crop will be clean4 ,the most common solutions for pickling wheat seed are bluestone 7copper sulphate7 #a-a_/b lb4 to #aj gallons of water1 and formalin #a lb4 to #de gallons of water4 ,bunt balls are lighter than wheat1 and float in water1 so if the wheat to be treated is poured slowly into the pickle1 and in such a way that the bunt balls will not be carried down by the grain1 they will float on top1 and can be skimmed off and destroyed4 ,the details of pickling vary on different farms1 but a common method is to place the wheat about #b bushels at a time in loosely-tied butts or bags1 and then by means of a lever it is lowered into the solution for two or three minutes1 when it is raised on to a sloping trough1 where the superfluous solution can drain back into the cask4 ,another method is to place the seed wheat1 either loose or in bags1 in elevated casks or troughs made out of hollow logs1 and pour the bluestone solution over it4 ,after it has remained on the wheat the necessary time it is run off into another cask or trough placed in a lower position4 ,after the seed has been treated it requires some time drying before it can be sown through the drill4 ,all that is necessary is to place the butts where they can drain freely1 and the seed will be ready to sow after a few hours4 ,the fullest particulars as to the best way of combating this disease or any minor trouble is always obtainable from the ,departments of ,agriculture in the various ,states4 ,take-all occasionally affects wheat crops growing under any disadvantageous set of conditions1 but good farming is a remedy for that trouble1 which is a minor one4 ,,securing ,a ,,wheat ,,farm4 ,wheat land may be secured through public or private channels1 but the area of available ,government lands is greater in some ,states than others4 ,the landseeker having decided in which ,state he is going to reside1 will adopt the means of securing a wheat farm best suited to his capital4 ,not only are ,crown lands being opened up1 principally by railway construction1 but in some ,states the ,government purchases private estates1 which are subdivided and sold in small areas to farmers on exceptionally easy terms4 ,estates are also being constantly so subdivided by private owners1 and sold on terms extending over ten1 fifteen1 and twenty years4 ,with ordinary good fortune the farmer going on such estates is in a sound and safe position after three or four seasons4 ,if he has the misfortune to experience a dry season at the start1 it will1 of course1 take him longer to work to independence1 as can easily be understood4 ,on the other hand a normal year will see him well started and safe for another two or three seasons1 while a really good year will place him in a position which means that only carelessness and improvidence can prevent him from attaining comfortable and practically independent circumstances4 ,in the different ,states information can be obtained from the ,government ,information ,bureau or ,departments of ,lands as to what ,government lands are available for settlement4 ,illustration3 ,,harvester ,,as ,,used ,,in ,,australia4 ,the particulars of private lands for sale may be obtained from city and country agents4 ,they vary considerably in price according to the locality1 nature of improvements and proximity to railways4 ,they may be said to range from #af4hj to #ch4dj per acre for improved land4 ,in the majority of cases such lands are either cleared or partly cleared1 and the settler is able to put in a crop right away1 providing he obtains possession at a seasonable time4 ,the ploughing and sowing period is mainly in ,april and ,may1 and running to ,june1 harvesting taking place in ,november and ,december4 ,the almost invariable practice in ,australia is to combine wheatgrowing and sheepfarming4 ,sheep are especially profitable in ,australia4 ,this is an excellent combination1 as the busy periods do not clash1 and the sheep help to fertilise the land1 clear the stubble paddocks1 and are also often useful for the purpose of eating down a crop in the early stages where it may be making an unduly rapid growth4 ,in most districts #bej acres of wheat is as much as one man can manage without outside help1 except at harvest time1 although some energetic farmers manage #cjj acres4 ,in the more settled districts wheat farms usually range from #cjj to #fjj acres1 but larger farms1 up to four and five thousand acres1 are common4 ,they are either worked on shares 7see p4 #ch71 or with hired labour1 and are usually owned by men who have started on a small area1 and increased it by subsequent purchase with money made from wheatgrowing4 ,on many large properties hitherto devoted to sheepraising the practice is growing of putting down a large area under wheat4 ,it is not practical to definitely state the amount of capital required to purchase and prepare an area of land for a wheat farm4 ,much will depend upon the capacity and experience1 business acumen1 and resourcefulness of the settler1 as is the case in all callings1 but the detailed information given in these pages should enable the intending settler to work out the amount approximately required by his condition and the lines he intends adopting4 ,,working ,,plant ,,required4 ,the intending settler has to consider not only the capital required to secure his farm1 whatever its nature1 but also the expenditure necessary in obtaining a working farm plant4 ,prices of machinery cover a wide range1 according to size1 c4 ,in working #bjj to #bej acres of wheat crop1 the following plant would be required1 and the prices given are approximately correct3-- ,five horses 7good selected mares1 if possible1 that will give an annual return of1 say1 four foals71 at #add per head #gbj4jj ,five sets of harness #gb4jj ,one dray and set harness #hf4jj ,one four-furrow plough #add4jj ,one set of harrows #cc4jj ,one seed drill #ahb4jj ,one cultivator #if4jj ------ ,implements for putting in and working growing crop #accc4jj ,one reaper and binder #adb4jj ,one stripper-harvester #dcj4jj -------- ,total #aije4jj ,illustration3 ,,steam ,,thresher ,,at ,,work4 ,a chaffcutter 7#fg4jj7 might be added to the above list1 and in some localities a roller1 costing about #ai4jj1 is required4 ,the price of horses varies4 ,in the above list they have been placed at #add4jj1 but suitable animals may be secured for #if4jj to #abj4jj per head4 ,as soon as he can manage it the new farmer will want to get a waggon 7#afh4jj74 ,he will soon want a vehicle to move about in1 a sulky 7#gb4jj to #if4jj71 a light horse and harness1 saddle1 c4 ,minor implements and tools for fencing1 carpentering1 building1 and so on will be wanted1 and altogether it would be well to reckon that working plant generally will cost about #bdjj4jj4 ,to work a large area would not cost more proportionately by any means2 it is reckoned that an area of #fjj acres of cultivation costs about #ccfj4jj for working plant4 ,all the above parts of the plant would not be required at once1 and the above amounts can be greatly reduced by obtaining smaller implements1 lighter horses1 and so on4 ,furthermore1 it is not necessary that the full amount should be paid down for the plant4 ,cash would have to be paid for the horses1 but machinery and most of the balance of the plant can be acquired on terms1 part payment being in cash1 while the balance runs over till after harvest1 or even over two seasons4 ,usually one-third is paid in cash1 and the balance about ,february or ,march1 after the farmer has received the money for his crop4 ,it is to the interest of the machinery firms1 storekeepers1 and others who do business with the wheatfarmer to help him as far as possible1 especially in the early years1 and in ,australia1 when a man shows he is honest and hard-working1 he will receive every consideration in this direction4 ,the wheatgrower has also to allow for the keep of himself and his family while waiting for his crop to ripen4 ,in the above plant a stripper-harvester has been allowed for1 but if a stripper and winnower be used instead1 the cost for implements would be about #abj4jj less4 ,on the other hand1 more labour would be required to work them4 ,the utilisation of the stripper-harvester is the most popular method of taking off a wheat crop4 ,the stripper is an ,australian invention4 ,it is a machine drawn through the ripe standing crop by three or four horses attached to its side4 ,the horses walk in the stubble of the harvested portion4 ,the ripe ears coming within reach of the machine1 which has a #e-;ft4 cut1 are gathered by a comb1 and directed to a cutting plate1 where the beater drum cuts them from the straw and threshes the grain out4 ,at the same time the grain1 with the chaff and some straw1 is thrown into a receptacle at the back of the machine4 ,when this is full the stripper is driven to a picked place in the paddock and emptied4 ,here a winnower has been placed1 and the mixture of grain and rubbish out of the stripper is put through this winnower1 which cleans and bags the wheat ready for market4 ,in fair crops one winnower1 with four men to work it1 will keep two strippers going4 ,the stripper-harvester is another ,australian invention4 ,it is an improvement on the stripper1 and is now in more general use4 ,it is really a combined stripper and winnower4 ,it takes off the heads of wheat1 and also threshes and cleans them as it goes along1 and delivers the grain into bags at the side of the machine4 ,this reduces the cost of harvesting1 as less labour is required4 ,two men can work a harvester1 one driving the machine while the other removes and sews up the bags4 ,the machines cut #e to #f ft41 but #h-;ft4 machines have proved successful of late1 and with them a good area can be handled in a day4 ,the smaller machine will strip about #aj acres of a fair crop in a working day4 ,illustration3 7#a7 ,,steam ,,thresher4 7#b7 ,,stook-,,building4 7#c7 ,,harvest ,,picnic4 7#d7 ,,baling ,,for ,,export4 7#e7 ,,stooks ,,ready ,,for ,,carting4 ,,working ,,the ,,wheat ,,farm4 ,the settler having acquired his land1 he will require to fence in his holding1 and also subdivide it into convenient paddocks or fields4 ,all ,australian farms are fenced1 and in districts in which the rabbit is a menace the boundary fences are wire-netted4 ,unless timber is very plentiful wire fences are almost universal4 ,posts1 which are obtained from timber on the farm that is fallen1 and split into the necessary lengths1 are erected #i or #aa ft4 apart1 with six or seven wires running through them4 ,sometimes the posts are put at a greater distance apart1 and droppers placed between them at distances of #g or #h ft4 ,some of these droppers are of split timber1 but patent droppers1 made of wire and iron1 can be obtained4 ,where timber is scarce such fences are cheaper4 ,the droppers hold the wires to which they are attached in their place1 but are not sunk into the ground4 ,fencing costs about #add4jj to #afh4jj per mile4 ,netting the fences to keep out the rabbit costs an additional #aib4jj to #bdj4jj per mile4 ,if the new farm consists of improved1 that is1 cleared or partly cleared land1 the settler will probably get his crop in before he does his fencing4 ,it would be better for him to do that than leave his sowing till unduly late4 ,where green timber has to be cleared off the land it is ringbarked first1 and the trees allowed to die before they are grubbed out4 ,ringbarking consists of cutting a small strip of bark from around the trunk of the tree to prevent the flow of sap keeping it alive4 ,after ringbarking1 the trees usually throw out young shoots or suckers1 which have to be broken off4 ,usually this has to be done twice1 and is called suckering4 ,the deeper the trees are ringbarked1 the bigger the piece of bark removed1 the sooner it will die1 but there is then a greater tendency to throw out suckers4 ,the trees take two or three years to die1 then they are grubbed and burnt4 ,it is very seldom that the green trees are cut out at once1 as this is very much more expensive1 and for some time after removal the ground is too sour to be good for wheat or other crops4 ,when the country is ringbarked the ground sweetens1 and by the time the tree is dead is ready for cropping4 ,while the trees are dying the country is usually used for grazing sheep and other stock1 as it will be carrying good pasture4 ,of recent years a system has been tried1 with considerable success1 of poisoning the green timber with a mixture of arsenic and soda and water4 ,a ring is chopped round the tree1 and the bark thus makes a rough cup1 into which the mixture is poured4 ,this treatment has proved very effective4 ,the cost of ringbarking and all similar operations1 of course1 depends upon the amount of timber on the country1 but it usually costs from #bd cents to #cj cents per acre1 while suckering costs #h cents to #ab cents per acre4 ,after the trees are dead they are grubbed or burnt out1 all roots to #ab or #ah in4 depth being removed1 and this work costs from #b4hj to #c4fj per acre4 ,in some cases the country is what is known as ,yankee-grubbed1 in which case the trees are cut off level with the ground1 and roots allowed to remain in below the surface4 ,when the country was used for grazing only1 this was found a cheap and efficient method1 but nevertheless only a small proportion of ,australian wheat country has been so treated4 ,to cultivate ,yankee-grubbed country what are known as stump-jump implements1 ploughs and cultivators are used4 ,these are available on the market1 and as ,yankee-grubbing is certainly cheaper than the usual method of grubbing1 it has some attraction to the man with limited capital4 ,the more careful farmers1 however1 do not advocate this method4 ,illustration3 ,,threshing ,,by ,,horse ,,power4 ,it must be remembered that the above prices for clearing are where labour has to be employed4 ,it must also be remembered that the amount of timber on different classes of wheat country in the different ,states varies very much1 so while it is usually estimated that clearing land for wheat costs about #d4cj per acre1 it does not mean that it will always cost that1 or1 in any case1 that the settler has to pay that amount out in cash4 ,after the timber is grubbed and pulled down it is usually piled together and burnt4 ,it burns well1 and the burning enriches the soil4 ,the settler starting in to clear his farm has ever the future picture in mind of when the work is done1 and he has a beautifully-cleared1 improved property on which to spend the latter years of his life4 ,and there is no finer picture than an improved wheat farm1 with its alternation of park-like paddocks1 paddocks carrying a flock of sheep1 paddocks of growing crops1 and paddocks of fallowing ploughed land ready for the crop next season1 or perhaps carrying a rotation crop of oats1 rape1 or cowpea4 ,the homestead1 surrounded by its orchard1 stables1 hayshed1 and machinery sheds1 and poultry run1 will stand upon a rise1 from which the whole property can be surveyed4 ,and to none is the picture finer than to the man who by his own toil and energy has cleared and improved most of those paddocks4 ,such wheat farms are to be found in thousands throughout ,australia4 ,one of the first things the settler has to do is to provide a water supply4 ,it is the exception to find wheat farms with a natural permanent water supply1 such as a creek or river4 ,in most cases the settler depends upon tanks or dams for watering his stock4 ,a suitable low-lying site is picked1 and the earth is scooped out and banked up at the end and sides1 so there is a hole into which the rainwater runs1 following the natural lay of the country1 and assisted and directed by drains and gutters4 ,these tanks1 as they are called1 usually range from #ajjj to #bjjj cubic yards1 and cost up to #bd cents or #cj cents per yard to excavate4 ,in most districts the country holds water splendidly1 and when the tank is filled by the autumn and winter rains it will carry through the summer4 ,for domestic use galvanised tanks are depended upon1 being placed to catch the rainwater off the rooms of the homestead buildings4 ,in some districts water is obtained by sinking shallow wells4 ,in parts of the wheat country sub-artesian wells are also common1 good water being obtained by boring #bjj to #cjj ft41 when an unfailing supply of good water for stock is secured4 ,the real artesian country1 where deep bores are sunk for water1 is outside the present wheat belt4 ,in the season ploughing usually starts at #g4cj a4m4 and goes on until #e4cj p4m41 with a break of a couple of hours during the day for dinner2 that is1 where labour is employed4 ,the settler himself handling his own land usually works from dawn till dark1 using changes of horses during the day4 ,both mouldboard and disc ploughs are in use1 some soils suiting one and some the other1 while use for both will often be found on the one farm4 ,the four-furrow plough1 drawn by five or six horses1 is most favoured1 and with it four to six acres will be done in a day4 ,harrowing is done with a set of three to six sections of tines1 covering from #ab to #bj ft4 in width1 and doing #ae to #bj acres a day4 ,the bulk of the sowing is done with a combined drill1 which plants the seed and distributes artificial fertiliser at the same time4 ,the amount of seed sown per acre varies from #be to #de lbs41 and even up to #ajj lbs4 in some parts of the ,commonwealth1 while usually about the same amount of superphosphate is distributed1 #de to #fj lbs4 being the most common quantity4 ,both hoes and disc drills are in use1 ranging from twelve to fifteen tubes1 the tubes being #g in4 apart4 ,these particulars apply mostly to the man cultivating #bjj to #cjj acres himself4 ,it is often found beneficial to harrow the growing crop until it is #c or #d in4 high4 ,while the crop is growing the settler will find plenty to do in clearing and improving his property1 attending to his sheep1 and so on4 ,if he is on shares he will find work for his team and himself on other properties1 at contract work1 or on the local roads4 ,harvest time comes well on in the summer1 and for several weeks everyone is busy on the farm4 ,it is usual when putting in a wheat crop to sow a portion for hay4 ,either a separate crop is sown or a special variety suitable for hay is sown around the main grain crop4 ,this is cut with the reaper and binder just after the wheat plant has flowered4 ,the sheaves1 which are tied by the machine1 are stooked in the paddock for ten or fourteen days until dry enough to be carted in and stacked4 ,the climate--as a rule fine weather prevails--is favourable to haymaking1 and a bright-coloured nutritious hay is produced4 ,the average yield is a ton to one ton and a-half to the acre1 but three1 four1 and even five ton crops are taken off1 but that is usually in a crop sown and cultivated specially for hay with the intention of supplying the chaff market1 which is an industry in itself4 ,the wheatfarmer1 properly speaking1 only cuts what he will require for his own horses4 ,a reaper and binder is drawn by three horses1 and will cut from #aj to #ab acres per day4 ,one man is required to drive the machine1 and one or two men to pick up and stook the sheaves4 ,some farmers cut their own hay for chaff1 working the machine either by hand or with horse-works for turning the cutting wheel1 but the majority have the hay cut by contractors1 who travel through the country with a special plant for the purpose1 charging #b4af per ton for cutting4 ,after a portion round the edges of the crops has been cut for hay a strip of land is ploughed around the crop in the stubble for the purpose of making a break in case of fire1 and thus enabling a fire that might approach the crop being controlled on the bare ploughed ground4 ,illustration3 ,,carting ,,wheat ,,to ,,railway ,,station4 ,the wheat crop is allowed to become dead ripe in the paddock1 as for stripping the ears must be dry and quite ripe4 ,once it is ready to strip every effort is made to take the crop off as quickly as possible1 as it does not improve standing1 for some of the grain is likely to be shaken out by winds4 ,the more modern wheats1 however1 hold the grain wonderfully against wind or hail4 ,varieties of wheat are sown so they will mature at different times1 which extends the harvesting period1 as one crop will be ready to harvest before the other is quite ripe1 and there is thus a useful rotation4 ,at harvesting time work usually starts in the paddock about #h a4m41 as the wheat does not strip well until the hot sun gets on it1 as it toughens during the night4 ,the work goes on until #g or #g4cj p4m41 with a break of two hours at mid-day1 and spells of twenty minutes in the morning and afternoon4 ,where labour is employed one man drives the harvester1 but his horses are looked after1 fed1 groomed1 and harnessed for him4 ,this saves time1 and enables the crop to be taken off the more quickly4 ,of course1 the farmer in a small way will do his own work1 requiring only a little assistance at harvest time1 someone to sew up and stack the bags4 ,as there is always a rush at harvest time1 the bags of grain are often left lying in the paddocks in small heaps until the crop is all off1 when they are carted to the railway or mill4 ,some farmers do their own carting1 but the majority pay the regular carriers to do this work1 the cost varying according to distance1 but is generally done for #bd cents per ton per mile4 ,about #ab-a_/b bags of wheat go to the ton4 ,illustration3 ,,australian ,,wheat ,,for ,,export ,,from ,,farm ,,to ,,wharf4 ,at present in ,australia wheat is all handled in bags which contain about #c bushels of grain4 ,the price of empty bags varies from #a4ej to #b4jj per doz4 ,very few second-hand bags are used4 ,the different ,state ,governments in ,australia are now considering the wisdom of introducing the ,american system of handling wheat in bulk4 ,the ,governments of ,new ,south ,wales and of ,western ,australia have definitely announced their intention of establishing that system1 while it is being favourably considered in ,victoria4 ,once the system was introduced in any of the ,states it would probably be only a short time before it was adopted throughout the ,commonwealth4 ,at present1 however1 bags are in universal use1 the grain being thus carried both for local and export trade4 ,the settler finds no difficulty in selling his wheat1 as grain merchants and millers compete for it4 ,often sales are made before the crop is ripe4 ,the large wheat merchants and shippers have their agents in every town1 and these men visit the farms1 inspect the grain1 and make an offer according to the ruling market price4 ,the local millers are also competing for what grain they want for local consumption4 ,the grower is paid on delivery at the mill or the nearest railway station4 ,if he prefers to do so he can store it with the buying firms1 giving them the right to purchase when he is prepared to sell1 or he can store on the farm4 ,the export values of wheat per bushel for the last six years1 have been3-- #aiji #a4jj #aiaj #a4jj #aiaa #j4hd #aiab #j4ie #aiac #j4hd #aiad #j4hb ,wheat is bought and sold on what is known as the f4a4q4 7fair average quality7 system4 ,samples of wheat are taken from the various districts by the different ,chambers of ,commerce1 and each ,state fixes its own f4a4q4 standard4 ,these samples are mixed together1 and by careful testing on a patent scale it is ascertained what an ,imperial bushel of weight actually weighs4 ,the idea is to ascertain as equitably as possible what a fair average sample of the season's wheat should weigh4 ,the standard varies a little in different years2 it may be #fa1 #fb1 #fd1 or as low as #eh lbs4 to the bushel4 ,whatever it is fixed at for the season that is the basis upon which all sales are made4 ,if the market price for wheat1 for instance1 is #a4bj per bushel1 it is for wheat up to the f4a4q4 standard4 ,say the latter has been fixed at #fb lbs41 the wheat must show that weight4 ,agents have what is called a chrondrometer for the purpose of testing the wheat4 ,if it is below the f4a4q4 standard1 a lower price is given4 ,this system has been devised to suit the export trade4 ,samples of the standard wheat are sent to markets abroad1 and all cargoes are sold on that basis4 ,when they arrive at the market abroad they must test up to the f4a4q4 standard4 ,this system has been in force in ,australia for nearly half a century4 ,it must be understood that this standard f4a4q4 weight has nothing to do with the quantity for which the grower is paid4 ,he is always paid on the ,imperial bushel basis1 #fj lbs4 ,whatever the standard may be1 every #fj lbs4 of wheat is a bushel4 ,the f4a4q4 weight is a standard for quality1 not quantity4 ,there is always a market for ,australian wheat1 and the price is always equal to what wheat is bringing in the world's main markets4 ,australian wheat has a character of its own1 and a character that is improving4 ,british millers want it on account of the large amount of flour it produces1 and the colour and bloom it gives to their product4 ,the grain is usually bright and clear in texture and rich in gluten1 having fine milling qualities4 ,of late years ,australian wheats have been considerably improved in strength1 and this factor is continuing1 and they undoubtedly promise to more than equal any wheat produced1 possessing not only colour and bloom1 but also strength1 and giving the miller what he wants to produce an ideal article4 ,illustration3 ,,farmers ,,in ,,australia ,,are ,,not ,,harassed ,,by ,,high ,,rail ,,freights4 ,,cost ,,of ,,producing ,,wheat4 ,the cost of production of wheat is a most important matter to the grower4 ,as already stated1 the comparatively low yields in ,australia are amply compensated for by the low cost of producing wheat4 ,in regard to the work on the farm1 the following figures are approximately the prices for different classes of work when it is done by contract3--,ploughing new ground1 #a4fh per acre2 old or fallowed ground1 #a4de per acre2 harrowing1 #ah cents to #bd cents per acre2 cultivating1 #j4ej per acre2 drilling1 #cf cents per acre2 harvesting with stripper-harvester1 #gb cents per acre2 cutting with binder1 #hd cents per acre2 stooking1 #bd cents per acre2 carting and stacking hay1 #a4ce per acre4 ,superphosphate is the main fertiliser used4 ,australian wheat soils are naturally strong in nitrogen and potash1 but in many cases are deficient in available phosphoric acid4 ,superphosphate costs about #a4bj per cwt41 and may be reckoned at #dh cents to #fj cents per acre4 ,seed wheat runs from #if cents to #a4bj per bushel2 sowing #de lbs4 to the acre represents #gb cents to #hd cents per acre4 ,it is reckoned that if the same work is done by weekly-paid labour the cost is reduced by fully #cj per cent4 all round4 ,illustration3 ,,harvesting ,,scene1 ,,darling ,,downs1 ,,queensland ,in common practice it is considered that it costs #d4hj to #f4jj per acre to put in and take off an acre of wheat4 ,the following figures are reliable estimates of the actual cost of production by official experts1 and also actual figures supplied by working farmers4 ,in the following estimate of the cost of producing wheat it is assumed that the land is fallowed1 and the estimate is based on a yield of #bj bushels per acre3-- ,ploughing once at #a4de per acre #a4de ,harrowing three times at #ah cents per acre #j4ed ,cultivating once at #j4fj per acre #j4fj ,drilling at #cf cents per acre #j4cf ,seed1 #de lbs41 at #hj cents per bushel #j4gb ,pickling seed #j4jf ,superphosphate1 #a_/b cwt4 at #a4bj #j4fj ,harvesting with harvester at #gb cents per acre #j4gb ,seven bags at #a4fj per dozen #j4hd ----- #d4hi ,illustration3 ,,the ,,stripper ,,at ,,work4 ,if the land is not fallowed and the seed sown immediately after ploughing1 the cost is correspondingly less4 ,the above figures are the cost if the work is done on contract4 ,if it is done by weekly hired labour the work comes out about #cj per cent4 cheaper1 as will be seen by the following figures3-- ,ploughing3 ,wages1 one man at #f4jj per week2 man's rations1 #b4dj per week2 feed for four horses for week1 #i4fj2 total1 #ah4jj4 ,one man with four horses in a three-furrow plough will do #bb acres in six days at a cost of less than #j4hd per acre4 ,drilling3 ,man's wages1 #f4jj2 rations1 #b4dj2 horsefeed1 three horses1 #g4bj2 total1 #g4hj4 ,he will drill #ij acres in six days at that cost1 or less than #j4ah per acre4 ,other operations cost similarly less1 but in all cases wear and depreciation of plant and interest on capital invested in plant should be allowed for4 ,these figures1 however1 concern cases where labour is employed4 ,the following figures show the outlay where a man is doing the work himself4 ,he could plough1 cultivate1 and sow #bej acres1 which would take him twenty-two weeks4 ,the first year he has to purchase his seed wheat and feed for his horses3-- #aij bushels seed wheat at #j4hj per bushel #aec4fj #aj tons chaff at #ai4bj per ton #aib4jj ------- #cde4fj ,approximately #a4ch per acre4 ,at harvest time he would first reap portion of his crop to secure a supply of horse feed for the following year1 say1 #aj acres3-- ,reaping and haymaking1 #b men's wages for three days at #a4ib1 food #j4dh per day #ad4dj ,twine 7for binding the sheaves7 #f4jj ,harvesting the wheat crop3 ,one man's wages #a4ib1 food #j4dh per day for forty days #if4jj ,one hundred dozen bags at #a4fh per dozen #afh4jj ,horsefeed1 #e tons chaff at #ai4bj per ton #if4jj ,cartage1 #ajjj bags wheat at #j4ah per bag #ahj4jj ------- #efj4dj ,this is reckoning the crop as averaging #ae bushels per acre1 when the returns would be3-- #ae tons of chaff 7a low estimate7 at #ai4bj per ton #bhh4jj #abjj bags of wheat1 #cfjj bushels at #j4hj per bushel #bhhj4jj -------- #cafh4jj ,less expenditure 7#cde4fj1 #efj4dj7 #ijf4jj -------- ,balance #bbfb4jj ,to be thoroughly correct we should allow for3-- ,interest on plant1 costing1 say1 #aibj4jj at #e per cent4 #if4jj ,depreciation of plant1 #aj per cent4 #aib4jj ,rent on #bej acres at #a4bj per acre #cjj4jj ------- ,total #ehh4jj ,and in addition allow for the value of the farmer's own labour3-- ,twenty-two weeks putting in crop at #ab4jj per week #bfd4jj ,ten weeks harvesting at #ad4dj per week 44 #add4jj ------- #djh4jj ,we still have a satisfactory result1 viz43-- ,returns #cafh4jj ,outlay #egj4jj ,interest1 c4 #ehh4jj ,farmer's labour #djh4jj ------- #aijb4jj -------- ,net clear return #abff4jj ,from this it can be seen that very handsome returns can be obtained where the farmer is working his land properly1 and growing a good portion1 if not all1 of his crop on fallowed land4 ,then his average would be nearer #be bushels than #ae1 and his net return nearly as much again4 ,in the above example1 after making full allowance for all legitimate charges1 the cost of producing a #ae-;bushel crop from #bej acres comes out at about #g4dd per acre4 ,,share ,,farming4 ,one of the most prominent and1 in a sense1 unique features of wheatgrowing in ,australia is the share-farming system4 ,in ,new ,south ,wales1 for instance1 something like one-sixth of the wheat crop is put in on shares4 ,under this system the landowner and the worker with limited means co-operate to their mutual benefit4 ,one provides the land and the other the labour1 and1 under certain conditions1 they share the produce4 ,since it was introduced many years ago1 share farming has become popular because it has proved a boon to both parties and to the different ,states1 while providing an exceptionally safe means of giving men the opportunity to ultimately acquire farms of their own4 ,illustration3 ,,wheat ,,at ,,country ,,railway ,,siding4 ,the conditions upon which land is worked on shares differs slightly in different districts1 but usually they are somewhat on the following lines4 ,the landowner provides the land ready for the plough1 fenced and cleared2 the seed wheat1 and bluestone for pickling same2 bags and twine for his share of the crop4 ,the share farmer usually provides machinery and horses to work the land1 put in and take off the crop1 all labour and bags and twine for his share of the crop4 ,in the majority of cases the landowner and the share farmer each take half the proceeds1 or bag for bag1 each reserving the right to dispose of his share when and where he deems fit4 ,in some cases the agreement is more liberal to the share farmer1 and a fixed amount--perhaps #af to #ah bushels--is agreed upon1 which is shared equally1 any balance being taken by the farmer4 ,this is sometimes adopted as an incentive to good farming1 and in cases as an inducement to attract the share farmer into new districts some distance from the railway4 ,there have been cases where farmers have secured very good crops1 #cj to #cf bushels to the acre1 which meant that they received #bb and #bh bushels per acre for their share1 while the landowner only received #h bushels4 ,these are exceptional conditions4 ,as stated1 the usual practice is to share equally4 ,the following are sample specimens of the different agreements worked under3-- ,the landowner finds the land1 all seed1 and half manure2 the farmer finds plant1 labour1 and half manure4 ,each takes half the crop4 ,the landowner provides land1 all seed and all manure2 the farmer plant and labour1 and takes one-third of the crop1 the landowner taking two-thirds4 ,the landowner provides land only1 and takes one-third of the crop2 the farmer provides plant1 labour1 seed1 and manure1 taking two-thirds of the crop4 ,the landowner provides all stock1 land1 and half manure2 the farmer provides labour1 seed1 and half manure1 and the crop is divided equally4 ,the landowner provides land1 seed1 and manure2 the farmer does all the work1 and the crop is equally divided4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,nice ,,mixed ,,farm4 ,it will thus be seen that some minor differences occur in the agreements4 ,the first of the above list is most common4 ,there are cases1 however1 where a progressive owner is anxious to get his land under wheat1 and has financed the farmer1 finding everything but labour4 ,the landowner has provided a working plant1 for which the farmer pays him from the proceeds of the crops1 the payments extending over a term of seasons4 ,under this system men have started without any capital1 and in a few years possessed a plant worth several hundred pounds1 together with a snug banking account to their credit4 ,of course1 in such cases the landowner knows his man1 and knows he is honest1 experienced1 and capable4 ,usually the men have worked on the place as farm hands4 ,under any conditions it is essential that the share farmer must have certain qualifications4 ,it could not be expected that the landowner would consent to allow him to work valuable land otherwise4 ,practical experience of wheatgrowing is required1 together with a good personal character4 ,local experience is also usually required1 and in any case it would be the wisest course for any man to secure in his own interests such experience before endeavouring to start farming on shares4 ,in ,australia the man who is in earnest1 and determined to go on the land1 will find no difficulty in obtaining such experience4 ,there is a good demand for willing farm workers at a rate of wages that will allow a thrifty man to put something by1 while he is gaining a practical experience and a knowledge of local conditions4 ,once he has those he will not find it difficult to obtain the chance to start working on shares4 ,the share farmer has to find his own dwelling1 and support himself and family4 ,in some cases the owner erects the dwellings under special terms1 but usually1 as the farmer hopes to only be engaged for a few seasons share farming1 the building is of a cheap nature1 as the climate is temperate4 ,a man with #addj4jj or #aibj4jj can purchase horses and obtain a plant1 financing himself for a couple of years without depending too much on credit4 ,men have started with less and succeeded1 as examples given later will show4 ,it is not necessary to purchase a complete plant1 and1 as already stated1 the more expensive implements can be purchased on terms4 ,a man can handle #bjj to #cjj acres1 and at the ruling prices for wheat of recent years1 taking the average obtained by good farmers1 the returns will run from #i4fj to #ad4jj per acre and more for his share4 ,in addition1 after ploughing and sowing is completed1 a team of horses will earn good money at contract work in the district1 carrying on the roads and so on1 until harvest time4 ,in this way a farmer in three or four years1 perhaps less1 will be in the position to take up land on his own account on a private or ,government subdivision1 and start in to build a permanent and comfortable home for himself and his family4 ,while share farming he has proved his capability and obtained the confidence that comes with experience1 together with a valuable knowledge of local conditions1 which is a great help in selecting land for purchase4 ,it will be seen that share farming affords exceptional opportunities for the energetic man with a small capital4 ,he can start without sinking all his capital in rent or purchase money1 and perhaps burdening himself with a heavy debt4 ,in his own interests he has that to farm well1 and indeed in most cases the terms of the agreement require conditions essential to good farming4 ,farmers are usually required to plough to a specified depth1 and at times to prepare an area of fallow land for the succeeding crop4 ,he is allowed to graze his horses on the property1 or given the use of a paddock at a low rental4 ,illustration3 ,,this ,,crop ,,yielded ,,over #cj ,,bushels ,,to ,,the ,,acre4 ,one of the advantages of share farming1 making towards amicable working1 is that the interests of the landowner and the farmer are the same4 ,both are anxious to secure the greatest possible return from the land1 and there is a direct community of interest4 ,the landowner may be more concerned about maintaining the fertility of the soil1 and securing good farming1 but this is also to the interest of the farmer1 and certainly affords him a valuable lesson for the future when he is working his own property4 ,while the system beyond question is equitable and fair1 and gives the farmer an excellent chance to achieve success that would not be the case where he was working on wages1 or an ordinary tenant1 admittedly it is also advantageous to the landowner4 ,he secures a good return from his land1 and avoids the anxiety and trouble often associated with the employment of labour on a large scale1 while he has not to embark a large sum of money in working plant4 ,in connection with a system such as this the evidence of an unbiassed1 independent outside body is1 perhaps1 more convincing than anything else4 ,it is available4 ,in #aiaj ,australia was visited by the ,scottish ,agricultural ,commission1 a body of practical men from ,scotland1 who investigated rural conditions in the ,commonwealth4 ,the ,commission toured the ,commonwealth1 visiting different wheat districts1 and came into direct touch with local conditions4 ,they paid great attention to the share farming1 as its possibilities could not fail to impress them1 and in their report on ,australia3 ,its ,land1 ,conditions1 and ,prospects1 they had the following to say3-- ,after a year or two the newcomer finds himself ready for a start on his own account4 ,if he possessed a few hundred pounds when he landed1 he will now seek to become his own landlord in one or other of the ways open to him4 ,if1 however1 he has yet too little money for that1 he will be well advised to take no risks1 but to be content meantime either with renting a farm or with farming on the share system4 ,a man who is intelligent and industrious1 who has had sufficient experience of farming in ,australia1 but who has not enough money to buy land1 cannot do better than turn his attention to farming on shares4 ,he can take up wheatfarming 444 and if he has a good reputation1 he will find no difficulty in getting on shares the kind of farm he wants4 ,,how ,,the ,,settler ,,is ,,assisted4 ,the different ,australian ,states fully recognise the great value to the community of the farmer1 and special steps are taken to assist him in different ways4 ,financial assistance is rendered through agricultural banks in ,west ,australia and ,queensland1 the ,credit ,foncier in ,victoria1 and ,state ,banks in ,new ,south ,wales and ,south ,australia4 ,through these ,government institutions advances are made to settlers4 ,full particulars in this regard are furnished in another booklet1 obtainable by intending settlers4 ,illustration3 ,,farmers ,,on ,,the ,,way ,,to ,a ,,country ,,show4 ,in ,australia all the railways are ,state-owned1 and the endeavour is to carry farm produce and farming implements1 fertilisers1 c41 at the lowest possible rate compatible with the railways covering working expenses and depreciation of stock4 ,special rates are made for long distances4 ,the rates vary in the different ,states1 but it can be confidently said that they prove no hindrance to successful wheatgrowing4 ,as all the wheat grown in ,australia has to be carried to the seaboard on the railways1 the particulars of success achieved1 as already given1 proves that4 ,the ,commonwealth ,statistician furnishes the following particulars of ,state railway rates for agricultural produce in the different ,states1 which serve as a guide to the settler3-- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,charge per ,ton in truckloads for a haul of ,state4 ----------------------------------- #ej miles4 #ajj miles4 #bjj miles4 ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,new ,south ,wales #a4bj #a4hj #b4bh ,victoria #a4cb #b4jd #b4eb ,queensland #a4aj #b4aj #b4fd ,south ,australia #a4dh #b4aj #c4aj ,western ,australia #a4ej #b4ad #b4ij ,tasmania #a4fb #b4cb #c4ab ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,average #a4cf #b4jh #b4gf ---------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,charge per ,ton in truckloads for a haul of ,state4 ----------------------------------- #cjj miles4 #djj miles4 #ejj miles4 ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,new ,south ,wales #b4eb #b4gb #b4hh ,victoria #b4if #c4cf #c4gf ,queensland #b4hh #c4ab #c4cf ,south ,australia #d4aj #e4aj #f4aj ,western ,australia #d4jh #e4bh #e4gf ,tasmania 444 444 444 ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,average #c4aj #c4ij #d4ch ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,the following table shows the rates on low-class freight1 which includes ordinary articles of merchandise1 such as are particularly identified or connected with the primary industries3-- ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,charge per ,ton for haul of ,state4 ----------------------------------- #ej miles4 #ajj miles4 #bjj miles4 ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,new ,south ,wales #j4fj #j4hf #a4cf ,victoria #a4jb #a4fj #b4dj ,queensland #a4aj #b4aj #c4fj ,south ,australia #a4jj #a4hd #c4bf ,western ,australia #a4bj #b4jj #c4dj ,tasmania #a4bj #a4fb #b4jd ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,average #a4jj #a4fd #b4hf ---------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------- ,charge per ,ton for haul of ,state4 ------------------------------------ #cjj miles4 #djj miles4 #ejj miles4 ---------------------------------------- -------------- ,new ,south ,wales #a4hf #b4cf #b4hf ,victoria #b4hd #c4bd #c4fd ,queensland #d4dj #e4fj #e4fj ,south ,australia #d4bf #e4bf #f4bf ,western ,australia #d4dj #e4fj #f4fj ,tasmania 444 444 444 ---------------------------------------- -------------- ,average #c4fb #d4db #e4dh ---------------------------------------- -------------- ,the railways being publicly owned1 there is always a demand for a reduction of rates when they show any undue profit over working expenses4 ,the object of railway administration is to assist the producer4 ,the oversea trade of ,australia runs into enormous figures1 amounting in #aiac to #gei1dbb1djj4jj4 ,extensive shipping facilities are available1 and the producer has cheap and constant access to the world's markets4 ,the ,australian wheatgrower is practically able to compete on equal terms in this regard with the farmer in the ,north and ,midland counties of ,england4 ,the postal1 telegraphic1 and telephonic services are also ,state concerns4 ,there is a universal penny post throughout ,australia1 telegrams are conveyed at cheap rates1 and special facilities are provided for groups of neighbouring farmers to secure a united telephone service4 ,the farmer is able to keep in close touch with the world's markets through these means4 ,the ,departments of ,agriculture in the different ,states have1 of course1 been created to advance the interests of the farming community4 ,they are large and important departments1 well equipped1 and have proved of great practical value4 ,wheatgrowing being the most important crop in ,australia1 the industry receives special attention1 and scientific investigation and experiment is being constantly made1 and the results communicated to the wheatgrowers4 ,agricultural colleges1 where accommodation is provided for students1 who are given theoretical and practical instruction in different branches of farming2 experiment farms1 where students are also trained2 demonstration farms2 and farmers' experiment plots are conducted by the ,departments of ,agriculture4 ,wheatbreeding and pathological and bacteriological work is carried on1 and expert instructors work in the field assisting the farmer in every possible way4 ,bulletins dealing with different phases of work on the wheat farm1 giving the results of experiments made1 lists of varieties of wheat to plant and when to plant them1 are issued in large numbers1 and either given to the farmer free or sold at a nominal price4 ,agricultural gazettes and journals are also issued monthly1 while topical information is made public through the columns of the press1 which in ,australia devotes an unusual amount of space regularly to rural topics4 ,in ,new ,south ,wales wheat experiments are conducted at the ,cowra ,experiment ,farm1 which is the headquarters1 and at the ,hawkesbury ,agricultural ,college1 and ,wagga1 ,bathurst1 ,glen ,innes1 ,nyngan1 and ,yanco ,farms4 ,at ,nyngan tests are made with a view to determining the suitability of the different varieties for cultivation in dry areas4 ,the work at each farm consists of3--,pedigree plots of the main varieties grown on the farms2 crossbreds in course of fixation for local conditions of soil and climate2 a stud variety trial1 including all standard varieties1 newly-introduced wheats1 and samples sent for identification2 stud bulks to provide seed for planting the farm areas which supply seed wheat for sale4 ,since #ahig the ,government agricultural experts have been endeavouring to determine the varieties of wheats most suitable for different districts1 and to secure new types which return the best milling results locally1 and their efforts have been very successful4 ,in this connection the work of the late ,william ,farrer1 wheat experimentalist of the ,department of ,agriculture1 ,new ,south ,wales1 has become world famous4 ,his efforts were directed to the production of new varieties of greater milling value and more rust-resistant4 ,farrer's wheats1 which rank among the most prolific grain varieties1 are largely cultivated in ,australia4 ,farrer's work is still carried on1 and it has been proved that ,australia can produce strong white wheat equal in flour production to the old varieties1 and equal in strength to the famed standard ,manitoba wheat4 ,australian wheat is eagerly sought after by ,british millers4 ,farrer's work has been of direct and material value to the wheatgrowers1 and his memory is held high in ,australia4 ,prior to the introduction into the wheatgrowing areas of his crossbred wheats1 growers depended mostly upon ,purple ,straw varieties4 ,hardly any varieties were known1 and little attention was paid to the advisability of sowing certain varieties either early or late in the season4 ,the advent of these new varieties has brought about a great change4 ,such an extensive range is provided that farmers can begin their sowing much earlier1 and finish with other varieties much later than was the case before4 ,the sowing season has been lengthened by more than two months4 ,not only is the sowing period considerably prolonged1 but the harvesting period is prolonged also1 for the late varieties sown early mature late1 those sown in mid-season are harvested in mid-season1 and the early varieties which have been sown late mature and are harvested early4 ,thus instead of the whole crop becoming ripe at the one time it ripens in stages1 and is harvested accordingly4 ,such a system has immense advantages over the old days1 when practically the whole crop ripened at once4 ,the foremost variety bred by ,william ,farrer is ,federation1 which has become a general favourite in ,new ,south ,wales1 ,victoria1 and ,south ,australia4 ,this variety is a very heavy yielder1 has good drought-resistant qualities1 and withstands wind and weather so well that it may be said to be storm-proof4 ,it would require a storm of exceptional violence to either cause the crop to lodge or the ear to shed its grain4 ,consequently it is most popular with growers1 and a very large proportion of the wheat area is sown with this variety4 ,it is estimated that in ,new ,south ,wales and ,victoria alone the increased value in yield obtained from this variety is worth over #b1hhj1jjj4jj annually to the growers4 ,it is estimated that the yield of ,federation is at least #c bushels more per acre than the next best yielding variety in ,new ,south ,wales4 ,other of ,farrer's wheats have been singularly successful1 as an instance ,bunyip1 which can be sown safely a month later than was the case with any variety previously4 ,it must be recognised that the result of such experimental work is of great value to the grower4 ,new wheat varieties are bred at the experimental farms1 and thoroughly tested and proved before they are put out to the farmer4 ,in ,new ,south ,wales they are then grown on farmer's experimental plots4 ,the ,state is divided into divisions1 and in each an inspector supervises the sowing and cultivation of these plots1 which are situated on private farms by special arrangement1 the farmer carrying out the work and the department finding seed1 manure1 and supervision1 usually near the roadside1 where the plots can be seen by district farmers and progress noted4 ,the inspector advises growers generally1 while the plots are a silent teacher all the time4 ,they have proved a valuable medium of practical education amongst the farming community1 special attention being given to cultural methods4 ,in #aiaa-ab plots were cultivated in ,new ,south ,wales in eighty-three districts4 ,in #aiaa there were seventy-two farmers' plots in ,victoria on which manurial and variety wheat trials were conducted4 ,in the latter ,state1 however1 a change has been made1 and the majority of these plots have been discontinued1 and a commencement made towards a policy of concentration in experimental investigation4 ,it was decided to establish a ,central ,research ,farm at ,werribee1 on which the initiative with regard to all experimental and research work is undertaken1 while other ,state farms and the ,agricultural ,college will be used as district experiment stations4 ,the work at the ,central ,research ,farm is intended to confer on agriculture the benefits of the most scientific advances by the prosecution of investigations and trials under practical and accurately-recorded conditions concerning problems involved in increasing the agricultural output4 ,attention will be given to improvement of wheat1 soil renovation1 fertilising and tillage methods1 rotation of crops1 c4 ,the farm is within #ah miles of the capital city1 ,melbourne1 and is easy of access by farmers from all parts of the ,state4 ,much of the soil closely resembles in physical character and chemical analysis that of the principal wheatgrowing districts4 ,at ,longerenong ,agricultural ,college and the ,rutherglen ,viticultural ,college attention is given to the improvement of wheat by systematic selection1 crossbreeding and hybridisation in one case1 and the fixation and testing of new crossbred wheats in the other4 ,south ,australia also has its ,government ,agricultural ,college1 where extensive wheat experiments are conducted4 ,the college has been of the greatest benefit to the farming community4 ,in that ,state there are several demonstration and experiment farms established by the ,state1 including the ,parafield ,wheat ,research ,station1 #agj acres in extent1 which is set apart for the raising of high-grade seed wheat for distribution amongst growers1 and the raising of new varieties of wheat by crossbreeding and selection4 ,in ,western ,australia several ,state farms were established for the purpose of demonstrating the possibilities of farming on up-to-date principles in the different districts4 ,having achieved that object as far as pioneering work is concerned1 they are now maintained as experiment stations for the production of purebred cereals1 c4 ,at ,narrogin ,state ,farm students are accepted for instruction in practical agriculture4 ,queensland has its ,agricultural ,college and ,state ,farms4 ,although the area under wheat has not yet attained large dimensions in that ,state1 principally because stockraising proves so profitable1 good average yields are obtained as compared with the other ,states1 and considerable scientific attention is being devoted to wheat culture4 ,at the ,roma ,state ,farm and ,hermitage ,state ,farm extensive wheat experiments are carried out in the way of manurial trials1 variety tests1 and methods of tillage4 ,the greater portion of the ,state ,farm1 ,hermitage1 is devoted to the production of seed wheat true to type1 thus making available a supply of tested seed for the growers4 ,agricultural ,high ,schools are also established in some ,states1 and agricultural teaching and agricultural education extends from the classes in the ,state ,public ,schools1 through the ,high ,schools1 ,agricultural ,colleges1 and finally the ,university4 ,agricultural ,societies exist in practically every farming district in ,australia4 ,they are usually subsidised by the various ,state ,governments1 and conduct annual agricultural shows1 which are a source of education and social entertainment4 ,they are the leading functions in the different country districts4 ,usually experts from the ,departments of ,agriculture attend these shows--at times a special exhibit is made by the ,state ,experimental ,farms--and lecture on agriculture4 ,in the capital cities ,royal ,agricultural ,societies hold annual shows1 which are magnificent exemplifications of the resources of the ,states and the progress in agriculture4 ,wheat competitions are naturally a strong feature of these exhibitions4 ,south ,australia led the way in the formation of an ,agricultural ,bureau1 which has branches throughout the country districts4 ,the members meet regularly1 and discuss farming subjects1 are periodically addressed by officers of the ,department of ,agriculture1 and also hold an annual conference4 ,the bureau has proved a valuable means of education1 as it brings the farmers together1 and engenders a spirit of co-operation and mutual assistance4 ,in ,new ,south ,wales an ,agricultural ,bureau was formed within recent years1 and is now well established1 having nearly #ajj branches4 ,farmers' unions and associations are also powerful bodies in ,australia1 exercising both an educational and political influence4 ,,social ,,life ,,in ,,australia4 ,australia is essentially a ,white ,man's ,country4 ,over #ij per cent4 of the total population of #d1hgb1jei people are of ,british descent4 ,the people are free and democratic1 and their laws progressive and advanced2 in industrial and social legislation ,australia leads the world4 ,it is essentially a peaceful country1 and so far has been blessed by never having war within its boundaries4 ,respect for the law1 and absence of violent crime is a marked feature of life in the ,commonwealth4 ,in the country districts crime is practically unknown1 and it is common for houses to be left unguarded1 and locked doors are rare4 ,the people are kindly and hospitable1 and there is very little class distinction4 ,in its place is an equality of opportunity that opens all avenues to those with ambition4 ,working men and their sons frequently rise to the highest positions the ,states have to offer1 and such an occurrence is so common as to fail to arouse any comment4 ,in politics there is a universal suffrage1 every man and woman having a voice in the government of the country1 therefore the laws are framed for the good of the majority4 ,no land offers better or freer social conditions to the homemaker4 ,advantages offer not only to the settler himself1 but he has every reason to hope for a happy destiny for his children4 ,as has been stated1 the climate is exceptionally healthy and mild4 ,the dry atmosphere1 long hours of sunshine and open-air life tend to health and happiness4 ,indeed it is no exaggeration to say that the fertility of the soil and the congenial climate has greatly lead to easy-going methods of farming1 which are not altogether in the interests of the country4 ,few countries could carry on their rural industries with similar easy methods2 none would leave the people as prosperous as the people of ,australia4 ,the information already given shows that the wheatfarmer1 except in the most isolated districts1 has the facilities for educating his children at little or no cost4 ,living is cheap on the farm4 ,in most parts of the wheat belt fruit grows luxuriantly1 and within three or four years a few trees will provide the settler with sufficient fresh fruit for home consumption1 and to make jam and preserves for the family use4 ,vegetables can be grown during the greater part of the year1 and throughout the twelve months if there is an ample water supply4 ,ideal settlers' homes are to be met with in all districts--a weatherboard or brick cottage1 comfortable and roomy1 with wide verandahs1 covered with creeping grape or passion fruit vines1 a few beds of brilliant flowers1 a vegetable patch1 and an acre or so of fruit trees4 ,many wheatgrowers combine fruitraising or poultry-keeping with wheatgrowing2 some1 in suitable districts1 find great profit in cultivating a vineyard4 ,these developments depend upon the man and his capability and tendencies1 and upon the co-operation and talents of his wife4 ,for his meat supply the farmer usually depends upon his own flock of killing sheep1 varied with beef or bacon procured from the township4 ,if he is within #aj miles of the township he will obtain his bread supply from the local baker1 although1 of course1 many housewives do their own baking4 ,in the country districts1 however1 bread and stores are delivered long distances1 #bj miles and more4 ,the smallest country town has its church1 school1 post and telegraph office1 bank1 savings bank1 stores1 blacksmith's shop1 hotel1 and so on4 ,there is usually a ,school of ,arts1 with a circulating library4 ,the country districts enjoy a system of local government1 and the farmer elects the councillors who manage local affairs4 ,he has his annual show1 usually an annual race meeting4 ,there are football and cricket clubs for his boys4 ,open-air sports are popular in the country districts of ,australia1 and are a splendid means of bringing the young fellows together4 ,the ,agricultural ,bureau or ,farmers' ,associations' meetings provide intercourse with other men on the land4 ,farmers' picnics or carnivals are an annual function in many places4 ,within #b1 #c1 or #d miles away1 according to the size of his farm1 there are neighbouring farmers and their families4 ,the settler is not an isolated unit in a strange land1 but is living in a civilised country amongst civilised progressive people1 enjoying the advantages and facilities of modern conditions1 and living under a system of political and religious liberty4 ,to all white men ,australia1 with its vast tracts of untilled wheat land1 holds out a welcome hand4 ,the self-reliant man1 with a small capital1 can come to ,australia1 confident that with energy and attention to his work he can build up a prosperous career1 and rear his children in a contented home surrounded by health and happiness1 helping in the making of a young1 clean nation1 part and parcel of an enlightened race4 ,by ,authority3 ,mc,c,a,r,r,o,n1 ,,bird ,,co41 ,,melbourne1 #dgi ,,collins ,,street4