Mallee - Part 2
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No. 2 (Mallee Belt).—This we have located approximately as shown. We did not go eastward of the Frazer Range Road, and the mallee may extend a considerable distance in this direction, but from the Frazer Range Road westward it comprises, approximately, an area of 45 miles north and south by 65 miles east and west, or nearly 3,000 square miles, of which 1,350 square miles would be served by the present surveyed railway line from Esperance to Norseman, taking 15 miles on either side as the limit at which payable wheat farming could be carried on. Of this mallee land within reach of the line, probably about two-thirds, or 576,000 acres, is sufficiently good for wheat growing, the balance being barren salt flats and poor sandy soil. There is no sharply defined boundary between this mallee belt and the sand plain, and the southern portion of the belt is much lighter land than that further north. | No. 2 (Mallee Belt).—This we have located approximately as shown. We did not go eastward of the Frazer Range Road, and the mallee may extend a considerable distance in this direction, but from the Frazer Range Road westward it comprises, approximately, an area of 45 miles north and south by 65 miles east and west, or nearly 3,000 square miles, of which 1,350 square miles would be served by the present surveyed railway line from Esperance to Norseman, taking 15 miles on either side as the limit at which payable wheat farming could be carried on. Of this mallee land within reach of the line, probably about two-thirds, or 576,000 acres, is sufficiently good for wheat growing, the balance being barren salt flats and poor sandy soil. There is no sharply defined boundary between this mallee belt and the sand plain, and the southern portion of the belt is much lighter land than that further north. | ||
The land generally is of fair average quality, though we do not consider it equals the bulk of the Crown lands subdivided for selection within the last three years, its chief recommendation being the quantity available in one locality and its reputed suitable rainfall. The soil is very variable, constantly changing from good to light loam, often rather sandy on the surface, the subsoil generally being of a clayey nature with limestone nodules intermixed, and under a proper system of farming should give fair average yields when the rainfall is satisfactory, but as clearing will probably be effected by rolling, the general growing of hay will not be possible until after two or three croppings, owing to the suckering which takes place, and wheat will have to be the mainstay of beginners. | The land generally is of fair average quality, though we do not consider it equals the bulk of the Crown lands subdivided for selection within the last three years, its chief recommendation being the quantity available in one locality and its reputed suitable rainfall. The soil is very variable, constantly changing from good to light loam, often rather sandy on the surface, the subsoil generally being of a clayey nature with limestone nodules intermixed, and under a proper system of farming should give fair average yields when the rainfall is satisfactory, but as clearing will probably be effected by rolling, the general growing of hay will not be possible until after two or three croppings, owing to the suckering which takes place, and wheat will have to be the mainstay of beginners. | ||
| − | There is no natural feed whatever in this mallee until after clearing, as the scrub and undergrowth are too dense to allow grass to grow. It is locally stated that after a bush fire in any of this country good grass comes until the mallee grows again, and no doubt this does in some seasons occur here as in other parts, but none with any grass. Mr. Thompson's farm, the Grass Patch, is at present the only improved property in this district on which farming on the mallee land has been carried on to any extent. This place was started some 14 | + | There is no natural feed whatever in this mallee until after clearing, as the scrub and undergrowth are too dense to allow grass to grow. It is locally stated that after a bush fire in any of this country good grass comes until the mallee grows again, and no doubt this does in some seasons occur here as in other parts, but none with any grass. Mr. Thompson's farm, the Grass Patch, is at present the only improved property in this district on which farming on the mallee land has been carried on to any extent. This place was started some 14 years ago (coming into Mr. Thompson's hands comparatively recently), and was more or less successful financially, whilst chaff could be sold locally at from £7 to £9 per ton. We were unable to ascertain its average yield, but its record crop is said to have been 540 tons of hay from 500 acres, or slightly over one ton per acre ; so its average is probably considerably lower, this no doubt being largely dur to the want of fallow and manure. Twenty-two cwt. per acre would certainly not be thought much for a record crop in any of our recognised farming districts. A much more thorough examination of the surrounding country than has ever been made before has completely established the fact in our minds |
