5992. do you know what the rainfall is in the district?—It is supposed to be 11½ inches; I believe that is compiled from Yarrabin and Mangawine. I do not think we have had that average since I have been here, as we have had three dry years. We had a good bit over 11 inches last year, about 13 or 14 inches I should think, which is the highest since I have been here. I do not know what the rainfall is this year.

5993. How much area have you under crop the year?—I have 400 acres in crop, 100 of that being fallow. I had previous experience of fallow. I had fallowed land previous to the dry year, and had nothing off it, however. Still I believe in the system of fallow, and think it would increase the yield from 5 to 10 bushels, according to the rain, of course. I have Federation that will give up to 30 bushels here on fallow, and that not fallowed will only go 12 bushels.

5994. How much seed and super do you use?— I use 60lb. of seed on the light country, and 37 lb. on the heavy land, with about 45lb. to 50lb. of super on the forest, and up to 60lb. on the light land. I prefer early wheats, although I have had the best crops with late wheats. I think the system of selecting the wheats most suitable to a district would be one of the best means of increasing the yield.

5995. What has been your average yield?—My best average yield was last year, when I had 23 bushels off Lots. A fair average for the district under fallow would be 15 to 20 bushels.

5996. How many bushels would you require at 10s. per bag to pay expenses, including depreciation, but not getting any profit for yourself?—seven or eight bushels.

5997. What implements do you use?—I use a 4-furrow mouldboard plough, with four or five horses. I can do four acres a day with that. I have a 15-disc cultivator, and can do 20 acres a day. I have a 17-disc drill, and can do 20 acres.

5998. What harvester do you use?—I have a 6ft. State implement harvester.

5999. Do you think that the use by the farmer of larger implements would tend to reduce his costs?—Yes, I think so.

6000. What is your opinion of bulk handling?—If it was installed I think that Lindsey's system of getting the wheat from the farm to the siding would be better.

6001. What is your opinion it the tariff?—I think Australia should be self-supporting, and implements should not come into the country free. I think the farmers should take their bit of gruel like the rest of the community.

6002. By Mr PAYNTER: Have your crops or stock ever suffered from disease?—No. I pickle my wheat but do not grade it, although I believe in grading.

6003. Have you tried to grow artificial grasses or fodder crops?—I have experimented with artificial grasses, but without much success.

6004. Have you tried any fruit trees?—Yes, I have a few fruit trees and they do pretty well.

6005. Do you keep pigs?—No.

6006. What wages do you pay?—I am paying 9s. a day for wages; I have two good men, and they work from eight to nine hours a day. I work longer hours myself.

6007. What in your opinion is the minimum quantity of land a farmer should hold in this district?—I think he should hold 1,000 acres of land, and should be able to crop 400 acres annually, working by himself under the proper methods, and with a little extra help at harvest time.

6008. Do you think it would be an advantage for the farmers to co-operate in the purchase of their supplies, and the sale of their produce?—Yes, I think so. One such scheme was started here, but nothing much has been done to it yet.

6009. Do you think our present land laws are calculated to encourage settlement?— I think our land laws are very reasonable. A new chum should have advice before he goes out on the land in printed form, and he should get his land for nothing until his farm is a payable proposition. I think he should have his land for free for five years.

6010. By Mr VENN: Are the rabbits troubling you here?—Yes, they are, and I suggest that facilities be given us for getting them down to the market; that a bonus be offered for trapping them. I could have counted 150 of them the other day in a small crop of Kurrawa of mine, and that is only about 12 acres. I think if the Government supplied is with netting on extended terms, it would assist us, also if they supplied poison at reasonable rates. I think it would be a good idea also if the roads boards were constituted into vermin boards. The farmers are supposed to destroy the rabbits on their blocks, while the Government does nothing to destroy them on their reserves, and it is the Government land that is the trouble. If they increase as they have been doing we shall have a poor chance of getting a crop. They have commenced to burrow in this district. I do not think that fencing the water dams would do very much good, as last year my dam was very low, and I only tracked two of them there.

6011. Do you go in for sheep?—No, but I should like to go in for them if I had proper fencing. I consider the mixed farming proposition will help us. Every farmer should, I consider, have his own place fenced, it is no good fencing in 10 or 12 or them. I also think that a fence should be erected to fence off the northern part of the State. I have no previous experience of rabbits, but the only was to get rid of them in my opinion is for a man to fence off his own block.

6012. What are the railway facilities like here?—I know this district fairly well, and consider that the railway stops about 12 miles from the most thickly populated district. There are 30 or 40 farmers, further out east. If the line were only carried on eight miles it would make a difference. I do not think the rainfall shows a tendency to decrease in that short distance.

6013. By the CHAIRMAN: What are the educational facilities here?—We are trying to get a school at Wadderin, six miles away; we have no school at present.

6014. How far is your nearest doctor?—At Merredin, about 40 miles away.

6014a. Have the officials of the Department of Agriculture been of any assistance to you?— They have only visited us twice in five years, and that was Mr Sutton. I think there should be an experimental farm in every district. It would be a good idea if the Wheat Commissioner had somebody in each district who was working the land on up-to-date lines, that we could go to for assistance.

(The witness retired.)