prove of the system of fallow and consider we get six bushels more off fallowed land.

6108. How much seed and super. do you use?—I use 1 1/4 bushels of seed on all land, and 80 to 100 lbs. of super. I am, however, only using a bushel of seed this year, and it is looking as well as when I used a bushel and a quarter. I consider the average yield for the last five years for the district would be 13 bushels. A good average year the yield should be 18 bushels.

6109. How many bags would you require at 10s. per bag to pay expenses?—I should require 3½ bags to pay working expenses, including depreciation, but without getting any profit for myself. That is, not allowing for the sheep paying anything towards the farm.

6110. What implements do you use?—I use a 4-furrow plough with six horses, and think 4½ acres a day would be a fair day's ploughing. I have a 17-tine cultivator and average 15 acres a day. I have a 15-drill and do 15 acres. I have a Mitchell harvester, and manage six acres a day.

6111. Do you think the use by the farmer of larger implements would reduce his costs—I think the use of larger ploughs would reduce the cost, but it seems to me that if the drill or harvester is too wide the weaker it becomes, and the more difficult it is to replace broken parts. I think bulk handling would reduce my costs.

6112. What is your opinion of the tariff as it affects your machinery?—I think farming implements should come into the country free of duty.

6113. By Mr. PAYNTER: Have your crops or stock ever suffered from disease?—I had a little rust last year. I pickle my wheat, but do not grade it.

6114. Have you ever tried to grow experimental crops of fodder grasses?—Yes, but they were no good.

6115. Do you keep pigs?—No, but I consider the district is suitable for pigs.

6116. What wages do you pay?—8s. a day. The labour is satisfactory. My men work on an average 10 hours a day, but I work all sorts of hours myself.

6117. What in your opinion is the minimum quantity of land a farmer should hold in this district?—I consider he should hold 1,000 acres to make a decent living, and should be able to crop 300 acres annually with a little help at harvest time; that is under the best methods of fallow. I think it would be a good thing if farmers co-operate in the purchase of their supplies and sale of their produce. I think our land laws are reasonable.

6117A. By Mr. VENN: Do you think this is a dairying district?—No. I think I can make farming pay in this district. Given normal seasons, the district is a fairly good one. Generally speaking the conditions of the farmers here are good and they are improving their methods, I think, as time goes on. A lot of the farmers here have dirty land, owing to not running sheep. My sheep always keep the sarsaparilla down. We also have stink-wort, and I have to dig it up every year.

(The witness retired)

STEPHEN McMANUS, Farmer, Goomalling, sworn and examined:

6118. By the CHAIRMAN: How long ago have you been in this district?—I have been farming in this district for six years. I purchased 1,760 acres. partly freehold, part C.P. I am eight miles from the railway. I have 1,000 acres of first class land, and the remainder second class land. I have 1,000 acres cleared.

6119. What buildings have you?—I have a batt and iron house of six rooms. I have sheds for my machinery, and stables of iron and wood.

6120. What is your water supply?—I have two wells, and the Goldfields Water Scheme. I think the holding fee of £5 and domestic fee, are too much, and consider it should be wiped out, as we do not use the water for domestic purposes. I use the water for my stock and cannot at present use the amount for which I am charged. I think I pay 8s. a thousand. The price is too high, and I do not think it should be more than 6s.

6121. Have you a full farming plant?—Yes, and 11 horses. I have two other light horses and one cow. I have no sheep and no pigs, but devote the land to wheat growing.

6122. By Mr. CLARKSON: How much land do you have under crop?—450 acres, 370 being fallowed. I approve of the principle of fallow, and think it will yield six bushels per acre more.

6123. How much seed and super. do you use?—I use from a bushel to a bushel and a quarter of seed according to the quality of the land. I use 90lbs of super. on average. My average yield for the last five years has been 12 bushels, and I think that it is a very fair average for the district for normal years. I should require 10 bushels an acre at 10s. a bag to pay expenses before getting anything for myself. My highest yield has been 19 bushels.

6124. What implements do you use?—I use a 6-furrow mouldboard plough with seven or eight horses, and do from six to eight acres a day according to the land. I have a 13-drill, and do from 12 to 15 acres. I cultivate my fallow sometimes once and somethings twice, in October and March. My cultivator is a 17-tine, and I do 15 acres a day. I have a 50in. harvester and do six acres a day.

6125. Do you think the use by the farmers of larger machinery would tend to reduce their costs?—Yes.

6126. What is your opinion of bulk handling?—That would also reduce our costs: I have not considered a way of getting the wheat from the farm to the station. I think farmer's implement should come into the country free.

6127. By Mr. PAYNTER: Have your crops or stock ever suffered from disease?—I had dry blight last year. I pickle and grade my wheat.

6128. What wages do you pay?—33s. to 35s. for farm hands, and 25s. for casual hands. The labour is not satisfactory. The men work from nine to ten hours a day. I work from 12 to 15 myself.

6129. What, in your opinion, is the minimum quantity of land a farmer should hold in this district?—640 acres, and a man working by himself should be able to crop 400 acres a year, that is with large implements, and under the best methods of farming. I fallow 5½ in. deep on heavy land, and 4½ in. on light land.

6130. By Mr. VENN: Are there any dairy farmers in this district?—I do not know of any, and I do not consider this would be a good dairying district.

6131. By the CHAIRMAN: Have you any other suggestions to make to the Commission?—Yes, I think we want chiefly bulk handling, and the reduction of the tariff.

(The witness retired)

The Commission adjourned in Perth.