quantity of dairy produce from the Eastern States. I myself have had a cow here for two and a-half years and she was only dry for three days in all that time, and she is depastured on the natural grass, and she has kept us in butter and milk all that time. I do not think that the dairying industry will be carried on on a big scale as yet, because in these times the farmer has so much other work to do, but cows are nevertheless very profitable in a district like this on account of the good natural feeding; but some of the cows here get garget owing to the cold, and the consequence is that the udder and the quarters are ruined. Nevertheless, for six months in the year the country is very good for dairying. Quite a large quantity of cream could be sent from here. My idea is that eventually the butter industry will obtain in the dry districts. That was the case at Wilmington, in south Australia , a very dry district , in which dairying was carried on successfully even in the dry areas. Cows seem to produce more cream in one day here and there than they do in six weeks in the South-West district. I know one settler in Victoria who has come to the conclusion that, with more chaff and bran, dairying can be made more profitable in the dry areas than any quantity of fodder crops grown for cows. Personally, I have not fed my cows since I bought them. My own opinion is that if the South West district is anything like what is claimed for it, it should have produced all the butter that we require in Western Australia many years ago. I also think that by experimenting we shall get the most suitable wheats in time for this district. It we had a good agricultural college in a central position here and scholarships allotted by the Government it would be a good thing both for the boys and for the state as a whole, and the farmers' boys could have an opportunity of becoming specialists. At the present time we have to import everybody that we want who has had special training. Such an agricultural college should be based on the principles obtaining in New South Wales and South Australia. Up to the present time the Chapman State Farm has been a failure, for the reason that it is isolated and the Government is too frightened to pay a competent man to look after it. I think that a boy should be enabled to got to one of the State farms until he is 17 years of age, and I think the principal in charge should be paid £700 or £800 a year. The practice here is to give a man £200 a year, and it is not reasonable to suppose that he can turn out decent men. I think perhaps that Northam would be the most central position for an agricultural college. There the rainfall is better; but at the same time the methods are the same that apply to this district. In that centre there would be opportunities for a boy to learn all about stock and farming. Take my own case. I have had to pay £5 5s.here for a bore, yet at Roseworthy College you could get the very best for £1 1s. Then, too, one ought to be able to procure a stud bull at a fair price. The breeding of these animals should be carried out at the agricultural college. In South Australia the Government lays itself out to raise experimental crops, from which students and farmers can learn something. In this State it is impossible at the present time for the farmer himself or his boy to learn anything at all. My opinion is that children in the agricultural district should have the opportunity of obtaining an agricultural education at least of an elementary nature. Another thing I think should be done is to send expert men throughout these districts to lecture to us. I think this particular applies to veterinary surgery. Every farmer should have some knowledge by means of lectures or personal advice on diseases in horses, because it must always be remembered that most of us who are pioneering the agricultural districts have very little, if nay, knowledge of agricultural and veterinary science. But in any case, I think that the Government could make a point of providing every farmer, on terms of course, with one cow or more for the use of his family. The children would be benefited to the greatest possible extent by a concession such as this.

ARTHUR JOHN HESFORD, of Hesford Bros.,

Perenjori, sworn and examined:

6554. To the CHAIRMAN: We have been here a little over five years but had no previous experience as farmers, with the exception of one of our brothers whose experience is very limited. Two of us came out of solicitors' offices, one of us was a carpenter and the other a storekeeper's assistant. Among us we hold 4,240 acres , half of which is forest; one of our blocks cost 12s., another 10s. 6d., another 10s., another 9s., and 240 acres 10s. The average runs out at about 11s. an acre , and the land runs from half a mile to four miles from the railway siding. Altogether we have cleared about 1,000 acres and 200 acres have been rolled in addition. Only one block of 1,000 acres is fenced all round with three wires. I myself am a married man and my house is of wood and iron, but I have no family and my brothers are all bachelors. We have also an iron stable and the machinery is placed under the same roof. The building is 66 by 28 feet. We have a good well on the property of splendid stock water which is quite drinkable and we have nearly everything in the way of implements and 10 working horses , two light horses and two foals, a cow and a calf. Our capital was £900. The Agricultural Bank advanced about £840 and at the end of March last, so far as the I.A.B is concerned, we were in credit a little. This year we have had 24 tons of manure as well as the monthly supplies of stores. Altogether we cannot owe them more than £250 on this account, but we have accounts due to firms which the Board has undertaken to pay. These are outstanding to the extent of about £400. About £140 is owing to my sister. The average rainfall is 11 inches and this all falls practically in the growing season. We also get rain in January and February but we do not keep a rain-gauge.

6555. To Mr.CLARKSON: We have 700 acres under crop and 40 of them were fallow. That is on sand plain, but it is not as good as the crop on the good land. We do not work our fallow. Our highest average has been 14 bushels for 300 acres. Last year we got 13½ bushels for 600 acres and we reckon upon 12 bushels this year for 700 acres, 140 acres of which will be cut of hay. We reckon that a 12 bushel crop will pay all our expenses and our own wages, but under present conditions, of course, that does not pay, especially when you remember that our average for the four past years has only been eight bushels, so that undoubtedly we have gone back in