8415. By Mr. PAYNTER : How much fallow have you ? - None. I did have 140 acres of fallow and was renting an adjoining block and I sowed broadcast without manure in April. Heavy rain fell when I came to work on the fallowed block. We got no more rain for six weeks. Off the fallow I got two bags; off the other I got four. The fallow was ploughed about August. I plough four inches deep and give it two cultivations after ploughing. If I had sown an early variety of seed I would have produced half as much more wheat. The season seems too short for late wheats. I like King's Early. I sow three - quarters of a bushel of seed to the acre and pickle, but do not grade. I never have had smut. We had grubs this year. I have a four - furrow mouldboard with six horses and do five acres a day. I have a 15 drill, which does 15 acres. I think harrows do more harm than good. I have a seven - foot Sunshine harvester. Four bags has been my highest average, that was last years. Wheat growing is a gamble. It is not always when the farmer puts in his best work that he gets the best results. I have tried wheat for six years now and the average over the whole period is six bushels. The tariff is very heavy on the industry, If we had 3s guarantee for our wheat, the position would be brighter. We do not know what the manure bags or the freight will cost us. If these were supplied a man would know the price that he would get for his labour. Clearing costs 25s. or more often 30s.; to employ one man on an average at £2 a week and tucker, a settler should have at least 1,000 acres first class land. To warrant the expenditure on horses and implements, a man should have 800 acres cleared and with help at harvest time, he should do 300 acres and that would keep him busy. The land conditions are satisfactory. The rainfall was 13.68 last year. After my seven years experience. I consider that mixed farming is the proper thing for this district, and when the land is cleared, it will carry stock.

                                                        ( The witness retired ). 

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ROBERT CARRUTHERS ( R. & J. Carruthers ) Lowther Field, Lake Grace, Farmer, sworn and examined :

8416. By the CHAIRMAN : How long have you been in this district ? - Since 1911. I farmed in Scotland for over 18 years. I hold 3,495 acres that is between my son and myself. We hold 2,000 acres conjointly. My son holds 495 acres and I hold 1,000 acres ; 3,000 are first class, one block cost 18s. 6d ., the other block 16s. The property adjoins the station. None of the property is ring fenced. We have 625 acres cleared ; two dams, one 1,500 yards 12 feet deep and the other 1,800 yards, 10 feet deep. Both have been permanent up to now. I could get 12 feet deeper. I am a married man with 11 children, four of school age and the school is 1½ miles distant. I have a bush house, covered with hessian and iron, bush stables and sheds, a set of implements, 12 working horses, three cows, and a bull. I had £100 capital when I started and borrowed £800 from the Agricultural Bank. I owe some rent and other items to the Industries Assistance Board, making about £220 and other liabilities, about £100. I have 500 acres of crop of my own and 80 acres on shares, going seven bushels. Last year I had 15 bushels average. Since I have been here my average has been 8¼ bushels. Outside my boys have earned £350, while my girls have been out and assisted me to the extent of £260, and we have done all our own work. Combined with a few sheep and cattle only will wheat growing ever be a success. Any boundary fence here must be both rabbit and dog proof.

8417. By Mr. VENN : How many sheep can you carry ? - If I had all my improvements done, I could carry 1,000 ewes, but three months terms from private firms would be useless. If we had easy terms and stock from the government, we could do well for ourselves and for the state also. If I had reasonable assistance to help me to get stock I would be well satisfied with my land. The rabbits, of course, are great pest out here.

                                          ( The witness retired ) .
                    
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JAMES BENEDICT RICHES, Farmer, Lake Grace sworn and examined :

8418. By the CHAIRMAN : How long have you been in this district - Since 1911. I had farming experience in Victoria in the Western district. I was seriously affected with rheumatism and came here for the climate. I hold 999 acres, 600 first class, the balance is not worth fencing, being scrub and gravel. I inspected it before taking it up. The price is 13s .; 260 acres are cleared. I have a shed 36 by 32, but no house and no implements. I had 207 acres of crop in this year. I want horses. When I came here I had £1,000 capital. I have not borrowed money and I do not owe anybody anything ; 14 acres of Bunyip yielded an average of eight bushels while 33 acres produced 12 bushels and 160 produced 380 bags. To fence in some of the land out here is simply to throw money away. I have 80 acres wire netted. Dogs are very bad. I am trying now to get a few sheep. I did not go in for implements. I am a bachelor. You cannot depend on the labour in this district and since the war it has been simply impossible, otherwise I have no grievances.

                              ( The witness retired )

ARTHUR FREDERICK BISHOP, Farmer, Brockham, Lake Grace, sworn and examined :

8419. By the CHAIRMAN : How long have you been here ? - Since 1911. I was one of the three first settlers out here. My early life I spend on my Farther's Farm in the old country. Afterwards I was a miller and corn dealer. I hold 1,800 acres ; 700 or 800 acres is first class and the balance grazing country. The first thousand acres was 18s. since reduced, I think to 10s. I am four miles from the railway ; I have a single wire fence round 600 acres ; 300 acres are cleared and 130 acres chopped down. I have a 1,200 yard dam 11 feet deep which has been permanent up to the present as there is four feet of water in it and I could go deeper if necessary. I am a married man with five children. One of them is at school four miles away. I have a hessian and iron house, bush stables, iron roof and shed, a full set of implements, six working horses, a cow, two calves and 12 pigs. I had £550 from the Agricultural Bank and