farms was an important part of my policy. I had come from a State where the closing down of State farms had not been considered, but where the question was to counteract the agitation for the establishment of new farms. I came to the conclusion that the reason Professor Lowrie had recommended the closing down of these farms was on account of the difficulty of getting a proper staff to control them. I determined that that was a difficulty which should be overcome. I felt that to close down these farms would be a retrograde step, and I decided that they should not be closed down, but that they should be reorganized. I pointed out that in the past they has been run to some extent as model farms, and that that was not the function of the State. The State farm is a place from which information should be obtained. In my report for 1912, I pointed out—

The production in commercial quantities of pure seed wheat of the standard varieties, for sale to farmers, so that they can obtain clean fresh stocks of seed, raised on up-to-date lines and improved as the result of selection. The production, by cross-breeding, of new and improved varieties of wheat specially suitable for the various climatic and soil conditions of the different districts of Western Australia.

You have the product of that on the table now. I went on to say in that report—

As facilities become available, and the soil and other conditions suitable, this experiment work will be gradually and largely extended. It is proposed that the scope will include experiments— (1), To determine the most suitable varieties of wheat for hay and grain. (2), To determine the most suitable time to sow the crop. (3), To determine the proper quantity of seed to sow. (4), To determine the advisability of feeding off early sown crops and the best time to remove the stock from the crop. (5), To determine the agricultural value of different sources of plant food (including our local phosphates). (6), To determine the effect of the direct application of simple and combined fertiliser to the wheat crop. (7), To determine the effect of applying certain fertilisers continuously to the same land— (a) with wheat crop; (b) with a fodder crop. (8), To determine the most profitable depth to plow for fallowing; when to work the fallow; the depth to work the fallow, and the most suitable implements for the purpose. (9), To determine the most suitable fodder and change crops for the district. (10), To determine the most profitable sheep for the farmer's purpose.

Those were the objects I had in view, and some of them have been carried out. Experiments have been conducted, and I have no hesitation as a result of those experiments, in recommending for the Eastern wheat belt four varieties of wheat, namely, Federation, Gluyas Early, Bunyip, and Fairbank. Bunyip is the most valuable for sowing late in the season. I do not recommend Bunyip on fallowed land. For fallowed land I would recommend Federation and Gluyas Early. My report was written when I had been here for only a year. With regard to the proper quantity of seed to sow, I started certain experiments, which have been conducted up to the present time with the facilities available, and they are still going on. The other experiments I had in mind have not been started owing to the lack of a proper staff. That is the great difficulty, and it has been more acute since the war started. With regard to stock, the Minister has approved of my obtaining some Leicester and Border Leicester rams for the Chapman and Merredin farms, and I have had these mated with merinos in order to get some idea which is a better cross for those particular places. Just before I left Cowra they had got the information that either Lincoln Leicester or Border Leicester were very satisfactory to cross with the merino. As to which will give the best results depends upon the individuality of the ram rather than upon the breed. All of the important breeds are good, and the rest is management. I would not think of using a Romney on the eastern belt. My policy has changed to this extent, that instead of going on with these experiments, which require specially trained men to conduct, I have recommended to the Minister that establishing pure bred flocks of Borders at Chapman. With regard to Merredin I have not made a definite recommendation. We have a pure bred flock of Lincolns of Lincolns at Narrogin in order to raise pure stock for the farmers. That is the only change I have made in my policy. So far as the other work is concerned, my policy was to ascertain what the farmers' problems were, to solve them for them and act as general adviser. I endeavoured to make the farmers approach me whenever they had difficulties to solve, an endeavoured to make them consider that in me they had a friendly adviser, whose services were at their disposal. In 1911, when the first drought was experienced, we had to keep men on the land, and I obtained seed wheat for them. At other times problems have cropped up which I have endeavoured to deal with to the best of my ability.

8770. In connection with the State farms, is there any proposal to establish a pure breed of pigs?-- They are already established. At Narrogin there is a pure breed of Berkshires; and at Chapman there is the same thing. There are no pigs at Merredin. When I came here I found that they had a number of pigs there, but they were mixed up anyhow for want of management. I decided that the best thing to do was to clear them out and start afresh. I might add that, with regard to my experiments, a statement I have here will show you just what has been done. In order to deal with the untrained staff, I prepare specifications for each one, which I expect to have carried out. The men were getting on very well when war broke out. I have here also some of the results, and I have been endeavouring during the past few months to write them up and publish them.

8771. These experiments of yours are only a few months old?-- Most of them are only four years old. The fertiliser experiments are about three years old. Some of these I would call demonstrations rather than experiments. When I came here I found that farmers had an idea that they might use half bone dust instead of superphosphate. Those who understood the science of the question know that is not right, but there is nothing like results to convince the farmers. We can publish those results now. Now we are getting information with regard to seeding and depth of ploughing. Another experiment we started recently at Chapman is in connection with sheep. We are running two 25 lots of sheep in yards in order to ascertain the quantity of dry food they will require to keep them in condition. I consider that is a vital matter in connection with the proper keeping of stock in our wheat belt. That will be continued at Chapman and next year at Merredin.