best methods they should be profitable. I had five acres of orchard, apples, pears, apricots and plums. The trees bore well, but I could not find a market. I would not touch fruit again, not even if there were central markets with proper facilities for dealing. On the whole I am just about satisfied with my investment out here. I am endeavouring to breed rams for the north-west. I think this district is much better adapted to sheep than to agriculture.

9776. By Mr. CLARKSON: Have you any suggestions as to what the State might do for the encouragement of land settlement and the improvement of the agricultural industry?—No, because I am not giving attention to agriculture. What wheat crop I am putting in I put in because at such a time it is my duty to do so. I would prefer to leave agriculture alone. I had 50 acres of rape on which I ran 380 ewes and 320 lambs for four months, and 20 wethers for two months. This year's figures I will send along to you. I see nothing for agriculture in this district except steady improvement by running more and more stock on the place. Stock is required to increase the fertility of the soil, although, of course, it can be over-done with the result that the place is eaten out. (The witness retired.)

ISAAC MILLS, Farmer and Grazier, Kwobrup, sworn and examined:

9777. To Mr. CLARKSON: I have been farming here 14 years. I had previous experience in South Australia. As far as returns go, the land here compares favourably with that of South Australia, but, of course, there is the great expense of preparing the land in Western Australia. However, the result here is very fair. Recently I disposed of 1,300 acres, but I had 2,000 acres. I have been cropping about 600 acres. I had 1,000 acres cleared. Wheat has given me the best results. My best average was in the first few years—about 16 bushels. My average for the last five years has varied from four bushel to 13 bushels. The normal average in my district would be about nine or ten bushels. I have not estimated the cost of cropping. My profits used to go in carting. In point of returns I was perfectly satisfied. I have not found fallow any better than other methods in this district.

9778. To Mr. PAYNTER: The district is too wet in the winter months for fallow, while the spring is too dry. I found Marshall's No. 3 and Silver King the best wheats both for hay and for grain. I use a bushel of seed and from 45 to 80 lbs. of super, according to the ground. I do not think bulk handling would reduce farming costs in this State, our farmers being so widely scattered. I do not favour the continuance of the wheat pool. My objection to it is that it brings us practically to the same state as the Russians and makes slaves of us. We have to produce the stuff and we have no say in the disposal of our goods. I think the conditions of land settlement that prevailed when first I came here were the best, namely, selection before survey and low prices for the land. I have no time for Government assistance or Government interference. We have too much fancy legislation. I am opposed to the registration of orchards. It is simply class legislation and is of no benefit to the grower. I have one mulberry tree for which I have to pay 2s. 6d., although I do not get sixpenny worth of fruit from it; yet we are told we are in a free country. Much of our time is taken up in furnishing returns for one Department or another. It is because of these things that I have sold my land. My sons also have got away from the land and they declare they will never come back to it. This is an ideal country for wool growing. It can produce wool second to none. Only the sheep have kept me on the farm. The carrying capacity of ringed country in this district, when cleared, would be about four acres to the sheep. The first fires are followed by a large crop of suckers. I have not had much experience of poison. The narrow leaf poison is very difficult to eradicate. Prickly poison is much easier to deal with. I do not think poison land in its natural state is of any value at all. The State is doing well if it can get such land cleared and brought under protection. From an agricultural point of view, this State affords a better opening for a young man of grit than does South Australia. One year with another better results would be produced here from £3 land than from £10 land in South Australia. (The witness retired.)

FREDERICK THOMAS ROPER PIESSE, Farmer, Katanning, Manager of Messrs. F. & C. Piesse, sworn and examined:

9779. To Mr. CLARKSON: The cry that wheat growing does not pay might be heard less frequently if farmers kept books to show the exact difference between grain growing and wool growing, and the feeding value of their crops. Many farmers fail to give due credit to their cleared country. On my brother Cecil's property I am farming 2,500 acres. I find I must clear every acre before I can get my money out of it. The carrying capacity of the district in its natural state is about one sheep to five or six acres. I have comfortably carried on 4,000 acres of cleared land and 2,000 acres of bush, 4,000 acres weaners. At Wallacup we can deal with poison by cutting it up into paddocks. Cereal growing in itself has paid us, including interest on the capital invested. I hold 10,000 acres of land, of which I consider 5,500 first class. I have 3,200 acres cleared and 900 in process of clearing. I am cropping this year 2,200 acres, of which all but 90 acres is fallow. I find a better result from fallow. I have instituted a card system under which each paddock has been measured up and every item of expense taken into consideration. In a broad sense, my crop has cost me 32s. 6d., inclusive of bags, depreciation and interest. My highest average yield from Katanning farm has been 19 bushels. The normal average for the last three years, including the bad year with the wilt, has been from 9½ to ten bushels. I am not breeding sheep. I am feeding sheep by growing a big proportion of oat crops. Probably 6,000 sheep pass through my hands in a year. The present carrying capacity of my holding is 5,000 sheep. I find oats more profitable on the lighter lands, going up to £4 12s. 6d. per acre; that is, by growing oats and feeding them off two or three times and eventually reaping them and counting the stubble value. The green feeding value from oats works out at about £2 per acre, on early grown oats. I value the feeding of the oats stubble at 7s. 6d. to 10s. per acre, and the wheaten stubble at about 3s. per acre. I do not favour the largest machinery. I am not using any-