parts towards the coast would be better, in spite of the rain, but here, owing to the fungus diseases, you can never do anything.

10346. BY Mr CLARKSON: What are your duties besides inspecting?—I demonstrate the methods of pruning and grafting, and the way to treat with orchards generally. If any new disease makes its appearance I conduct experiments. I also give information and advice to beginners. I advise what manures to use, and to do anything I can to assist the orchardists.

10347. Is there any literature published by the department in connection with fruit growing?—No. There have been a good many bulletins published in the past, but nothing has been issued in some years.

10348. Do you think jam factories or fruit drying appliances wold provide means for the disposal of surplus fruit, or second and third grade fruit?—Not in regard to oranges. The oranges which are difficult to distribute are the navels. These are not suitable for marmalade. Lemon peel has been made from these in a small way. One man who has tried it considers that this would be a profitable industry.

10349. I notice there has been an area set apart down here for repatriation purposes; do you know the land, and is it good?—I know the land well. It is very inferior.

10350. Would you say that it was the most suitable land in the district for the purpose the Government have in view?—With the exception of 25 or 30 acres on the area it is proposed to set apart, I do not think there is anything fit for growing fruit threes. It is only suitable for grazing purposes. It would make splendid paddocks for dairying. The clay varies from three inches to a foot practically over the whole area. I know the area well because I inspected the whole of it for different people, and tried it with the spade. I think you could safely say there are not 30 acres suitable for commercial fruit growing. The land may grow trees, but these trees will never last long, and would not be payable.

10351. The prices appear to me very high, ranging from £5 to £13?—There are places on this area about 3½ miles out where there is a black peaty soil which would grow anything, but that is only on the river flats. I think it would be a cruel shame to put any returned soldier on this land.

10352. By Mr VENN: How many citrus growers are there in the Harvey area?—There are 90 growers who hold 937 acres. There are practically very few who try to make anything out of the ordinary fruits. They have given that up as hopeless, and all have planted citrus fruits.

10353. What is the area of the proclaimed irrigation land?—The boundary is from the Eudoc-road then on west to Eleventh-street.

10354. By Mr CLARKSON: Have you had any experience of irrigation with sprinklers?—I have seen it.

10355. Do you think that system would be more successful with such land as this?—It would be too costly, and you cannot get the sprinklers to work amongst the threes. The trees on R. A Johnson's property, which were planted 24 feet apart, are now almost touching.

10356. Does the sprinkler do away with the necessity for grading the land?—I do not think so, because the water will drain into the low-lying land. If you do not grade it you cannot use it properly, because the tree in the lower parts would never grow.

10357. By Mr VENN: There are not many parts in Australia where the land is so patchy?—No. In Harvey the growers have just planted on a face, without anyone to advise them. Because trees grew well on certain blocks they have planted everywhere.

10358. By the CHAIRMAN: How much land is there in the reticulated area in this district?—Two thousand five hundred acres.

10359. How much of that would you say was occupied?—Considerably over half. Most of the blocks are of 10 acres.

10360. What is the reason that the balance is not taken up?—It was all sold privately. It was originally the Harvey and Hayward estate.

10361. What area is under trees and orchard cultivation?—About 937 acres.

10362. How is it that the other 1,000 acres are not devoted to orchard cultivation?—I suppose they are waiting to see how the others get on. The costs have been so great that most of them have been frightened off.

10363. With a limited market I suppose that hesitancy will be accentuated?—I do not think there will be any more orange planting, or at any rate to any extent.

10364. What are the prices at which the Government has sold the land?—It was all private land, and it was sold for about £10 an acre.

10365. What does it cost per acre to plant citrus trees, and bring them up to the productive stage?—Before trees can bring in any return the costs are at least £50 an acre. That would include clearing, but of course, would not include the purchase price of the land. The Government charges for water are 17s. 6d. per acre per annum.

10366. Will that pay the Government if more land is not devoted to orchard cultivation?—That is the fixed charge on the land. It was based on an estimate given by the Water Supply Department on what they considered would be used.

10367. What would you give us as the cost of working an acre of orchard per year?—Including the whole of the working, fertilisers, spraying, and everything else, about £7 10s. per annum, but with fertiliser, at its present price, you would have to add about another £5.

10368. By Mr VENN: There are several residents here who attend orchards for absentee owners?—Yes. They charge the owners £4 10s. an acre for the cultivation of the land. About one third of the orchards in this district are held by absentees.

10369. By the CHAIRMAN: What should be the return from an orchard which has reached the productive stage?—The average works out at a bushel and a quarter per tree, with 84 trees to the acre.

10370. So that a case of oranges costs roughly 3s. 3d. without picking and marketing charges. What would you say is the price over all?—I so not think it can be done under 4s. a bushel under the present conditions. We get such a weak average of a crop in comparison with other parts of the world. The cost of everything is greater, and yet our prices are practically the same, and we only get half the yield. The average yield at Mildura and Renmark works out at three bushels per tree, and while they use a couple of cwt. of fertiliser per acre we want at least half a ton or more. At the present time they are