able controversy on the subject of the cost of production. In my estimation to produce a first class apple we ought to be in the position commercially to do it at 5s. a case. That would represent a fair remuneration. With a crop like that of this season we would want 8s. 6d. a case. The crop is a poor one. If the fruit has to be wrapped for export that would run into another 6d. a case.

10512. To the CHAIRMAN: How many apple trees per acre do you plant?—I plant them 24 feet apart, which gives 75 to the acre. Most growers plant 20 feet apart, making 100 trees to the acre.

10513. What should be the return per tree for an orchard which has been established for five to 10 years?—In some years varieties bear well and in the next year there is only a poor crop. About two cases per tree is a very fair average.

10514. What does it cost to plant an acre of apples and maintain and care for the orchard until say, it is six years old, and in a profitable stage?—I should say about £30 to £40, without the cost of the land. Five acres would cost more than 30 acres.

10515. What does it cost to operate an acre of trees per year from one harvest to another?—A great deal depends on the manure. Manures to-day are exceedingly high in price. It runs about £4 an acre for manure, and taking that as a basis it would cost about £6. With trees in bearing there should be half a ton to the acre of bone dust or super. With regard to repatriation, it would be as well for the Government to use its experts to direct the repatriated men as to what they should do. We have had many instances of new men coming into a district doing foolish things, and the result of course is not a commercial success. That should be impressed on new settlers.

10516. By Mr. CLARKSON: Has any effort ever been made by the experts of the department to assist new settlers or give information to those already settled here?—If one calls at the Lands Department, a lot of free advice is given, but in my opinion that advice should be given on the spot.

10517. By the CHAIRMAN: Do you think cherry culture will become very general in this district?—It is hard to say. Sir Winthrop Hackett was the first to go in for it here, but found that the trees did not bear till they were 10 years old. I am pleased to say this year cherries are the most profitable thing I have, but my trees are 15 years old. They came into bearing at about eight years. It is a long time to wait. There is no doubt the district is suitable for the production of cherries. One of the grievances growers have this year is that it is taking five days to do the trip to Kalgoorlie. Cherries can be landed in Kalgoorlie from Adelaide in three days, and I understand that the freight is practically the same as it is from here to Kalgoorlie. English gooseberries only cost 9d. a packet of 15 lbs. to take to Kalgoorlie from Adelaide, and it is costing us practically the same from here—7½d. If this kind of thing continues I am afraid we shall lose the Kalgoorlie markets.

10518. By Mr. CLARKSON: Is that the usual characteristic of the cherry trees that they must be old before they are productive?—I think in Victoria they being to bear at six years. The climate I think has something to do with it. In Sir Winthrop Hackett's case the period was 10 years. In my case eight or nine years.

10519. By the CHAIRMAN: Have you any remarks to offer on the necessity for evaporation?—I cannot say that is is necessary—that is, to get rid of second class apples.

10520. Will you be able to dispose of this season's crop of apples?—I am glad to say that the Westralian Farmers, Limited, and Producers' Markets are taking the matter in hand, and are forming a direct distributing agency, as well as using the markets, and there is no doubt we shall be able to dispose of the whole of the crop, because it is only a light one this year. The difficulty in the past has been that all the fruits were rushed on to the two markets, Perth and Kalgoorlie, and prices simply collapsed. The intention is that the fruit this year shall be disposed of in the different towns of the State. The idea this year is to put a lot of apples in small packages of 10lbs., which anyone can easily carry, and bring the whole thing more up to date, just as is done in California. By this means it is thought that the metropolitan demand will be fully double, and the cost to the consumer will be very much less.

(The witness retired.)

FRANK OSBORNE NELSON, Orchardist and Farmer, Balingup, sworn and examined:

10521. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been established in this district on the land I now occupy for 13 years. I hold 1,200 acres. There are 460 acres of freehold, and the balance is conditional purchase. I am 4½ miles from a railway station. The whole of the land is fenced, and there are 22 paddocks. I have 110 acres cleared. It is equipped with farm buildings to meet present requirements. All the cleared land has been ploughed. There are 15 acres devoted to orchard. I have not a full plant to work my land. I run about one sheep to four acres. I have 300 sheep, 7 horses, 12 head of cattle, and between 50 and 60 pigs. I had to capital to start with. The minimum area a settler should hold in this district to establish himself successfully is, I think, 300 acres. My clearing cost me £10 per acre for green country, and the old country averaged about £6. By old country I mean country which has been ring-barked for five or six years.

10522. To Mr. VENN: I go in for dairying, and at present it is the most profitable thing I do. I find it difficult to get labour for dairying. There are several good dairies in this district. Phillips told me that he averages 11lbs. a cow for 10 cows for three months. I am next to him. I am milking six cows, and in the last four months got nine cans of cream a month. I have cross bred cows by a pure bred Jersey bull.

10523. By Mr. CLARKSON: What is the monthly return you get from your six cows?—The last month is was £12.

10524. Are the farmers increasing their herds?—Yes, they send their cream to Bunbury and Busselton. I also go in for fat lamb raising. The average weight is about 36lbs. with Border Leicesters. The weight of the wool they give is about 5lbs.

10525. What disadvantages does the district labour under?—At the present time our disadvantage is in regard to freight, and the treatment by the Government is regard to fruit cases.