in drains the roads also would be improved considerably. In places you cannot get along the roads with stock. If the land were properly drained it could be put to much better use. Last year I put in 40 acres of grass seed and it has nearly all rotted. There is no "get away" for the water. What is required is one big main drain in order that the settlers could lead the surplus water into it. It is water-logged in the winter, and then in the summer it is difficult to get a drink of water. The price of conditional purchase land in this district has gone up to 25s. The cost of clearing is from £5 to £15. Some of the land in this district which was considered no good has become very productive. This is where the people have gone to the trouble and expense of getting the water off it. Drainage is required more than anything else.

(The witness retired.)

FREDERICK ROBERT GARDINER, Farmer, Boyanup, sworn and examined:

10649. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been about 20 years in this district, I have 540 acres of which 308 is freehold and the balance conditional purchase at 10s. per acre. Some of it is eight miles from a railway station. It is all fenced, 140 acres cleared, and 100 acres have been under the plough. I have eight acres of orchard. I consider my homestead and buildings are good. I have a full working plant, 12 horses, 10 head of cattle and 340 sheep. I started with a capital of £85. I have never borrowed any money.

10650. To Mr. VENN: I consider the carrying capacity of my land a sheep to 2 acres, apart from the cultivated area. I find that the Subterranean clover grows well, and is improving the plain country considerably. The district wants a better system of drainage. There should be a big main drain to take the surplus water, say, into Crooked Brook. We should then have a lot more country to work. I do not do much dairying. When I came here 20 years ago there was not a cow within three miles of Boyanup. To-day there are 150 head, all kept on small holdings. There were no sheep here either. This year there were 3,000 shorn. Twenty years ago the land carrying this stock would not carry a sheep or a cow. The settlement is a very prosperous one.

10651. What manure do you apply to your orchard?—I use from two to three tons on my orchard per annum. Unfortunately I had tons and tons of fruit wasted last year for the reason that there was no market for it. The only question I wish to bring before you is the matter of drainage. I find with the plain country once it has been drained it holds the moisture better than the chocolate country, and will ultimately have a heavy carrying capacity. Where Mr. Duce is now carrying a great number of stock, 20 years ago we had to buy chaff to keep our working horses from falling off in condition. In regard to the sandy country, I consider than once money is spent on it in clearing and the putting down of grasses, say at a cost of about £10 per acre, it will carry stock well.

(The witness retired.)

THURSDAY, 17TH JANUARY, 1918. (At Donnybrook.)

Present: J. O. Giles, Esq., Chairman. H. H. Paynter, Esq. | F. E. Venn, Esq.

VALENTINE CAMFIELD MITCHELL, Farmer, Donnybrook, sworn and examined:

10652. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been 29 years on the land in this district. I hold about 1,700 acres. Of this about 1,100 is freehold and the balance 12 to 15 years conditional purchase. It is 2½ miles from the railway station, it is all fenced, 200 acres cleared and ploughed, and about 700 acres of the balance partly cleared. I consider my homestead and buildings are good. I have two acres of orchard and 10 acres of potatoes are grown yearly. I have all the necessary plant for working the land. I keep 20 horses, about 20 head of cattle and this year I sheared 700 sheep, and I keep 10 or 12 breeding sows. I sell from 150 to 200 pigs each year. I started with no capital and have had to borrow a small amount since. I bank with the Commercial Bank. I have no difficulty in getting what accommodation I require; in fact the banks are willing to invest money in good agricultural security. I go in principally for grazing stock. Last year I had about 10 acres of potatoes and averaged 11 tons to the acre. I only had six acres in one year and took over 1,000 bags from it.