Mallee - Part 1

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In 1914 I had only 102 acres in. Of this I stripped 45 acres for 200 bushels, and cut 55 acres for eight tons. The rain was very late. In 1915 I had in 190 acres, of which I cut 50 acres for hay and stripped 140 acres. I got not quite eight bushels of wheat and 32 tons of hay. In addition, I had 12 months pig feed for six pigs. I used the same quantity of seed, but 70lbs. of super. The land was worked fallow and the rest was skim ploughed. I carted the wheat to Norseman and sold it at 4s. a bushel. I had two cows but one has died in consequence of eating boiled wheat. I have two heifers and a little chap I am keeping for a bull. This year I have 180 acres in crop. I am expecting it to yield much the same as last year, namely, about eight bushels. The best of it is Yandilla King. I have about six acres of Comeback from which I am expecting 18 bushels. There are 20 acres of Florence which should go about 16 bushels, and I expect nine bushels from the Cross-bred wheat. If we get dry weather the 50 acres of Turvey's wheat will bring me back to an average of about eight bushels. I will cut about 20 acres for hay and strip the rest. I do not think I will harvest the 34 acres of oats, but will feed it off. I have only one small dam six feet deep. Last year was the only occasion on which it has gone dry. I have good feed on the cleared portion which I have not under crop. I estimate the value of my improvements as follows:—Clearing £500, fencing £160, dam £25, house and sheds £100, total £785. In my opinion, the district is all right for wheat growing provided the land be properly worked. Good farming methods will pay. I am not satisfied with many of the crops in the district. Farming in the district has been very roughly done. Some of my own is bad enough.

268. Would you leave the district if the Government offered you a farm of equal value in another district?—No, it would have to be a better district. My holding adjoins the railway survey. The dingoes are pretty bad at times. Sheep would have to be penned at night or fenced in a wire netted paddock. There are a few rabbits, but nothing much. I have had assistance from the Agricultural Development Vote. We cannot cart wheat to Norseman and pay rents without a railway. I could make a living and meet all obligations on 2s. 6d. a bushel bought at the door. My rents are not paid up. All my store bills are paid. Cartage to Norseman is £5 a ton for wheat. I have no wagon. I could do better with a wagon than with drays. With a light wagon, eight horses could take five tons to Norseman. We have had to pay enormous freights on machinery. MY first I brought via Esperance. The drill cost something like £15 to bring from Perth.

269 What is the best way to assist the development of this district?—Only by a railway.

270. By Mr. PADBURY: You have been farming nearly all your life?—Yes, at Riverina, in New South Wales. My only trouble with water occurred last year, when the little dam ran out. There is no fear of any salt except in the lakes. Possibly Calcutta oats would do better than Algerian for feed purposes. The assistance I had from the department was in respect of clearing in the first place. I could have got more assistance for my work. I have had a man on nearly ever since I came to the place. I pay £3 a week, the man to keep himself. Lately I have not had a man employed. We get unskilled labour for the most part. Without a railway the proposition is not altogether profitable, but I think I could make a do of it given good seasons.

271. By Mr. McDONALD: Have you been able to keep your interest paid up?—No, nor the land rent. I took some samples for analysis for Mr. Middleton. I did it at his request. I did not know what was his purpose. I took three samples and he took others. He took one from near the edge of a lake. If he had sunk a hole there he would have got salt water at three feet. A really good crop was grown there. Another sample was taken from the top of the hill, and a third from the south end, both in ordinary mallee country.

(The witness retired.) GEORGE STEVENSON, AGED 51, Farmer, Norseman-Esperance Road, married, one daughter, sworn and examined:

272. By the CHAIRMAN: What land do you hold in this district?—I have 1,000 acres Conditional Purchase, Location 49. I was reared on a farm in Ayrshire, Scotland. I have been in Australia since 1883. I did some farming in Queensland. I have been in Western Australia since 1894. In point of improvements I have 250 acres rolled, and 125 cropped. Some of it was rolled two years ago, and 100 acres of it three years ago. It was a wet season, and we could not burn it. The present will be my second crop. In the first year I fallowed the land. I had no cultivator so I simply sowed it in the fallow in the following year, merely harrowing and drilling it in. From 100 acres I got an average of nine bushels. Twenty-five acres was a failure, the reason being that one of the men pickled the seed, and stacked it away, and in consequence it went mouldy, and the weevils got to it before I sowed t. The wheat was blue mouldy when I put it in. The remainder I pickled myself, and it grew all right. I cut 12 acres for hay, and this returned eight tons. I used 56lbs. of super. and one-third bushel of seed. The varieties were Yandilla King and Federation. They yielded evenly. The mouldy wheat was Alpha, and it failed. This year I have nearly 40 acres, and it is not on fallow, it is merely ploughed and drilled in. Some of it looks fairly well, but it was sown too late. My first sowing was at the end of June, and the rest late in July. The late sowing does not look very good. I have had assistance from the Agricultural Department. The Industries Assistance Board paid my rent to the end of last year, and this year I have exemption from the Government. If I can sell my wheat I will pay my rent and interest. I have from 250 to 300 bags of wheat stacked. I have not yet sold any of last year's crop. I am living on my brother's place at present, while I am building a stone house at my own place. I have a small dam. No fencing has been done. I would be content with my prospects if only i could get rid of what I grow.I have been carting some of my brother's wheat to Norseman, but it would take me five months with four horses to cart up what I grew last year. I can take two tons at a time, and it requires eight or nine days to do the trip. Given railway facilities I could make a good living, but it cannot be done without a railway. I got 4s. a bushel in Norseman. I have not kept any stock at all. However, my brother has, and we work together. We get some of our machinery through Esperance, and