Mallee - Part 1

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son in 1907. He paid £4 per ton for carting from Grass Patch. It was just a living bar accidents, and that was all. I was able to get water for he team along the road, using condensed water at Lake View only.There was a small dam at Salmon Gums. Some farming was done at Salmon Gums in those days, and I carted several loads from there. Rogers grew the crop. He reckoned he got 15 cwt. to the acre. I saw the crop; it was a good one. I remember a crop being grown at Swan Lagoon by Meadows. I did not see the crop. I was subsidised by the Government to look after the water supply at Lake View. I remember crops about Norseman in those early days. Dr. Harvey grew a very good crop a mile South of Norseman. There were 10 or 12 acres of it. I do not know what it yielded. I have been farming on my land at Esperance continuously during the last six years. It is classed sand plain. I have had fair crops, the best being 18 cwt. to the acre from 12 acres. I used 70 lbs. of super and a bushel of seed wheat. Four years ago I grew a small patch of four acres of oats and I got 15 cwt. per acre. I came to Scaddan to live three years ago. I have farmed here on my son's land two miles South. He holds 160 acres homestead, Location 605, and 200 acres of C.P., Location 505. Twenty- eight acres is the most we have cultivated in one year. We have 48 acres cleared. I have had four crops there. We have always estimated half a ton for the first year. An area of 30 acres is in fallow this year.There are no other improvements on the land except 12 acres of rolling. It is mallee land on the edge of the sand plain.I have seen many crops growing in this district. I have never seen a failure at Grass Patch. The best crops I have seen were there. Last year Willis' crop at the Swan Lagoon was the best.He had 80 acres all good. I saw a good crop at Rogers' three years ago. I have seen a crop at Bow's, one mile South of Gibson's Soak, on pure sand plain. When I saw it in September it looked nice, but when I saw it a few weeks ago it did not look so well. Bow told me it had had too much rain. I have had no assistance from the Agricultural Department. My son applied for assistance, but was told by letter that his area was too small.

337. By the CHAIRMAN: Could you show that letter to the Commission?—I do not know whether it is still in existence. If it is it is in my son's possession.

338. Do you think wheat can be grown at a profit in this district?—Not under existing conditions of freight. The fact of having to cart super from Esperance and cart the produce so far renders it impracticable. Given railway facilities, the proposition would be payable. I have had experience of cattle in the district. The greatest number I have kept at once is 30 head. I kept them mostly on the pastoral lease at Lake View. They did very well. I have about 12 today. In regard to the money I have invested in my son's land, I am not satisfied with the prospects of getting a return. The cost of production has been too heavy. That does not apply to my own place at Esperance. That is a good mixed farming proposition. There I propose to grow green fodder crops for stock. I have an abundant supply of permanent fresh water. The place is eminently suited for market gardening. Last year I had a quarter of an acre of potatoes and I got seven or eight bags. For a wagon of six draught horses on this road I reckon three tons a fair load. I could take more were it not for the eight miles South from here. I have kept a few pigs. I have 17 today. The best way to cultivate this mallee is to break it up with a mouldboard plough and cross plow it with a heavy disc implement. There are rain gauges here and at Lake View, but none at Salmon Gums or Grass Patch. At Lake View the average rainfall is 11.40 inches. That was the average for nine years prior to 1912. The average for the last three and a half years I will give you tomorrow.

339. By Mr. PADBURY: Which part of the district is the best for farming?—Due West of this place. It is strong, fairly heavy mallee, very dense with ti-tree undergrowth. It is approximately two miles from here. It runs 40 or 50 miles. I have not known of salt affecting the growing of crops anywhere in the district. I do not think there is anything in the salt theory. The wages paid on the farms in the district are generally 10s. a day, the men finding themselves. Rabbits are very few, but dingoes are plentiful. Vegetables grow exceptionally well in the district. Fruit trees are liable to attack by white ants. I have not seen fruit culture attempted below Lake View.

340. By Mr. McDONALD: Have you had farming experience in the other States?—No, but a good deal of station experience. I do not think sheep a practicable proposition in this district until more land had been cleared and fenced from dingoes. Sheep have done well at Grass Patch. A small farmer would have to keep his sheep in wire netted paddocks. After a fire grass grows well until about the third year, when it dies away. I cannot say what is the best method of getting rid of suckers. Rolling is the best way of getting the crop in quickly, but I think the ground should be ploughed without crop for the first year. The resultant suckers would have to be hand cut. I have taken samples of soil for analysis from Lake View. They were taken on the lowest spot and the highest spot in cultivated ground. I am not sure whether instructions came from Mr. Middleton direct or from his superior officer. I was on the road at the time Mr. Middleton took them, and I was under the impression that they were taken at each mile post. Mr. Middleton took two lots, one in summer and another in winter.All were taken, I think, in 1912. I believe the object of taking the samples was to prove that the land was capable of growing wheat. At the same time, he tested the country with bores as to its holding capacity for dams.

(The witness retired.)

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WILLIAM GRAHAM BERRY, aged 38, Farmer, Scaddan, married, 1 son, 11 years—sworn and examined:

341. By the CHAIRMAN: Have you had any previous experience in farming?—Only a little in Victoria and that not in mallee country.

342. What land do you hold in this district?—A thousand acres of C.P. including a homestead, location 458. I took it up in 1911. Previously I was in a dairy produce business in Coolgardie. I came here in November, 1911, and settled on the land. I have on my block a house, sheds, a large cellar, 300 acres cleared and partly cleared, and three small dams of about 100 yards each and five feet deep. They hold