Mallee - Part 2

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Average percentage Sod. Chloride in 43 samples taken in July , Esperance District :-

Top 6in. — 6-18in. — 18-36in.

Uncultivated land — 136 .334 .337

Cultivated land — 082 .168 .305

General Average Sod. Chloride in uncultivated lands is :-

Taken — Top 9in. — 9-18in.

Samples 1 to 154 — Jan-May — 104 Per cent — .262 percent


Top 6in. — 6-18in. — 18-36in.

Samples 160 - 198 — July — 136 per cent — 334 per cent — 337 per cent

From a comparatively small portion of area represented by 1-154

The relative ratios corresponding with above percentage are :-

Top 9in. — Subsoil 9-18in.

Samples 1-154 — as 1 is to — 2.51

Top 6in. — 6-18in. to 18-36in.

Samples 160-198 — as 1 is to — 2.46

The inference to be drawn is that up to 20th July the rainfall had not , in the uncultivated lands , had any appreciable effect on the position of the salt.

The results shown in Table 1 from practical tests seem to confirm the conclusions arrived at by the American authorities quoted above. The best authorities agree that practical trials give more reliable results than laboratory experiments.

The land is easily cleared , the greater part of it can be rolled and and ready for the plough at 8s. per acre.

The following list gives acres under crop this year.Considering the rough farming and absence of manure, some paddocks look very well.

Table II — list of Areas under crop , season 1912, Esperance Norseman Road.

At 30 Mile and Locality

acres.

G. Baker — 60

Dr. Wace — 30

Jenkins —25

Rogers — 100

Cable —150

Bell & Taylor —130

Bretag —42

Berry — 50

Luton —50

Mrs. Brown — 12

649                          

At Grass Patch and Northwards

Acres

A Richardson —260

Mr Shepherd —110

Dr Richardson —185

Stearne —80

Harrison — 80

Dwyer — 40

Thompson — 105

Lee — 80

Townsend — 5

Knight — 65

Ottrey — 100

Moore — 25

Lewis — 70

Foote — 17

McKinnon —23

Roberts — 80

Sharp — 50

1375

The conclusions I arrive at from the above are :-

The quantity of salt in our soil samples compares favourably with the "limit of endurance for wheat" given by the American authorities , and a few samples are down to and below the standard adopted by the Government Analyst (Mr.Mann).

To this must be added the fact that hay , and some wheat , has been grown on the mallee belt.

In salty soils so much depends on the moisture and other conditions that it seems to me impossible for anyone to say how much salt (between 03 per cent and 5 per cent ) wheat will stand in different parts or our agricultural areas.

Rainfall.

The records of rainfall attached are from the official return from Esperance , Gibson's Soak , swan Lagoon, Grass Patch , Gilmore's, and Norseman, and extend over 13 years.

The average annual rain is plotted on the map attached in heavy broken lines.

Attached to this report is a sheet showing analysis of rainfall — that is the average fall per month over the whole period on record , also diagram shows graphically the proportion of rain during the wheat growing season , etc. This diagram compares very favourably with those plotted from records of rain in proved wheat growing areas in other parts of Australia.

The average number of wet days for each year , as under, is :—

Gibson's Soak — 93 days — 21.34 inches annual average.

Swan Lagoon —95.5 days — 15.36 inches annual average.

Grass Patch — 90.2 days — 14.60 inches annual average.

Gilmore's —66 days — 11.46 inches excluding last year.

Water Supply for Agricultural Area and for railway Engines.

Various reports and statements have been published to the effect that the mallee country is porous , and no water-courses exist , and that great difficulties would be met in providing settlers with water , and so on.

A few words on the above will show how a half truth , given out in all innocence , may leave a bad impression. The mallee " surface soils," and to some extent the sub soils , are porous , and it is fortunate for the State they are.

The soils on the mallee belt can easily absorb all the rain which falls , and hold it for a considerable time before the sun's heat pulls it out. The sandy loans which prevail over the surface assist the retention of moisture in the soil below, and require less cultivation in fallow than heavier and stiffer clay soils.

Condensing the above,we have — surface soils and sub soils absorb rain , and lose it again by evaporation , less the quantity used up by scrub and trees. Taking this in conjunction with the character of the country , the absence of water-courses is explained.

After an examination extending over six months and carried out in a systematic way, I see no serious difficulties in providing a reliable , economical , and clean water supply, all over the area of 1½ million acres, including railway requirements.

Surveyor Middleton's report deals fully with the details of clays, trial holes and bores, tank sites and catchment areas.

After examining samples from trial holes sent to Perth by the surveyor, and having inspected the existing tanks( Government and private), contents of bores , trial holes , tank sites and the country generally , I have no hesitation in saying that clay of splendid quality exists in the mallee in ample quantities and so distributed that water-tight tanks may be constructed where required — say at intervals of seven miles. From this it does not follow the Government need construct tanks seven miles apart over the whole area. many settlers would construct their own tanks , but before settlement could proceed it would be necessary for the Government to do a considerable amount of work in conservation works.

The whole of these works need not be constructed in any one year; but conservation of water should precede settlement . If required , I can later on outline a scheme of work in this direction.

Railway Construction — There is a great difference between the old question of a railway from Esperance to Coolgardie (mentioned in the introduction of this report 1897-1902) and the present cry for a railway from Esperance to Norseman ( 1910-1912).

In the former the length of line required was 231 miles, to serve the Goldfields only , and to be run in opposition to an existing trunk line( the Eastern railway).

In the later or present agitation for a railway, the length required is 125 miles. this will , if constructed, cause increased traffic on the existing Coolgardie-Norseman section , which by the way , is a non-paying railway at the present time . " Goods " on this section consist of the few commodities required for a small mining town , and a few trucks of firewood picked up on the