The two varieties of oats that I would advise to sow in this class of land would be Algerian and Calcutta Cape. Selecting mallee land: I would advise people to be very careful when selecting this class of land to keep well away from white sand, as every experiment has shown it a total failure, and it has been the ruination of many an inexperienced man. Too much stone is also a big drawback, owing to heavy cost of removing, besides being rough on the implements, but of course there is a lot of limestone country which grows remarkably good crops. I would advise the Government to secure the services of a proved competent and practical man for this class of Australian country, whose services and opinion the people selecting would be able to secure.

C. H. RUSSELL, farmer, of Halidon.

Location of holding: Lynwood Farm, Halidon.

Area held: 1,001 acres.

Original cost of land: 10s. per acre.

Character of land: Sandy, with flats of red sandy loam.

Present value: About £4 per acre. I might explain that the improvements add greatly to the value of the land, which include up-to-date buildings.

Method of clearing: The scrub is first rolled between the months of July and October, the springbacks cut and burnt after the first of February. If the weather is favourable, very little of the scrub is left to pick up. If, previous to rolling, a fire has swept the country, the scrub is first rolled, then raked with a scrub rake. This should be completed in July and then fallowed, for such land seldom gives good results if sown in the ordinary way.

Cultivation methods: I have always cultivated the land for the first year wit ha strong S.J. tine cultivator to a depth of about 2½ inches, as soon after the burn as possible. One thus obtains the fertilising value of the ashes. The second year I plough to a depth of three inches with an eight-furrow S.J. plough after a rain, if it does not fall too late in the season. Subsequent cultivation depends on the character of the soil. If sandy and inclined to be loose, I use only the harrows. If the heavier land has had a good stubble burn and the rain has fallen opportunely, I use the tine cultivator. If too hard for this implement, and the plough is brought into use. All the land is harrowed after the drill. Owing to the danger of take-all, I never sow more than three crops of wheat in succession; the land is either sown with oats or fallowed. With fallow, I plough to a depth of three inches in June and July. In September, I run the cultivator over the heavier land, and leave the sand to consolidate, running sufficient stock to keep down the self-sown wheat. Being new country, we are not much troubled with weeds.

Quantity of seed used: Of late varieties, I sow 45 lbs. per acre; of early, 50lbs. to a bushel, according to variety.

Quantity of super used: 75lbs. of 36/38 per cent. superphosphate.

Average rainfall: 3½ inches for 1914, 13 inches for 1915, and 14 inches for 1916. No records available previous to 1914.

Average wheat returns: Nil in 1914; about 10 bushels for 1915 and 1916.

General remarks: It is most important to have one's scrub rolled, springbacked and firebreaks done early, so as to be in readiness for the first good day to burn. Poor burns entail a deal of labour that should be given to the preparation of the land for seeding. Late seeding usually means low returns. May is the best month for seeding operations. In cultivation, it is wise to cultivate the sandy soil as little as possible, owing to the danger of take-all, but enough to free it of herbage and small bushes. Fallow and the growing of oats become necessary after three crops of wheat. If there have been good stubble burns, the land is then nearly free of mallee shoots.

Water conservation: Good water, containing about 100 grains of salt to the gallon, can be obtained any where in the district by boring to a depth of between 170 and 200 feet. Sufficient water is raised for stock and household purposes with a ten-foot mill and 2½ inch pump. If irrigation is intended, an engine, as auxiliary, becomes necessary, and a mill with 12ft. wheel on a 3½ inch pump.

Conclusion: I consider it unwise to crop more than 250 acres for the first year. This can be done with a team of six horses, cultivator, drill, and harrows. One will not have then to buy hay and seed wheat for a larger area the following year, and will have cover erected for his horses and plant. Much useful information can be obtained on the working of our mallee lands in the Journal of Agriculture issued by the Department of Agriculture in this State.

J. N. BRAITHWAITE, farmer, of Halidon.

Location of holding: Section 8, Hundred of McPherson.

Original cost of land: The cost of my land was 10s. per acre under the agreement to purchase from the Government.

Character of land: Light sandy loam over a clay subsoil.

Area held: 861 acres.

Present value: The present average value of the land round here is about £2 10s. per acre. In odd cases, it would be more in accordance with the permanent improvements.

Method of clearing: The means of clearing in vogue are rolling, and then burning.

Cost of clearing: The average cost of clearing is 4s. per acre.

Cultivation methods: The methods of cultivation in this district are either ploughing or cultivating. In most cases the cultivator is used for the first two years and then the plough. I myself have always used the plough as I find it gets rid of both the stumps and shoots quicker. All classes of ploughs and cultivators are used from five-furrows to 12, and used form five to eight horses as the case may be. I use a Smith 10-furrow plough, with eight horses. The cost of ploughing is 6s. per acre; cultivating 3s. 6d. per acre. We use all makes of drills that will sow both seed and super, at the same time. I find the Masey-Harris drill stands the rough work on a new farm the best.

Quantity of seed used: The average amount of seed wheat sown is 60lbs. per acre.

Quantity of super used: 60 to 80 lbs. per acre. The average cost of drilling is 2s. per acre.

Average rainfall: I should say that the average rainfall for the district is 12 inches.

Average wheat returns. The average wheat returns for my holding are 12 bushels per acre.

General remarks: In giving a few general remarks about this district, I would point out that the land was made available at rather a bad time, just prior to the drought, and we have not had a fair chance as yet, but there is no doubt in my mind that we shall do very well on this class of land as soon as we can get to work so much fallow each year. One great advantage we have is our water supply. We have any quantity at a depth of 200 feet, which we can get by boring. We can grow any kind of green feed in the shape of lucerne, also vegetables which are quite good to use in the house. As regards the cultivation of the land, I find that this class of light soil does not require working to a grater depth than four inches, and I should always recommend using the plough in place of a cultivator, although the cost is more, as you get rid of the stumps and bushes much quicker, and get a better crop as well.

Chief difficulties: The great difficulty of this land for the first few years is to get rid of the stumps and bushes, as the stumps have to be carted off after ploughing, and the bushes to be cut. The average cost of bush cutting is 2s. per acre, an they should be cut each year the land is in crop.

Varieties of wheat: No experiments with seed wheat have been carried out as yet round here. The classes of wheat mostly in use are Yandilla King, Wonder, Purple Straw, Federation, Marshall's No. 3, Gluyas, Field Marshall's. Golden Drop, King's Early, Budd's Early.

Conclusion: I find that a new starter requires a fair amount of capital, say, from £700 to £1,000; he has everything to buy and to keep clear of debt, especially if he takes up virgin land, and has scrub to clear, and wishes to effect suitable improvements in the shape of a house, stables, some fencing, and water supply.