694 Journal of Agrjcidturc , Victoria. [ro Oct.. 191 i. 



fallowing to be adopted. Fallowing is necessary ; and, on a block of 600 

 acres or o\er. the object should be to ha\-e one-third under fallow, one- 

 third under cultivation, and one-third under grass for sheep each year. 

 The cost of clearing is from 15s. to 30s. per acre, the scrub being cut, 

 rolled, and burnt. 



When farmed on a fairly large scale, wheat can be grown in Victoria 

 for from is. 4d. to is. 6d. per bushel and returns range up to 4s. 6d. per 

 bushel. Of late years, the price has been good, and a great deal of 

 money has been made by wheat-growers. Prospects in regard to prices 

 are still promising; the world's supply is not increasing in proportion to 

 the demand. The average yield for the past season was over 14 bushels 

 per acre. The fear of over-production need not deter intending wheat- 

 growers, as the total production of Australasia is only about 2% per cent, 

 of the world's wheat, or 12^ per cent, of the production of the British 

 Empire. 



The cost of cleared wheat land varies very considerably. In remote 

 districts, it can be bought from ^3 los. upwards, and reaches ^12 in 

 those districts well proved as regards soil conditions, and more favoured 

 as regards rainfall. 



Fruit, according to the suitability of climate and .soil, can be grown 

 over the greater part of the State. The colder portions are most sought 

 after for apples, pears, plums, and currants ; and, as comparatively poor 

 land will produce these varieties, the price is low per acre. Established 

 orchards may be bought at from /^2o to ^60 per acre. For citrus fruits, 

 the sandy soils in irrigated areas are the most suitable, and very fine 

 profits are obtained. These fruits, also apricots and peaches, do best 

 in the warmer districts. It should always be remembered that it takes 

 from four to se\^en years to establish an orchard or citrus grove, and until 

 that period has pas.sed large returns cannot lie expected. The same remark 

 applies tO' vine culture. 



The cost of planting an orchard and the care of it. until returns come 

 in, is approximately ^£2^^ to £,2>o per acre. In the majority of cases, it 

 is best to build up the plantation by degrees. 



Market Gardening, in conjunction with other svstems of farming 

 such as dairying, potato-growing, &:c.. will [)av well where conducted near 

 a city, or some of the larger countrv towns. Land for this purpose can be 

 .secured at prices ranging from ^10 to j£,2c^, according to quality and 

 locality. Within 12 miles of Melbourne, there is plenty of available land 

 of a sandy nature that is suitable for such purposes. 



Tobacco-growing. — ^^"ith regard to tobacco, the beginner had better 

 gain experience on the share system with an experienced grower. There 

 are plenty of opportunities of obtaining land under this system ; or, if 

 desired, land can be rented. An area of 5 acres is sufficient for one maa 

 to attempt tO' cultivate, the labour involved being constant for seven months 

 of the year. Returns from ^20 to jQ€)0 per acre are possible. 



The North- Eastern portion of the State at present produces the greater- 

 portion of the tobacco grown, principally' on the 0\"ens and King Rivers. 

 But many other parts of Victoria will produce tobacco successfully, such as 

 Eastern Gippsland. and some of the irrigation settlements. This is a crop 

 that lends it.self to mixed farming well. Often it is a successful adjunct 

 to dairying, the acreage required being small and consequentlv not inter- 

 fering with the grazing capacity of the farm unduly. 



Broom Corn is also profitably grown in the King and Ovens River 

 Valleys in conjunction with dairying, and gi\-es a return for broom fibre 



