WHEATGROWING IN AUSTRALIA. 29 



rise, from which the whole property can be surveyed. And to none 

 is the picture finer than to the man who by his own toil and energy 

 has cleared and improved most of those paddocks. Such wheat 

 farms are to be found in thousands throughout Australia. 



One of the first things the settler has to do is to provide a 

 water supply. It is the exception to find wheat farms with a 

 natural permanent water supply, such as a creek or river. In most 

 cases the settler depends upon tanks or dams for watering his 

 stock. A suitable low-lying site is picked, and the earth is scooped 

 out and banked up at the end and sides, so there is a hole into 

 which the rainwater runs, following the natural lay of the country, 

 and assisted and directed by drains and gutters. These tanks, as 

 they are called, usually range from 1000 to 2000 cubic yards, and 

 cost up to 24 cents or 30 cents per yard to excavate. In most 

 districts the country holds water splendidly, and when the tank is 

 filled by the autumn and winter rains it will carry through the 

 summer.. For domestic use galvanised tanks are depended upon, 

 being placed to catch the rainwater off the rooms of the. homestead 

 buildings. In some districts water is obtained by sinking shallow 

 wells. In parts of the wheat country sub-artesian wells are also 

 common, good water being obtained by boring 200 to 300 ft., when 

 an unfailing supply of good water for stock is secured. The real 

 artesian country, where deep bores are sunk for water, is outside 

 the present wheat belt. 



In the season ploughing usually starts at 7.30 a.m. and goes 

 on until 5.30 p.m., with a break of a couple of hours during the 

 day for dinner; that is, where labour is employed. The settler 

 himself handling his own land usually works from dawn till dark, 

 using changes of horses during the day. Both mouldboard and disc 

 ploughs are in use, some soils suiting one and some the other, 

 while use for both will often be found on the one farm. The four- 

 furrow plough, drawn by five or six horses, is most favoured, and 

 with it four to six acres will be done in a day. Harrowing is done 

 with a set of three to six sections of tines, covering from 12 to 20 

 ft. in width, and doing 15 to 20 acres a day. The bulk of the sowing 

 is done with a combined drill, which plants the seed and distributes 

 artificial fertiliser at the same time. The amount of seed sown per 

 acre varies from 25 to 45 Ibs.., and even up to 100 Ibs. in some 

 parts of the Commonwealth, while usually about the same amount 

 of superphosphate is distributed, 45 to 60 Ibs. being the most 

 common quantity. Both hoes and disc drills are in use, ranging 

 from twelve to fifteen tubes, the tubes being 7 in. apart. These 

 particulars apply mostly to the man cultivating 200 to 300 acres 

 himself. 



