WHEATGROWING IN AUSTRALIA. 9 



in the early autumn, so that ploughing can be done, and in the 

 spring, when the wheat is heading and flowering. With rain in 

 April and May, and again in September or October, the Australian 

 wheatgrower is assured of a fine crop.. In the wheat districts those 

 are the seasonable times to get rain. The summer is usually dry 

 and warm, and this is one of the main advantages from the wheat- 

 grower's standpoint. This fine diy weather which is exceptionally 

 healthy for the human being means the production of a high-class 

 grain, for which there is an unlimited demand in the world's 

 markets. Unless the common rule is broken, and the season is 

 unduly wet, there is no fear of rust, and nothing to interfere with 

 the haymaking. The main crop, which is kept for grain, can be left 

 standing safely in the paddocks until it is thoroughly ripe, when 

 it is taken off with a stripper or harvester and bagged. So the 

 districts that have heavy summer rains are largely unsuitable for 

 wheatgrowing, but those in which the rains fall during the autumn, 

 winter, and spring, and have dry summers, are most suitable. 



While the present average is low in the Australian wheat- 

 growing districts compared with other countries, the cost of produc- 

 tion is also remarkably low. Furthermore, methods are improving 

 generally, and a considerable increase in yield can be expected with 

 confidence. The very richness of the soil and the kindliness of the 

 climate has tempted growers to adopt speculative methods of 

 growing wheat.. The main idea has been to put a large area under 

 crop on the chance of striking a good year, when a small fortune 

 may be realised. But growers are being educated to the value of 

 more careful methods as paying best in the long run. The average 

 yield in Australia has been about n to 13 bushels per acre. The 

 total area under wheat and the wheat yield in the different Aus- 

 tralian States for the season 1913-14 was : 



* Estimated. 



As stated, compared Avith some of the older countries, such 

 averages seem small, yet in the dry districts of Australia they 



