WHEATGROWING IN AUSTRALIA 



wheatgrowers, indeed most of them, are men who started with 

 little or no capital in cash, but with plenty of energy and willing- 

 ness to work. They have built homes for themselves in the " bush," 

 and found prosperity, and there is room for thousands of other men 

 to follow in their footsteps. In a favourable year a wheatfarmer 

 will often receive as much, or more, for his crop than the capital 

 value of his land. 



In the early stages of wheatgrowing in Australia mistakes 

 were made and progress was slow. Wheat was grown in the wrong 

 soil and districts, and suitable varieties of the cereal were not 

 available. Cultivation was confined to the moist coastal country, 



FIRST STAGES OF CROPPING. 



with its annual rainfall of 30 to 40 in., and wheat was not a success. 

 The discovery that the drier districts inland were more suitable 

 for wheatgrowing altered the position very happily. The bulk of 

 the wheat is now grown in districts with a rainfall of 20 to 25 in. 

 and under. This averaged rainfall is considered sufficient for wheat- 

 growing, and safer than a heavier rainfall. Wheatgrowing has 

 been most profitable in districts with a rainfall below 20 in., and an 

 average of 40 bushels per acre has been harvested from 600 acres. 

 On well-worked fallowed land splendid money-making crops have 

 been gathered, although the growing crop only had 2 or 3 in. of rain. 



In Australian wheat districts the quantity of rain is not as 

 important as the time of the year in which it falls. Rain is wanted 



