18 WHEAT 



between 800 and 2,000 feet, and a rainfall of from 18 to 

 30 inches. 



Next come the Western Plains where the land is only a few 

 hundred feet above sea-level, and the rainfall varies from 

 13 to 20 inches. The part of the plains between the Murray 

 and Darling Rivers is called the Riverina. 



All this land west of the Dividing Range was at one time 

 pastoral land and supported millions of fine merino sheep. 

 But of late years, though sheep-farming still forms the chief 

 industry, wheat-growing, especially on the slopes and plains, 

 has made enormous strides, and the area under cultivation 

 is constantly increasing. 



This revolution has been brought about by various circum- 

 stances, first perhaps in importance being the production of 

 new varieties of wheat, varieties which will thrive under the 

 conditions here presented, namely, greater heat and less 

 moisture. The heat in the middle of the day is sometimes 

 100 F. and the rainfall, as already stated, varies from 

 30 inches to 13. Wherever there are 20 inches of rain wheat can 

 be grown without risk, and such places are said to be within 

 the Safety Belt ; but as new varieties of seed are produced, 

 cultivation is pushed farther and farther west into drier lands. 



Besides the production of new varieties of seed, the growing 

 of wheat in dry lands has been further facilitated by the 

 introduction of a new method of farming known as dry farming. 

 The farmer ploughs up his land in July or August, and does 

 not sow his seed until the following April or May. During 

 that time the ground on the surface is frequently broken up, 

 so that the rain which falls may sink in, and not evaporate, 

 as it would if a hard crust were allowed to form. By this system 

 the moisture is retained in the land so that each crop gets two 

 years' rainfall instead of one. 



The yield of wheat per acre is less than in moister climates, 

 but the cost of production is not so great owing to various 

 circumstances, chiefly perhaps to the use of labour-saving 

 machines. 



