42 Australia : The Dairy Country. 



irrigation plant is capable of dealing with 80 acres of land in the 

 summer months. Some of the land thus treated is the rich dark 

 alluvial on the river bank, while a portion is on the higher clay 

 plateau, and consists of land typical of many thousands of acres 

 in the same locality. The land in its virgin state was timbered 



Milking Shed. 



with red gum and flooded gum, and cost about $38.40 an acre to grub 

 and clear, and on such land with irrigation in the summer two heavy 

 crops a year can be depended on. 



Shortly after the State Farm was established the Government 

 purchased over 500 dairy cows in the eastern States, and these were 

 sold to Western Australian farmers in lots of ten at cost price on 

 two-year terms, with 5 per cent, interest added. 



The Government engaged a highly-qualified dairy expert in 

 the person of Mr. Kinsella, of New Zealand, to visit the districts 

 most likely to give attention to the dairying industry in the imme- 

 diate future, and by means of personal interviews, addresses, 

 leaflets, and concisely-written pamphlets, Mr. Kinsella did valuable 

 work in distributing information and directing the beginner on the 

 right road to successful dairying. Mr. Kinsella subsequently 

 severed his connection with the department, and he has been 

 recently succeeded by Mr. Abernethy, who has obtained the very 

 highest diplomas in England in connection with dairying Mr. 

 Abernethy recently arrived from Great Britain, and has now 

 entered upon his duties, and it is confidently believed that his 

 efforts will result in a number of farmers being induced to embark 

 in the industry on sound and practical lines. The new selector 



