Australia: The Dairy Country. 43 



will also have the benefit and the advice of the Director of Agri- 

 culture, Mr. McNulty, on all matters concerning his soil, his stock, 

 and the marketing of his produce. 



Lands for Dairy Farming. 



With a view to settling practical farmers with limited means 

 on the rich and heavily-timbered lands in the southern portion of 

 the State the Government have a large number of surveyors at 

 work surveying the land into suitable sized blocks, ranging from 

 200 to 700 acres each. Main roads have been cleared to serve these 

 areas, and a proposal to clear 10 acres on each block for the plough 

 is now under consideration. Railways will be pushed through this 

 country as rapidly as possible. The annual average rainfall over 

 this country averages from 35 in. to 40 in., and the land contains 

 some of the richest soil in the State. 



Price of Land. 



The price of land ranges from about $4.80 to $19.20 an acre, 

 and each new selector over sixteen years of age will have the right 

 to practically a free grant of 160 acres, additional land being avail- 

 able at approximately the prices quoted, the payments for which 

 will be spread over twenty years without interest. The selector 

 will also have the privilege of borrowing from the State Agricul- 

 tural Bank for ringbarking, clearing, water conservation, and sub- 

 sequently for stock and implements, the loan being repaid over a 

 term of thirty years, for the first five years of which interest only 

 at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum will be payable. Prior to the 

 blocks being thrown open the prices will be advertised and the 

 amount of loan the bank is prepared to advance to suitable appli- 

 cants on each block will be fixed. 



Devon Cattle in Australia. 



