Io8 Ki:W SOUTH WALES. 



The system of partially clearing land is sometimes followed ; scrub 

 and small trees are cut out, large trees being ringbarked. This ac- 

 celerates the ultimate clearing, for when they become dry they are 

 easily burned. Meantime the ground is cropped. Such a proceeding 

 is mostly followed by persons with limited capital, and such country 

 has not an attractive appearance ; moreover, the roots, stumps, and 

 trees left in render cultivation difficult. Metayage (lessee paying a 

 share of the produce to lessor^ in lieu of a money rent) is carried out 

 here and there, in some cases with advantage. Direct ownership by 

 the cultivator is, however, of greatest benefit to him. 



Fences of various types are used in subdividing the land ; those 

 most commonly erected being post top-rail and six wires (costing up 

 to £80 a mile), post and three or four rails, post and five or six wires 

 (costing as low as £18 per mile where droppers are used for keeping 

 wires apart, the posts being further apart than usual) ; sometimes logs 

 are laid dog-leg' fashion. Where timber is plentiful fences can be 

 erected very cheaply. Barbed Avire is now largely used, and is invalu- 

 able for keeping in animals having a tendency to stray. 



Chief Crops — Cereals. 



Mlieat is largely cultivated on the tableland and its western slopes. 

 Area^ (1895), 647,483 acres, being much below that of 1894. Eust 

 prevents its cultivation in the coastal district. Average return for 

 thirty years, 13"26 bushels per acre, ranging- between 4*75 bushels, in 

 1889 (a rusty year), and 17'37, 1887. Cost of growing depends on size 

 of holding. On large farms^ with first-class appliances, approximately 

 15s. Gd. jjer acre; medium-sized farms, 20s. ; small, 27s. Average 

 return per acre — if grown for grain, £2 5s. ; for hay, £3 10s. Excellent 

 grain is grown ; an average weight of average samples from various 

 parts of the Colony gives GQ^ lb. to a bushel. Our production does not 

 fulfil requirements. There are signs, however, that a great increase 

 in wheat production Avill shortly take place. Strong efforts are being 

 made at Wagga Wagga Experimental Farm, where there are 400 

 varieties under cultivation, to produce rust-resistant wheats with good 

 gluten contents, and with every prospect of success. 



3I(tize. — Area under cultivation, 1894-5, 208,308 acres; average yield 

 for thirty-three years, 31-5 bushels per acre — higher than that of any 

 other country. In 1894 we consumed 5,671,827 bushels and imported 

 46,294 bushels. One of our most valuable products, being used for a great 

 variety of purposes — green, as food for dairy stock and pigs and for 

 silage ; green cobs as a vegetable, either fresh or canned ; dried grain, 

 or the whole cob ground pith and grain together, for stock food ; 

 ground as maize-meal for man ; starch is extracted from it ; whisky 

 and schnapps are distilled from it; and sugar can be obtained from 

 the stems. Land is ploughed 7 to 9 inches deep ; seeds (soaked in 

 copjjcr-sulphate solution as a precaution against smut, or in tar- water 

 to keep away birds and vermin) are planted in September and October, 

 even later, singly by the Farmer's Friend Seed Drill about 16 inches 

 apart, in rows 4 feet apart, manure being dropped by the same 

 machine ; sometimes sown by hand, four to six seeds in a hill, 4 feet 6 



♦ All statistics based upon " Coglilan." 



