112 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



tlie same purpose, tliey being accustomed to the climate, and more 

 likely to do well than tlie generality of exotic forms, though a few of 

 the fatter thrive almost anywhere. 20,080,814 acres have been ring- 

 barked (trees killed by cutting through the bark and Cambium layer 

 ■with an axe), in order to encourage growth of grass for grazing pur- 

 poses : over much of this country great improvement would take place 

 if suitable seed were scattered at seasonable times and paddocks given 

 a periodical rest : the natural herbage is not allowed time to shed its 

 seed, owing to country being fully or over stocked. The saving of 

 seed from good kinds of native grasses would bring in profitable 

 returns. 



Orchard and Garden. 



As an adjunct to farming, orchard and garden are too often 

 neglected. In no district in the Colony need the farmer be without 

 fruit and vegetables ; all house water could be used for irrigating. 

 Tree-planting is of much greater importance to farmers than they 

 generally imagine, and profitable trees might be just as well put in as 

 unprofitable. 



Olives. — We can grow fine olive trees, though only a few exist, at 

 Camden, Mudgee, and Inverell. At Albury and Wagga and other 

 places in the Colony, the soil and climate are almost exactly similar to 

 that at Dookie in Victoria, where I made olive oil that took prizes 

 wherever shown. There is always a sale for pure olive oil. The trees 

 might be grown 24 or 30 feet apart in clumps in corners of paddocks, 

 the land subsoiled 15 to 18 inches deep ; giving beauty, shade, shelter, 

 and profit. Easily propagated, they grow in any soil except heavy 

 clay or where wet. Irrigation can be advantageously applied where 

 the rainfall is short of 30 inches annually. In our hot, dry climate 

 mulching is necessary. They require pruning, keeping the inside well 

 open, in order to obtain the best fruit, which is borne on two-year-old 

 wood only. Many other useful trees could with advantage be planted 

 round the paddocks or homestead. 



Weeds. 



Of weeds, native and introduced, we have legions ; the climate suits 

 them, and, unfortunately, little or no notice is taken of them when 

 first seen. AVhere energetic measures are taken to stamp out 

 the first arrivals little trouble is experienced. Over 250 introduced 

 species are scattered over the country ; some, e.g., prickly pear and 

 sweet briar, reducing large areas to such a condition that many pounds 

 per acre must be expended in clearing, possibly for the second time. 



Pests. 



Fungus pests and noxious insects are numerous ; our annual loss 

 must be hundreds of thousands of pounds, largely preventable. It is 

 satisfactory, however, to know that the practice of trying by spraying 

 and other measures to lessen or prevent such evils is rapidly oii the 

 increase. Growers are finding out by experience that it pays to spend 

 a little money to save crops that would otherwise be lost ; and it may 



