136 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



mountains, which forms the boundary between this colony and Queens- 

 land, known as the Macpherson Range. In 1877 the Colonial Sugar 

 Company decided to ei'ect a mill here, and in 1880 it was started, and 

 has since been continuously at work. A few other mills small and 

 large had also started, but about three or four only are still at work. 



About this time the rich country on the Richmond River, which is 

 south of the Tweed and north of the Clarence, attracted great attention, 

 and a vast number of selections were taken up, both along the banks 

 of the river and its tributaries, and on the beautiful, undulating, vol- 

 canic country lying between the Richmond and Tweed Rivers, generally 

 known as the " Big Scrub." The rush for land in this district was 

 extraordinary, and large areas were taken up by selectors who could 

 not hope to make use of them, except for speculative purposes ; many 

 of these selections afterwards changed hands for large sums of money. 

 Areas were cleared, cane planted, and numbers of small, and in some 

 cases large mills were erected, and the manufacture of sugar attempted 

 by persons who were entirely ignorant of the process. Some of these 

 mills did fairly well for a time, and the owners were able to employ 

 a good deal of labour ; but, owing to the fall in sugar, and ignorance 

 of the proper processes of manufacturing it, only a few now remain. 



The country about here is extremely fertile and well watered by almost 

 everflowing creeks of excellent water. In its natural state it is clothed 

 with magnificent vegetation quite tropical in appearance. Owing to the 

 peculiar nature of the red volcanic soil common to the " Big Scrub " the 

 heavy tropical rains which frequently occur do not impede to any great 

 extent farming operations, for ploughing and cultivation can be carried 

 on almost immediately after heavy rains. This is not the case on the 

 alluvial banks of the rivers and creeks where the bulk of the sugar-cane 

 is produced, and it is oftentimes extremely difficult to carry on necessary 

 work. Notwithstanding the advantages the farmers enjoy in this red-soil 

 country, the cultivation of the sugar-cane is in too many instances but 

 indifferently attended to, for only too frequently weeds may be seen over- 

 topping the sugar-cane even after it has attained its maximum height. 



The sugar-cane produced on the beautiful undulating country within 

 a few miles radius of the village of Rous is purchased under agreement 

 by the Rous Sugar Company's mill, which is situate at the village. 

 This mill, which is an extensive one, has been working for many years 

 through many difficulties and changes. The price paid for cane here is 

 about 7s. to 8s. per ton. This company grows a large quantity of cane 

 for its own use. 



A considerable area of land which was at one time cultivated for sugar- 

 cane in this "Big Scrub" country is now used for grazing purposes, 

 for which it is well adapted ; and dairying has taken the place of sugar- 

 growing to a considerable extent. The dairying seems likely to become 

 of great importance to the whole district, for it is doubtful whether a 

 better country could be found for the production of high-quality butter 

 and cheese. Sugar-cane succeeds well here, and frosts sufficiently severe 

 to cause injury to the cane do not seem to occur. 



A State experimental farm has lately been established in connection 

 with the Department of Agriculture on a portion of the " Big Scrub," 

 and experiments are being carrie<l out with as many varieties of sugar- 

 canes 'dz it is possible to obtain from various parts of the world, and 



