52 THE FARMER'S OUTLOOK 



and counteract climatic variations, and second, 

 the development of those means which tend to 

 increase production and give it an efficient means 

 of outlet. Taking climatic conditions first, the 

 practice of making ensilage against dry spells is 

 a precaution which has come a little more into 

 vogue. The boring of artesian wells is another. 

 Irrigation schemes are being developed, Burrenjuk 

 in New South Wales, Goulburn Valley in Vic- 

 toria and Murray River in South Australia being 

 the principal. These schemes are under Govern- 

 ment control. There are considerable difficulties 

 to be overcome in rendering them effective for pro- 

 duction. The cost of construction is heavy, and 

 interest and sinking fund have to be paid for by 

 the tenant in the shape of rent. In some cases 

 there has been considerable difficulty in finding 

 tenants, and the majority of those obtained have 

 come from abroad. The reluctance of experienced 

 Australian farmers to undertake the rent of an 

 irrigation plot is also an indication that it is 

 easy to exaggerate the effect of dry spells in 

 retarding Australian production. An examina- 

 tion of the fluctuations in production of wheat 

 and butter, and the annual census of stock and 

 sheep of each State over a series of years, brings 

 out the different fortunes of each industry in 

 each State. Taking Australia as a whole the 

 wheat production shows greater variations than 



