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improving the strains of either beef or dairy cattle, which are 

 generally of a nondescript type. There are no large herds. People 

 dread a mob getting on to a poison patch and suffering what is 

 known as a ' smash.' If a flock of sheep get into this danger a few 

 of them drop and give warning of the proximity of the poison, and 

 the animals can be removed before there is more than a tew pounds 

 worth of damage done. It is not so with cattle and horses, which 

 are, therefore, not raised on a large scale. For heavy horses we 

 rely upon importations, the local breed not having much size or 

 substance. The big imported horses stand being turned out on the 

 paddocks in the slack season without losing much condition. 

 Sheep do well, and some fairly large runs, such as the pastoral 

 property of Lord Brassey, at Broomehill, are stocked with them to 

 the number of a good many thousands. The farmers around 

 Katanning and Wagin look to Lord Brassey for their stores. The 

 manager of the place every year has culls drafted out of his flocks, 

 which the farmers apply for in lots to suit their requirements. 

 Some years ago, when Lord Brassey first established his place, the 

 demand for the annual drafts was not very brisk, but now there is 

 such a run on them owing to the increase in the number of settlers 

 and it being found to be very profitable to keep sheep, that it is very 

 hard to get stores from Broomehill." (43.) '' The opportunities for 

 a larger scope of work." " The scope of profitable farming oper- 

 ations can, in the south, be increased to an enormous extent. 

 The territory is so large and the population so scattered 

 that little more than a beginning can be said to have 

 been made. There are vast tracts open for selection, both 

 within and without the boundaries of agricultural areas. The 

 reserve at Katanning that, having been set aside for an experimental 

 farm, has just been thrown open for selection, is only one of the 

 many opportunities that are presented -for new comers to get suit- 

 able farming sites close to the railway. Not a third of the best 

 corn lands already alienated have been tilled, partly because ^f the 

 comparative scarcity of labor. If farm hands would emigrate from 

 the old country, take up a free homestead farm and work half time 

 for their neighbours and halt time in improving their own holdings, 

 the older settlers would hail their arrival with much satisfaction, and 

 they could be sure of obtaining plenty of work at 6s. or 75. per day. 

 More laud would already have been cultivated had there been less 

 to do iu the direction of conserving water. Mr. \\Vsilev Maley 

 - 4 \ could have cleared another 140 acres of ground with the 

 money I have expended iu sinking wells that never struck tVe>h or 

 bracki>h water. At last I got a good supply ; but I should set to 



work differently if I were commencing again, I should ring the 



trees to help me to iiucl soaks and springs, and make clams. Until 

 I had plenty of water I would keep no stock, preferring to keep 

 pegging away at Clearing and cropping; the water difficulty with 

 the aid of clams and ringbarking would cure itself. If everyone 



