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some of tin- best parts of the district. The stock fattening 

 capabilities of the Midland are very much in its favor. The 

 implements in general use for farming are single, double, and treble 

 furrow ploughs, mowers, reapers and binders, and chaff-cutting 

 plant. Mr. Drummond has at Dandaraga a six furrow plough, but 

 it is most suitable for stirring up fallow. I use a steam driven chaff- 

 cutter ; most of my neighbors cut their hay by horse power. In 

 stock raising attention is mostly given to the breeding of cattle, 

 about 2,000 head of which are kept around Yatheroo. Sheep are 

 somewhat neglected. There is not much opportunity for a larger 

 scope of work at present, as the best of the land is taken up. If 

 ever the large estates are subdivided and sold, farming could be 

 carried on upon a much larger scale than it is at present. Dairying 

 is done during the winter and spring by Mr. Drummond and Mr. 

 Cook, as well as at Yatheroo. Most of the butter that is made is 

 sold locally, except the output of Mr. Cook's place and mine, which 

 goes to Perth. The topping up of cattle for the meat supply is our 

 staple resource. Potato and other root crops do fairly well, but they 

 are only grown in a small way for home use, the same as 

 other vegetables. There is no Government land suitable for 

 potato crops awaiting selection, nor have I any knowledge that 

 private owners are willing to make sales for this purpose. 

 We get frosts in June and July which prevent a winter crop 

 of potatoes being grown. I have known sharp frosts to occur 

 in September ; but as a rule July is the latest month when they are 

 experienced. The Midland district is not the place for 'blockers' 

 i.e., 10 and 20 acre men ; they would be too far from a centre of 

 population to be able to make a living by intense cultivation, nor 

 would they be likely to get enough water for summer irrigation 

 which would help them to work with success. Poultry 

 and bees are kept. Nearly everyone has hives and fowls. 

 Bees thrive well. Fowls are sent to Perth, \vhere they 

 bring 6s., and ducks, 73. per couple, and turkeys, about 

 IDS. each. It is a healthy country for turkeys, being so 

 dry, but fowls pay better than any other sort of poultry. The 

 chief requisites for a new settler are, in my opinion, that he should 

 get from 500 acres to 1500 acres of eligible land, and should be thrifty, 

 sober, and industrious. He should, know the value of money, and 

 take care to get a pound's worth for a sovereign. Some men by 

 careful management make a given amount of money go twice as far 

 as others. The selector in order to prosper in the Midland must go 

 in for stock to some extent, and engage in mixed farming. A few 

 sheep should be bought, if only to keep the weeds down ; they are 

 splendid scavengers, and their manure is not to be despised as a 

 dressing when they are run on the stubble. The lessons of local 

 experience are in favor of ring-barking as a first step after going on 

 a piece of new country, as it makes the clearing of land after the 

 first year so much easier than it would be if the timber were left in 



