32 Irrigation Farming in Australia. 



first eighteen months on their blocks. It is when these begin bear- 

 ing that the farmer can see his profits assured, and feel himself a 

 man of substance. 



Some of the fruitgrowers of Ardmona, a sixteen-year-old fruit 

 irrigation area near Shepparton, are worth $96,000 and $144,000 

 to-day. Oranges often yield an annual profit of $192.00, or $240.00 

 an acre, at Renmark and Mildura, other old-established fruit areas. 

 Sultanas and currants, properly cultivated and worked, can be made 

 to return just as much. This is not to say, of course, that they 

 always do ; but it is possible, and it all depends on the farmer. 

 Where Nature does so much for him the farmer is apt to grow lazy. 



1 and 2. TWO-YEAR OLD PEACHES. 3 and 4. ONE AND TWO-YEAR OLD SULTANAS. 



From peaches, apricots, and plums, taking an average orchard, a 

 gross return per acre of about $120.00 is shown in the fifth year. It 

 has been estimated by practical fruitgrowers that a low calculation 

 is $96.00 per acre net return for apricots, peaches, plums for drying, 

 pear and apple for export and local use ; $120.00 per acre for citrus 

 (orange chiefly) ; and from $72.00 to $96.00 per acre for currant, 

 sultana, and raisin grapes when in full bearing.. 



An orchard in full bearing in the irrigation settlements will 

 fetch anything from $480.00 to $960.00 an acre. Let the settler 

 contrast this with the $48.00 to $72.00 an acre, for which he can buy 

 the original land. 



