34 



Irrigation Farming in Australia. 



piefer to stick to their trades of carpentering, smithing, or whatever 

 it may be, shall be able to have these small irrigation blocks, and 

 grow vegetables in their spare time. It has been found that these 

 2-acre workmen's blocks are specially in demand, and at Leeton 

 district to-day there is not one left. The rush is likely to be 

 repeated at Mirrool (another part in the Yanco area) as soon as that 

 township is ready to be built. 





A CO-OPERATIVE DAIRY FACTORY. 



At Yanco, too, another innovation is tobacco-growing. Two 

 English farmers are cultivating it, and another settler, who has 

 had tobacco experience in South Africa, has a large area under 

 tobacco, and has erected a drying kiln and curing sheds to deal 

 with his own and neighbours' produce. The growth of the crops is 

 certainly encouraging so far.. The time of planting was largely 

 experimental in the first year, but it is now evident that the best 

 time to set out tobacco plants is in the middle of October. It comes 

 off in four months, and the land may be used during autumn and 

 winter for other crops. Considering the great demand for tobacco 

 in Australia, and the quantities of the leaf imported, it seems that 

 tobacco is likely to become a highly payable auxiliary crop on the 

 Murrumbidgee areas. The returns are calculated at between $240.00 

 and $288.00 per acre. 



As regards prices of stock and implements, a Rochester grower 

 has furnished the following estimate : 



One horse . . . . . . . . $120.00 



One plough . . . . . . 21.60 



One harrow . . . . . . 14,40 



One cultivator . . . . . . 12.00 



One cart . . . . . . . . 48.00 



Harness, two sets 48.00 



Good cows (each), about . . 33.60 



