CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL. 115 



The average yield per acre is not equal to that of 

 Canada. This is partly to be accounted for by the 

 lack of rain through much of the year. 



Taking the whole country, I do not think the 

 average acre is equal in productive strength to that of 

 Canada. There are portions of Victoria, however, 

 especially in the south-west, which probably cannot 

 be surpassed in the whole world for strength of soil. 

 The continuous yield of that part of the colony is 

 something enormous, and I dare say the same may be 

 said of portions of other colonies. I am inclined to 

 think, however, that the Canadian soil is much supe- 

 rior, taking into account the whole territory. 



On the other hand, the mildness of the climate gives 

 the Australian farmer the advantage in the longer 

 ploughing season, enabling him to cultivate a much 

 larger acreage, as there is no frost to interfere with 

 his tillage 



The mode of farming in Australia differs very much 

 from that of the Old World. A farmer with the aid 

 of only "one hired man, except for a few days in harvest 

 time, can put in and harvest 200 or, in some instances, 

 300 acres in a season. As there is no necessity for 

 housing stock, the straw is not gathered. The grain 

 is taken by means of strippers, and the ploughing is 

 largely done by gang ploughs. This will explain why 



