AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



I. INTRODUCTORY. 



THE LAND AGRICULTURAL SOIL. 



" THE best is the cheapest." In 

 no walk of life does this truth carry 

 more force than in that pertaining to 

 land to the operations of the agri- 

 culturist. Comparatively, it matters 

 little which department we enter 

 into : whether that of the farmer 

 pure and simple, the grazier or 

 squatter, the gardener, or a combina- 

 tion of two or more of those 

 somewhat divided pursuits, we find 

 that the prospects favor the men who 

 have the best land. This matter, 

 consequently, of close examination of 

 the nature and quality of the soil, 

 is most important. And as we come 

 more closely to examine the matter, 

 it is found that good agricultural 

 land is good for whatever branch wo 

 from Kid, Soil, may take it up, always providing 

 the mechanical and chemical con- 

 ditions of the soil, its formation, situation, surroundings, 

 and extent are suitable for the object in view. 



" But, What Is Richness of Soil ?" There is an agricul- 

 tural answer to this query, when we come to look ink) 



