Wheat Culture in New South. Wales. 97 



The average of the five years being rather over 14 bushels 

 per acre. 



The second quinquennial period from 1863 to 1867 shows a 

 range of cultivation commencing with 26,438 acres in 1863, in- 

 creasing to 45,739 acres in 1866, and dropping to 30,051 acres in 

 1867. The average of the five years being 31,84 L acres, or 63 

 per cent, above the average of the previous five years. 



The yield per acre ranged from 9'4 bushels in 1863 up to 15"4 

 bushels in 1866, and dropped to 107 bushels in 1867. The 

 average was rather over 10 bushels — that is a lower average yield 

 by 4 bushels per acre than in the previous quinquennial period. 



The average yield of the ten years is thus reduced to rather 

 better than 12 bushels per acre. 



The price of wheat has ranged during the same period from as 

 low as 5s. per bushel up to 12s — the average being about 7s. lOd. 

 This would give an average yield to the grower of about £4 14s 

 per acre. 



WESTERN DIVISION. 



2. — The Western Division comprises the counties of Bathurst, 

 Roxburgh, Phillip, "Wellington, amd Bligh. The acreage under 

 wheat in the first .five years ranged from 10,483 acres in 1858 up. 

 to 27,761 acres in 1859, and then fell to 17,390 acres in I860, 

 and downwards to 13,505 acres in 1862. I have reason to think 

 that the large excess in the year 1869 is attributable to some 

 error in the returns for the counties of Phillip and Wellington 

 for that year, which it is impossible to arrive at a satisfactory ex- 

 planation of at this period. 



The average for the 5 years was 17,025 acres. 



The produce ranged from 20T bushels in 1858 down to 9'8 

 bushels in 1862, the average being about 14-| bushels per acre. 



The second quinquennial period of this division exhibits a range 

 of cultivation commencing with 19,846 acres in 1863, and in- 

 creasing up to 60,026 acres in 1867, the average being 37,704 

 acres, an increase of 121 per cent, upon the average of the first 5 

 years. I have reason, however, here again, without wishing to 

 throw a doubt upon the accuracy of the returns, to notice a re- 

 markable extension in wheat culture in the counties of Wellington 

 and Bathurst in the years 1866 and J 867. I find that the acreage 

 under wheat increased, in the county of Wellington, from 3368 

 acres in 865 to 15,777 acres in 1866 and to 17,399 acres in 1867 ; 

 and in the county of Bathurst from 16,922 acres in 1865 to 

 30,753 in 1866, and to 31,060 acres in 1867. I have been unable 

 to arrive at any satisfactory solution of the question, being 

 assured that the returns are accurately made up ; but I find that 

 it is in the police district of Orange that the remarkable increase 

 is shown, part of that district being situated in the country of 

 Wellington, and part in the county of Bathurst. Perhaps the 



