90 
Although the profession of a prophet is usually a dangerous one, the 
writer has little hesitation in saying that there are many signs announcing the 
eve of a similar rush towards the Western regions of Queensland—not that it 
be intended to depreciate in the least the North or the Eastern coast-lands. 
Those parts of the colony have advantages of their own which are probably 
unsurpassed in the world, and their agricultural future is certainly a bright 
one. But it is the deep conviction of the author that the West—at least where 
the rainfall varies between 18 and 30 inches—the West, with its fine, friable, 
loamy soils, so admirably adapted to stand a drought—with its well-marked 
seasons, its genial and invigorating climate—is equally as good for many 
branches of agriculture, and superior for some others. 
Of course there, as well as elsewhere, there are successful farmers, and 
also many who are not. The failures of these latter are sometimes attributable 
to want of knowledge and experience, to shortcomings in moral or intellectual 
attainments, but more often to the want of working capital, which puts them 
at the mercy of a bad season or the usurious money-lender. 
Amongst the branches of agriculture most likely to succeed in the West, 
the following are mentioned, although they by no means exhaust all the 
possibilities of future development :— ? 
The sheep farmer is likely to remain for many years to come the king of 
the West. By this is not meant here sheep-farming on large estates which 
had its days of usefulness and its raison d’étre, but is bound to be gradually 
superseded by closer settlement. "What is meant is sheep-farming as carrried 
on by grazing farmers on areas varying from 1,000 to 10,000 acres. If the 
sheep farmer does not exceed the length of his working capital, if he is careful: 
not to overstock or otherwise ill-use his paddocks, if he maintains a high 
standard of breed and . . makes a small provision of fodder to carry him 
through an occasional drought, he is sure to succeed. He has a secure and 
reliable market for both his wool and his meat. He is also usually well placed 
to supplement his income with wheat-growing which, to be profitable, must be 
carrried on on rather large areas and with modern labour-saving implements. 
Wheat, being not exacting as: regards moisture, does admirably in the West, 
where it is usually of a high quality and yields a good keeping flour. The 
sorts to be grown, though, must be selected from the early-maturing rust 
resisting or escaping varieties; they must be sown early on well-prepared land. 
If they make too much headway, as sometimes happens in a mild autumn or 
winter, let them be kept in check by having them eaten down by sheep. These 
will act at the same time as a roller, and as perfect manure producing and 
distributing machines. Then in the spring, the wheat being well-rooted, makes 
a rapid growth with the least shower, and is ready for the harvester before the 
usual November storm rains set in. 
Dairying, combined with pig-raising, has also a great future in the West, 
and is certain to ensure ere long a competency to thousands and thousands of 
farmers there. hese latter, though, must be probably well convinced that 
dairying cannot be made profitable unless carried on in accordance with modern 
scientific methods and with implements and machinery obtainable only through 
co-operation of farmers amongst themselves. New breeds of real milch cows 
must also be introduced. They must be looked for, it is believed, in the 
direction of the Ayrshires and shorthorns. Such cows are hardy and profitable. 
They would pay the farmer for his trouble and labour, instead of ruining him, 
as do at present the miserable scrubbers to be found in many places. Housing 
in winter is also absolutely necessary. A single frosty night (and there are 
many such during our three months’ winter) costs the careless farmer from 50 
to 80 per cent. of his milk supply. No less indispensable is the growing of 
artificial fodder. Without the above three conditions being fulfilled to the 
letter, it is useless to go in for dairying. But if they are observed, there are 
few countries in the world so well adapted for successful dairying as Western 
Queensland. The natural grasses and herbages are there exceptionally rich and 
nutritious; but they not seldom fail, at the very time when they are.most wanted 
