100 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Fxs., 1898. 
opinion, there is a class of undesirable settlers: such as those who have no 
knowledge of tilling the land, who allow the Chinaman to take away the 
manure, who buy their vegetables from the Chinaman, and produce nothing 
from the land to supply their household, and also secure a larger scope of land 
than their means will warrant. This class of settlers is, in my opinion, 
undesirable, and they only occupy the place of men who would be an acquisi- 
tion to the colony and a benefit to the State. There is another matter which 
appears to me to be one that will, sooner or later, militate against successful 
agriculture—z.e., the small area of land offered to intending settlers. My 
contention is that no man with a family can make a decent living on from 70 
to $0 acres of land, there being no scope for the farmer to extend beyond a 
small limit. Mistakes are also made by men going on the land without any 
eapital. Doing so means that the man will have a long struggle before he gets his 
head above water, especially as there is bound to be keen competition among 
agriculturists, and the man who is not in a position to get up his goods in the 
best marketable condition will have to be content with low prices. 
The great future that awaits Queensland in the dairying and agricultural 
industries is beyond the expectation of the most sanguine person. There is 
no denying the fact that no colony in Australasia, and perhaps no country in 
the world, affords the same facilities for any branch of farm life as Queensland 
does at the present day. We have sufficient excellent agricultural land to carry 
millions of people, 75 per cent. of which is practically unutilised to any 
remunerative extent, other than sheepwalks, and can be purchased at prices 
which I consider a gift. This is not only my opinion, but also that of practical 
southern farmers who would never haye visited this colony had it not been for 
my inducing them to do so; and, needless to say, some of these farmers have 
disposed of their southern homes, and are now permanent. residents of 
Queensland; others, again, are endeavouring to sell their holdings with the 
view of settling here. 
This colony has always borne a bad name in the southern parts of 
Australia, and especially as regards climate, which is considered by some, who 
really know nothing about it, to be only suitable for the habitation of the 
aboriginal. However, now that we have some of these settlers amongst us, 
who are delighted with their agreeable change from exorbitant prices and high 
rents for lands, and also a climate that surpasses that of the south, being 
eee and more congenial in every way, I feel satisfied that many others will 
ollow. 
One gentleman, a friend of mine, after inspecting a small area of Queens- 
land lands, remarked that he would return to Victoria and dispose of his 
property without making known to his neighbours the facilities afforded 
settlers in this colony or his intention of coming to reside here, for he said : 
“Were I to do so, every farmer in my district would want to sell out and 
come too, and the result would be that I could not sell my property at the 
usual high prices.” This same person further stated that the quality of the 
land that is being sold here for from £2 10s. to £3 per acre is equal to lands 
that are being sold in Victoria at £30 per acre, and, knowing Victoria as I do, 
Jam quite sure the above statement is not an exaggeration. ‘These facts lead 
me to believe that there will be a great rush for agricultural lands in this 
colony in.the near future. 
This season’s wheat yield will average over 17 bushels to the acre, while 
the South Australian yield will not exceed 6 bushels, New South Wales about 
10, and Vietoria something under, which proves beyond all doubt that Queens- 
land is suitable for other than grazing purposes, notwithstanding the opinion 
of some old identities up to within a few years ago. a 
It may be considered bold on my part in stating that the day is not far 
‘distant when Queensland will be the premier Australian colony in the output 
of farm and dairy produce, but I am confident that older men than myself will 
live to see this come to pass. . : 
