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NOTES ON THE HARVEST PRO.
SPECTS NORTHWABDS.
[By our own Reporter.]
Between the Burra and Hallett, when the
Railway survey gives an elevation of 1,970 feet
above an level, there is a fair average, rain-<*>
fall. The few etraggling wheat fieds shwing
•long the binge of tfae large estates which have
been devoted entazaly to cheep pMtorage have
as yet given promise of nothing extraordinary.
From Ulooloo northward, where the outline of
the surface indinei toward* the son, a more
active growth is seen. It is surprising to notice
thedifierenoein the gzowth of vegetation an
similar soils placedoo diSetent H^ti witfa re
■pert to tfae pontoon of the ran, Of anun
there ia often a considerable diSeienee is the
quality of eoU on toe extern and western aidei
of the same range o! hills. As a rale the
deeper and richer sous an found on the eastern
and south eastern slopes of all one principal
ranges. And let it-be here remarked that
though a very large extent of country both
on tfae eastern and western sides of the tail-
Way line for a distance of aotne SO miles
on either side of the Borra appears
capable of being put to a nweh better
tue than it is at present the suitability of
the land for agriculture is often over estimated.
Most of tbe large estates are badly broken by
atony ridges, and even if some of them were
cut np the blocks oonld not be devoted to a
much more profitable use. Here and there
rich valleys and fl?ts are met amongst the
range*,and when bread-producing surface is
wanted there it little donbt bat that the larger
quantity of the area which can be used for that
purpose will be thrown into the market. In
begin to dip in a north or north-easterly direc
tion, carrying daring high rains and flood* tfae
surpluswateratowardsljakeFrome. Thedeoline
in elevation being co gradual in a dUtanee of
many miles, as the water gravitates northward,
there is tcaicely any appearance of a defiaed
watercourse. The flood water* come down
from the ranges, overspread the plaua some
tunea more than a mile in width, and thus go
■lowly onward seeking the lower levels withont
cutting out a channel for themselves until the
country hecomw more confined or falls away
on a steeper grade. Daring the heavy stalls
which the drier parts ot the north are periodi
cally visited by nature, has thus made pro
vision for putting a considerable surface area
under water from time to time. Already
thousands of acres along the centres of numbers
of the northern valley plains have been twioe
submerged during tfae last eight months. This
should nave the effect of making the wheat
crops (on some of the most doubtful country
almost hot-wind proof. Already the benefit!
of this natural irrigation begin to appear.
for many miles around Petersburg the
fields give promise of a generous harvest. In
the direction of Jamestown, the centra of the
old Belalie area, one of the best and safest
wheat districts in the north, and around Oal
towie, Gladstone, lonra, and along the eastern
slope of the Mount fiemarkable Bange as far
north as Wilmington, though the growth is
reported to be not quite so vigorous as on
warmer coils and situations, the prospect of the
coming harvest is very encouraging. In most
InoalitieH the wheat plant has taken a strong
hold of the ground, and when the drier winds
from the north prevail the growth most be
rapid. On the more open country—along
the WBlowie Plain, about Booleroo
Centre, also along tfae Willoehra Valley
— the crops are repotted to be in a vary
forward condition. Similar statements are
made with reference to the wheat-fields on the
western elope ob the Flinders Range, beginning
with the hundred of Ninnjs and j'^tflfffl'-g
north beyond Barooio. A few miles on the
eastern aide of the railway line between
Terowie and Petersburg prospects are not quite
so favorable to the fanner. The saltbtuh
country here begin* to come in, and though the
soil may appear all that conld be desired, its
wheat-growing properties are either doubtful
or such country baa been so placed by nature
as to be always in misfortune's way. Of the
country on either aide of the railway going
. north from Petersburg a better report can be
given. Never perhaps since the north began
to be settled by tanners hasagMnder promise of
a harvest been seen than meets tfae eye between
the last-named station and Orroroo. All along
tfae Blackrock Plain the fields look simply
magnificent. Bight away op to the toot of tfae
ranges on both sides the surface ia already
covered with a moat luxuriant growth—
the wheat plant almost withont excep
tion being remarkably well atooled and
healthy. The holdings of tfae farmer*
in this locality are mostly extensive,
and considering that last year's harvest was
very disappointing the settlers are deserving of
credit for their perseverance and the good faith
which they have shown in their country in
putting so much of their land in crop this year.
It may sot be generally known that the greater
Dumber of selectors northward from Petersburg
obtained little or nothing at all from their
fields last autumn in return for the preceding
year's care, toil, and expenditure. Even on
some of the best positions about Blackrock,
according to roost reliable information, not
more than a solitaiy waggon load of wheat
could be gathered on farms where several aun
dred acres had been put under cultivation. No
wonder last Christmas failed to brine our
northern agriculturists thtir customary cheer,
and there v little wonder now to see so many
of those poor unfortunates surveying then*
fields with pMdonahle satisfaction.
Seldom is it the privilege of any South Aus
tralian fanner to oast eyes over a finer square
mile of growing wheat than may now be seen
on the farm of the Hon. W. Copley. Present
appearances warrant the expectation ofaretorn
of not less than 30 bushels to tfae acre on this
farm, and unless the land is overtaken by mis
fortune this average must be obtained over
scores of thousands of acres on file
came line of country. The ao2 on
tbeee northern valley plains is of great
depth and of a very fertile character.
On the western aide of Orroroo, in the
hundreds of Coomoroo and Finda, i^'wing
prospects are reported. Here and there foradis
tance of eighty or a hundred miles further north
grand promises are made by the crosscountry
traveller. But let it also be mentioned on
good authority that thousands of acres of last
ycat'sfallowland are still lying bare for lack of
tfae neceuary wherewithal on the part of the
farmer. It may be that notwithstanding the
promise of the rear some of the land which
might nave been sown is better left as it is, for
there can be no question but country of too
doubtful a character has been occupied by
f aimers. At the same time connWy should not
be condemned and abandoned on aoeount of
one or two failures. When the peculiarities of
our seasons come to be better understood
probably northern country which has already
ruined many of those who have attempted to
settle npen it will yet be occupied to ad
vantage. But surely sufficient ia already known
to caute would- be wheat-growers to keep away
from aaltbush or blue-bush country. It is as
yet too early in the day to attempt to form an
estimate of the coming harvest. If nothing
transpires to interfere with present appearances
it wi 1 doubtless be one of the most favorable
tbe colony has had for many years.
The character of the pastoral year over the
greater part of the north is now established.
In tbe matter of a few weeks shearing on the
northern stations and farms will be general.
Tfae Bheep are in splendid condition, and an
exceptional fleece may be expected. Full em
ployment ehould «oon obtain for all the surplus
labor available. Indeed, if (he harvest proves
as heavy as it now promises to be farmers will
experience great difficulty in obtaining the
necersary labor at a rate of wage at all favor
able to them. It has also been faulted that we
are just on the eve of a revival in the mining
industry over an extensive strip of country in
tfae north-east. All things considered, there
fore, farmers will nave some trouble in com
manding the necessary labor for the ingather
ing. Before lontc demands may be made for
tbe resumption of immigration. It ia pt«|Mnng
to notice what large patches of land are being
turned over by the plough through the northern
areas against next ceedtime. Long experience
has shown the advantages of an early fallow, and
not a lev farmers Me now so alive to its bene
fits that they are making it a rule to put only
land which has been so treated under crop.
Taking one year with another into account the
chance of a harvest on the field which has been
fallowed early as compared with land treated
in the ordinary way ib«uj two to one.
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