Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/239

 Conclusions ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 2(3 had under cultivation in the same year only 2,967,370 acres, and possessed a population of but 373,378 persons. The soils suitable for agriculture and horticulture are admittedly highly fruitful, and the pastures produce some of the best wool in the world. There are immense belts of mineral country, which, through the lack of capital, are waiting to be prospected, and there are extensive forests containing timber, capable of yielding considerable wealth. With systematic and scientific treatment the future of the agricultural districts should be bright. The wheat produced in the Northern Areas commands the highest price. In recent years, with the help of labor-saving machinery, large reductions have been made in the cost of production, and the droughts have caused the more enlightened cultivators to amend their methods of farming. Most of the best agricultural lands are situated near ranges, where, with the aid of capital, extensive and fairly cheap schemes of water conservation and irrigation could be carried out. To this department much careful attention will have to be given in the future. Also tracts of country at present occupied by farmers will have to be surrendered and handed over to the pastoralist. Were this done, the average of the returns would be raised, extreme misfortune would be saved to the Province, and cultivation in the reliable districts would be intensified. The Closer Settlement Act affords an opportunity. But even without these desirable changes the future of agriculture in South Australia is assured. Cycles of droughts are bound to recur, and so, also, are cycles of prosperous years. South Australia was projected as an agricultural country, and she has soil eminently adapted for this primary industry. In the Lower North, Central, and South-Eastern Districts there are extensive areas practically unutilised which might be devoted to vine culture for wine-making purposes, and in recent years closer attention has been directed to other industries than agriculture. Numerous experiments have been tried, and a strong impetus given to viticulture and dairy farming. South Australian wines are gradually gaining in popularity, and the result has been an increase in the area under vines. In 1890 there were 7,352 acres so occupied, and Hospital, Adelaide