Page:Rambles in Australia (IA ramblesinaustral00grewiala).pdf/250

 New South Wales is now the most important wool producing state in Australia, and exported in 1912 44·4% of the total export of wool from the continent. The Commonwealth Returns for 1911 show that Australia exported 44% of the total value of all wool imported into the United Kingdom alone, in round numbers more than fourteen million pounds' worth, as compared with seven millions from New Zealand, and two from Cape Colony.

By far the most important product after wool is wheat. In 1911-12 a little over 65% of the whole area under cultivation was devoted to wheat. At present less than 2% of the land in the state is under cultivation, though over 92% is occupied. "In the past New South Wales has filled a most important place as the premier wool-producing country in the world. But during later years the production of wheat and other cereals has been steadily increasing The land is the great source of wealth, and we cannot continue to let the great part of such wealth lie idle Australia, and more particularly New South Wales, may confidently accept "mixed farming" as the solution of the land problem."

The days of enormous runs, at all events on land suitable for agriculture, are numbered the big run, having served its turn, is fated to