Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/316

AUSTRALIA. developed almost wholly during the last decade. The State governments, particularly In Victoria, have encouraged the establishment of creameries and the exportation of butter with satisfactory results. An improved method of shipping has been another favorable factor. The raising of swine is very limited, but is developing in connection with dairy farming. Horses are bred mainly for local purposes. The small, yet hardy, breed called 'bush horse' predominates. In 1899 their total number in Australia was 1,670.000. There has long been a small export trade to India, and during the British war with the Boers in South Africa the exportation of horses was greatly stimulated.

While stock breeding has been declining, there has been a more and more active cultivation of the soil, particularly for wheat raising. During the decade preceding 1891, in which there was a remarkable growth in stock raising, land cultivation increased but slightly; but in the subsequent decade, the increase was enormous. A change from the pastoral to the agricultural stage is here taking place, similar to the transformation on our Western plains. Already the value of agricultural products is equal to one-half that of the pastoral and dairy products. The rate of increase of cultivated land since 1861 has been twice that of the increase of population. With the passing of the gold fever of earlier years, the people are settling down to farming life and realizing its great possibilities.

In the following table it will be seen that in the three leading agricultural States wheat constitutes much more than half of the total acreage, and is prominent in all but Queensland. Hay ranks next and is important in all the States. Only in Queensland and New South Wales is there sufficient rainfall to assure a crop of corn.

The increase in wheat has been proportional to that of the total cultivated area, yet wheat is not a universally successful crop. In places droughts are frequent, and in many localities a long, unbroken succession of the one crop has impoverished the soil. The average yield per acre for the Commonwealth is less than that of almost any other country, being less than 8 bushels, as against 13 for the United States. The percentage of the total cultivated area devoted to vines, sugar-cane, and other crops (including fruits), has increased from 8.6 per cent. in 1861, to 14.3 per cent. in 1899. Sugar-cane is already by far the foremost crop of Queensland, and is important in New South Wales. Government bounties have greatly stimulated viticulture. It is found that wines of a superior quality can be produced. The cultivation of cotton, tried for a time, was given up on the discontinuation of the Government bounty. Coffee and bananas are successfully grown on the coast of Queensland, and all kinds of temperate zone fruits farther southward; while the orange, lemon, and fig thrive along almost the whole of the eastern shore line, even as far south as Victoria. The conditions for the production of any of these crops are scarcely excelled in any country. The part of the land so far cultivated is but a minute portion of that which is available. The eastward coast and mountain region of New South Wales alone might well be spoken of as the counterpart of California in area and in possibilities. Against the disadvantage of remoteness from the world's market, it has the advantage of producing fruits at a season when there is no competition from northern countries.

Land Under Cultivation New South Wales ... Victoria Queensland Soutli Australia Western Australia.. Tasmania Commonwealth Thousandi of Acres 265 410 i 400 24 163 Acres per Capita 0.7 0.8 0.1 3.2 1.6 1.8 1.1 Thousands of Acres 390 861 69 837 61 166 2,343 Thousands of Acres 578 1,435 117 2,156 63 148 4,487 Thousands of Acres 846 2,116 242 1.927 64 168 6,363 Thousands of Acres 2,440 3,156 420 2,238 186 225 8.664 Acres per Capita 1.8 2.7 0.9 6.0 1.1 1.2 2.3

New S. Wales Victoria Queensland S. Australia W. Australia Tasmania 1,426.166 2,166,693 62,527 1.821.137 84,616 64.328 Wheat f'Dercent.^ 68.4 8.8 0.3 1.2 1.4 22.7 0.4 0.9 6.9 68.6 0.3 2.5 8.6 1.8 14.3 0.9 "i'.'o 12.5 26.2 1.8 0.2 2.5 14.0 0.5 26.3 16,0 81.3 'o.'i 0,9 0,4 13.9 0.9 i.'g 46,4 0,1 2,1 2,1 1.5 42,3 1.7 "i'.'a 28.6 0.1 3,4 20,0 12.0 18.8 17.1 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 lOO.O

The different State governments have sought to encourage the more rapid development of the crown-lands, and the State laws have been adapted to the nature and possibilities of the land and the varying desires and financial conditions of the settler. The terms for acquiring new lands include various kinds of conditional purchases, the installment plan being in vogue. Sometimes residence is exacted. Certain lands may be acquired by annual lease, but there is a growing tendency to lease in perpetuity. (For a more detailed statement, see articles on the dif-