The Argus at KellyGang 19/4/1880 (3)

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Before going further it may be convenient to state that the major portion of the grain grown in the Benalla district is sold at Benalla to the agents of corn merchants and millers doing business in Melbourne. This year the rate has been from 4s Id to 3s 9d a bushel, the latter being the price now obtaining. In the opinion of the selectors this rate is very low. Having no yield in 1879 - all their ploughing, sowing and reaping going for nothing - they had hoped for 5s a bushel in 1880 as some thing towards wiping out the total failure of the preceding harvest. A bag of grain is supposed to hold about 4½ bushels, which at 4s would realise 18s. The cost of cartage from the farm to Benalla varies with the distance from 1s to 2s a bag, a large proportion of the grain being carried at the maximum price. The bags have to be given in with the grain, and cost the selector from 8d to 10d a piece. It is calculated that reaping and threshing cost the farmer nearly 3s a bug - 1s being for reaping, 1s the charge for the use of the threshing machine and 1s the proportion going in wages to the men attending on the machine, who have to be paid for separately. The net proceeds of the gram in many cases therefore, would be 13s per bag. Further calculations may be   deferred for the present, these figures being given for the purpose of rendering other facts intelligible

Second case

Shortly after parting with the ex-game dealer we came upon a sturdy Englishman, apparently from Devonshire. Though well advanced in years he appeared to be an active energetic man. The homestead lay close to the road. The dwelling place was built of slabs and roofed with bark. There was a galvanised iron ridge, to keep the bark down and more effectually exclude the rain. In the cottage or hut there appeared to be two or three rooms, formed by partitions. The outside buildings - stables, piggery, &c - were numerous. He came out promptly on seeing us stop to have a talk with the bailiff over his prospects. He said that he had taken up the selection (207 area) in November, 1876. He had been farming elsewhere on 200 acres previously, but as he could not make a living without working at times for other people he came to Benalla. He began here with a capital of £600. The land was not yet completely fenced.

During the first and second years small returns were received, and last harvest he had a crop from 60 acres. The lease was obtained on the 1st January last and no money had been borrowed on it. He was in the habit of getting up every morning at 5am - "You must rise early, if you want to get the trees down," and he pointed to a paddock in which a great deal of dead timber was still standing. He had a few head of cattle and horses and was pretty well supplied with implements. All he wanted was a thresher but as that would cost a lot of money, he did not yet see his way to buying one. The farm, as seen from the road, looked well. About 60 acres had been cleared and ploughed and the log fencing was substantial.

For a time the way lay between log fences, past occasional slab and bark huts and patches of ploughed ground. The prevailing timber was what in the district goes by the name of "box" - a species of eucalyptus which his no likeness of any kind to English box. The wood is moderately soft and the sterns usually "piped," hence not difficult to burn when dry. In other places, along water- courses, redgum was met with - timber too valuable to destroy - but for miles and miles the forest was of one type - box. On average ground the cost of grubbing and clearing was estimated at £2 10s an acre, as much as £5 being paid where the timber was thick and heavy. As set it could not be said that any cases of hardship had been seen, and the proprietor of the next farm visited seemed to be able to return a very satisfactory answer to the bailiffs usual question, "Well, how are you getting on?" The selection was a double one, of 640 acres, held by father and son, the latter half of the area having only been lately taken up.

The dwellinghouse was brick and plaster, and all the out buildings were of a substantial and complete character. A threshing machine and engine were standing under cover, and we heard elsewhere that at harvest time they did a good deal of threshing for surrounding farmers. Though the first 320 acres were only selected in 1878, 100 acres were got under cultivation last year and a fair harvest gathered in 1880. In 1878-9 the proprietor saw the rust coming, and cut his crop for hay, thereby making a profit where others made a total loss. The garden round the house, though as yet in a rudimentary state, was a sign of progress winch could not be overlooked, and the state of the fences, the comfortable appearance of the dwelling, all allowed that father and son had begun with a considerable amount of solid capital. As carried on by them, farming meant plenty of hard work - at fencing ringing and felling timber, and ploughing - but no great cause for anxiety. All they expressed a wish for was a little rain, to make ploughing easy on the new ground. They were satisfied with the character of the soil, which the father had tested critically as an experienced gardener, and had plenty of water. If the road to Benalla were little better they would have no cause for complaining. In winter the horses had hard work to take in a load, and occasionally a wheel came off.

A hut standing on unenclosed ground, close to the road, was the next one called at. A selection of 320 acres had been occupied two years and part of it was fenced in. The capital of £200 with which the proprietor began was all gone, being represented by fencing and ploughed land. But for the rust in 1879 he would have done pretty well, as it was, he did not feel dissatisfied with his prospects. "It licked him how on God's earth those would get on who had begun without money." His little total had disappeared altogether, and no more money would come in until next harvest, but he had got his ploughing well advanced and the slab and bark hut was not wanting in comforts for himself and his family. During the winter he would be able to make progress with the fencing.

continued

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