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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 85

Appendix No. IV. — Mr. Brimmer's Additional Evidence.—(Question 2282.)

Appendix No. IV.

Mr. Brimmer's Additional Evidence.—(Question 2282.)

"Ararat,

"In accordance with my promise, on the occasion of the meeting held on Friday last, I have the honour to forward my experience, for the last 29 years, in horticulture, agriculture, and arboriculture.

"I have, at different periods, tried the cultivation of hops, opium, and tobacco—they all grew well—but at that time, 23 years ago, labour was both scarce and high, and, consequently, the balance was on the wrong side of the ledger.

page 138

"I then turned my attention to fruit growing, in conjunction with the market garden which I had established at Crowlands, since 1859.

"As regards fruit growing, I consider this district second to none in the colony for the cultivation of all sorts of hardy fruits, with the exception of almonds which do not crop well on account of the frosts at the time of blooming and fruiting.

"In arboriculture, I am not aware of anything having been tried, excepting olives, at the Ararat Asylum. Forty trees were planted five years ago—20 of the common olive and 20 of the Blanquette species. The common olive is very robust in growth, but has never fruited yet; the Blanquette have borne a few this season, which were ripe a month ago.

"Bluegums, I think, should be extensively grown, both by the State and private individuals. I went this day to inspect a twelve-acre paddock, which I had sown with bluegum seed eleven years ago next August. I found them splendid young trees, from 40 to 50 feet in height, as straight as a gun-barrel, with a girth of from 18 in to 2 ft. 4 in., which would have been very materially increased but that the plantation has been neglected, and, in many cases, three and four stems are growing from the same spot.

"The ground was ploughed in lands 9 feet from ridge to ridge, with the seed in patches 12 feet apart; but I can see plainly the better plan would have been to have made 8 feet the distance, and properly attended to the thinning-out.

"By this it appears that the bluegum would take from 30 to 40 years to produce good serviceable timber, without destruction by disease or insects, and I can point out to any one who takes an interest in the subject many instances of the damage done by the borers to trees of an advanced growth. Since visiting the paddock, and considering the matter over, I have no doubt it would have proved a much more profitable speculation if it had been planted with black wattles, which, I have no doubt, would have represented a value of from £20 to £30 an acre by this time for bark, besides the firewood.

"All farmers should, I think, grow enough fruit to supply their own wants. With a proper knowledge of the adaptability of their soils and situation, gum, pine, and wattle might be grown to advantage.

"As there are thousands of acres of land on the ranges and stony rises suitable only for growing wattle, the State might lease these lands, at a low rental, to any one who would undertake to grow wattle or other timber where suitable.

"I consider, also, that both shire and borough councils might, under some circumstances, cultivate the wattle with advantage, and it might increase their revenue to the advantage of the ratepayers.

"By the over-stocking of our pastures, the best of the natural grasses have been killed, and this is likely to become worse, as neither farmers nor graziers allow the herbage to renew itself by seeding. In 1859, I tried half-an-acre of lucerne as an experiment, which grew splendidly. It was sown in September, and hoed after each cutting, but it should never be grazed too closely.

"Irrigation is the great desideratum in this colony, and all farmers should endeavour to make provision for the irrigation of a few acres, thus enabling them to grow roots and green fodder for their stock. Knowing the value of water myself in the cultivation of fruit-trees, I am convinced that one acre 'irrigated will produce the equivalent of at least five acres without that assistance.

"As an instance of the value of irrigation, I planted three rows of Magnum Bonum potatoes on the 19th December; rows 4 feet apart, with 18 inches between the sets; the average yield was 8 lbs. to the root. The sets were large, from 40z. to 60z. each. The potatoes were dug in the middle of March, and retailed at 1½d. per lb.

"The cultivation of the potato in this district, without irrigation, almost invariably results in failure.

"The acacia, generally known as lightwood or blackwood, might, I think, be profitably grown. It is a quick-growing valuable timber, growing in mountsain-ous districts from the base to the summit of the ranges. Redgums might also grown on river flats and other low-lying spots, but, being of slow growth, many years would elapse without any return, although I think that any stockholder would be amply repaid for his trouble by the shade and shelter afforded stock.

"Gorse is another plant that might be advantageously grown by the farmer; it is used as green fodder, succeeds well without irrigation, and on very poor so where grass is of the scantiest. It is very extensively grown in many parts Great Britain. To cultivate, plough the ground, and work to a fine tilth; sow in drills, one foot apart and one inch deep, and roll. Sow in August, and keep clean.

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"When fit, cut with mowing or reaping machine or scythe two inches above the ground. When gathered, pass through a gorse-crushing machine, This machine, when I left England some years ago, could be procured for £2 10s.; the maker was Mary Wedlake.

"I think a fair crop of gorse would cut six tons per acre, 'green' of course. I am not prepared to say how long it would stand here, but know it lasts a long time in England. Many poor people at home, in the absence of a crusher, bruise the gorse well with a mallet, when it is eaten with avidity by all sorts of stock. The Government should act in this matter by seeing that proper experiments be conducted by the agricultural colleges with this valuable fodder plant. These experiments, if they proved nearly as successful as I anticipate, would induce farmers to plant largely, and prove a safeguard in the disastrous droughts which occasionally visit us.

"As a proof of the value of irrigation, I forward you the enclosed statistics from Mr. Clarke, of the Ararat Asylum, which give the monthly yield from five acres of land for the last five years. It shows, also, the effects on wheat-growing in an experiment conducted for that purpose. In conclusion, if any information I can give would prove useful, I should feel most happy to afford the same.

" I have, &c.,

"Jas. Brimmer.

" J. J. Shillnglaw, Esq., Secretary, &c."