Appendix No. III.

Mr. Bucknall's Additional Evidence.—(Question 2070.)

"In addition to the evidence I gave in Ballarat before the above Commission, I would like to add a few remarks, viz.:—

"That the larger fruits, such as apples, almonds, pears, quinces, plums, apricots, also gooseberries and mulberries, are grown in comparatively large quantities in this district, while strawberries and currants are also grown. Some of these are grown in public gardens, while a great quantity are grown by diggers in the gullies of the ranges, in patches of a few acres each.

"The Maryborough Fruit Preserving Company buy all the larger fruits that they require, and a great deal of the smaller, from these people. They used from 25 to 30 tons of fruit last season, and could have obtained a much larger quantity had they required it. They also dried a few apples and plums, and found a ready sale for them; they will go into that branch more extensively this year.

"Almonds, judging by the few that are grown, would do very well indeed here, and this is an industry that I think only requires bringing before the farmers, and showing them the results to be obtained, to induce them to take it up.

"All these fruits would grow without irrigation, though they would, of course, give more even yields with it.

"There are great facilities for irrigation by making reservoirs, in addition to which the Tullaroop Creek runs all the year round. Water has been also found under some of the plains, at from 20 to 70 feet, in large quantities.

"Lucerne is the only artificial grass that will grow without irrigation, and that only on the rich flats of the creeks. All the other artificial grasses die out after, say, three years, except in a very few low damp spots.

"Linseed has grown well some seasons, while other dry seasons it has been a total failure.