COTTON-GROWING.

Mataura Ensign, 13 May 1910, Page 7

COTTON-GROWING.

EXPERIENCES IN QUEENSLAND. AN INTERESTING LETTER. In view of the present failure in the cotton crop and the necessity for increasing the area of supply in the British Empire, the following letter from a settler in the Capella district of Queensland, which has been published by the 'Rangitikei Advocate,' is of considerable interest. » The writer, Mr J. J. O'Brien, says: "I am somewhat interested in the cultivation of cotton. Last year was my first erjperience at experimenting. I had thirty acres planted roughly, with various varieties of seed, principally | Upland sorts, with exceedingly favorable results. There are a few others here who also planted a few acres each, with equally good if not better results, yielding an average profit of £6 to the acre. Under the present circumstances through not having machinery to treat our product we were con;pelted to accept the first offer, which was lAd per lb. in the seed. I understand that the same quality cotton if sold in markets abroad would realise at the very least Ski per lb. I am convinced that cotton is the most suitable crop for our climatic conditions here, as it is undoubtedly a good drouglit-resister and prospers best in dry weather. It only requires planting about once every ten years, and very little labor is required, except for picking.

"Besides cotton-cultivation there are many other crops that can be grown here-—namely, maize, wheat, oats, lucerne, etc., etc.—with invariable success, but of course the cotton is more reliable in the event of a dry spell intervening.

"There are thousands of acres of land available here at prices from a halfpenny to threepence per acre per year, agricultural farms, and homesteads. The rent you pay yearly goes towards the purchase at the end of from 14 to 28 years. Values placed on such farms range from 10s to 20s per acre purchasing price. The quality of soil is deep loamy black or chocolate, and water can be got by sinking wells or sub-artesian bores to a depth of from 20 to 300 feet. There is no difficulty whatever in securing suitable agricultural land in this district, and our T jail els Department is only too pleased to do all they can to assist a selector. Besides farming there is overv facility for dairying; the natural grasses are equal to the average cultivated grasses for producing cream, and I notice the industry gradually growing every year. "To give you an idea how matters stand in this district,, taking a radius of 200 miles round, there are a fair number of selectors, and I don't know of one single case where the holder of such farm or selection could not meet his liabilities and have a margin to spare. The most of tlicm are dealing in sheep and never think of farming. They are too darned independent to tackle what they consider hard work. "I am confident there are sure livings to be made at mixed farming if only the right class of people will take it in hand. This district is second to ■none in Queensland for general prosperity and natural facilities. We have gold, copper, coah precious stones and other valuable minerals within a few niles of each other in every part of the district, and a fast-expanding railway connection, with State schools and churches in every part. "A man with £IOO capital could make a very decent start in a small way if he went about it in the right way with axed determination; much more a man with £6OO or £7OO. The financial institutions are very liberal and will advance pound for pound for almost any thing. The climate is perfect throughout the year, and our average rainfall is about 27 inches. So far this year we have had over 20 inches already, but the present is an exceptional season. "It really seems a shame to see such magnificent opportunities unavailed of whore there is room for millions more. Parliamentary blundering legislation has been the cause of such drawbacks, but prospects even in that direction are rapidly commencing to right themselves now.

"Several of my friends went to New Zealand from here some eight or ten years ago, but I notice they are all back here now."