Abstract
WEST Australia is at the present time best known to us by its gold mines; the real importance of this vast and almost unoccupied territory must, however, be determined by its capability of supporting in the future a large population, and hence the agricultural capabilities of the country become an extremely important factor in any schemes for its development. The Handbook before us is issued by the Agricultural Department of the Colony; its object is to present a picture of the agricultural capabilities of various districts, and to advise intending settlers oas to their best course of action. It deals chiefly with the south-western portion of the Colony, a district enjoying a better and more uniform rainfall than is generally met with in Australia, and the general fertility of which is vouched for by the occurrence of large areas of heavily-timbered land. The forests of West Australia are said to occupy more than forty million acres; the wood from them has already been employed in paving London streets. Large areas of the country appear to be especially adapted for vine culture. Part i. of the Handbook de scribes the agricultural areas open for selection. Part ii. contains general instructions for settlers. Part iii. deals with the natural grasses and weeds, and with various im ported crops. Part iv. is devoted to sheep husbandry. Part v. is a general treatise on soils and manures, with out much special reference to Australia. The whole publication is freely illustrated. The photographs of the forest trees are very striking. The maps are bad, and quite insufficient for the purpose. The Handbook has evidently been hastily put together, and its value is often marred by the want of a clear arrangement of the subjects discussed.
The West Australian Settler's Guide and Farmer's Handbook.
(Perth, W.A.: Wigg and Son, 1897–98.)
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W., R. The West Australian Settler's Guide and Farmer's Handbook. Nature 57, 560 (1898). https://doi.org/10.1038/057560a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/057560a0