While stock breeding has been declining, there has been a more and more active cultivation of the soil, particularly for wheat raising. During has impoverished the soil. The average yield per acre for the Commonwealth is less than that of almost any other country, being less than 8 bushels, as against 13 for the United States. The percentage of the total cultivated area devoted to vines, sugar-cane, and other crops (including fruits), has increased from 8.6 per cent. in 1861, to 14.3 per cent. in 1899. Sugar cane is already by far the foremost crop of Queensland, and is important in New South Wales. Government bounties have greatly stimu lated viticulture. It is found that wines of a superior quality can be produced. The cultiva tion of cotton, tried for a time, was given up on the discontinuation of the Government bounty. Coffee and bananas are successfully grown on the coast of Queensland, and all kinds of tem perate zone fruits farther southward; while the the decade preceding 1891, in which there was a remarkable growth in stock raising, land cul tivation increased but slightly; but in the subse quent decade, the increase was enormous. A change from the pastoral to the agricultural stage is here taking place, similar to the trans formation on our Western plains. Already the value of agricultural products is equal to one half that of the pastoral and dairy products. The rate of increase of cultivated land since 1861 has been twice that of the increase of popu lation. With the passing of the gold fever of earlier years, the people are settling down to farming life and realizing its great possibilities.
In the following table it will be seen that in the three leading agricultural States wheat con stitutes much more than half of the total acreage, and is prominent in all but Queensland. Hay orange, lemon, and fig thrive along almost the whole of the eastern shore line, even as far south as Victoria. The conditions for the production
of any of these crops are scarcely excelled in any country. The part of the land so far culti vated is but a minute portion of that which is available. The eastward coast and mountain region of New South Wales alone might well be spoken of as the counterpart of California in area and in possibilities. Against the disadvan tage of remoteness from the world's market, it has the advantage of producing fruits at a season when there is no competition from north ern countries.
The different State governments have sought to encourage the more rapid development of the crown-lands, and the State laws have been adapted to the nature and possibilities of the ranks next and is important in all the States. Only in Queensland and New South Wales is there sufficient rainfall to assure a crop of corn.
The increase in wheat has been proportional to that of the total cultivated area, yet wheat is not a universally successful crop. In places droughts are frequent, and in many localities a long, unbroken succession of the one crop land and the varying desires and financial con ditions of the settler. The terms for acquiring new lands include various kinds of conditional purchases, the installment plan being in vogue. Sometimes residence is exacted. Certain lands may be acquired by annual lease, but there is a growing tendency to lease in perpetuity. (For a more detailed statement, see articles on the dif ferent States.) The States formerly assisted im migration. defraying in whole or part the ex penses of transportation. At present, Queens land alone continues this plan. In this State farm laborers and female servants between the ages of 17 and 35 are free of transportation charges. Assistance is rendered also to other classes of immigrants.