AGRICULTURE

1907 - Over Old Leads. BY COTSWOLD.
II. GULGONG TO THE TALBRAGAR.

Up to the opening of the railway from Coonamble to Dubbo, practically all the traffic from the Castlereagh came to Mudgee, and still a very large portion of the Merrygoen and Mundooran traffic comes that way, though the latter is but 20 miles from Gilgandra, and is 73 from Mudgee. The advantages are a good road and very great saving in railway freights.

Local opinion seems to be that the Mudgee and Gulgong people were negligent of their best interests when the Dubbo to Coonamble railway was put through. With the construction of the Mudgee-Dunedoo railway, however, much of the intervening country will be well served. This line does not follow the main road, but runs some distance to the north-east, and advisedly so, as the good agricultural country is better tapped thereby. Gulgong itself lies to the north-east of the main Castlereagh to Mudgee road.

If the road from Mudgee to Gulgong lies through patchy country, that from Gulgong to Cobborah is still more so. Running west to join the main road some very fair agricultural land is met with, mostly held in small farms, many acquired from the Rouse family during comparatively recent years. Here the cultivation is, on the whole, pretty good, and on some farms intelligent, methodical working is strongly in evidence. Amongst the farms near the town are those of Messrs. Sloman, Smith, Cooney, W. Watt, Jackson, and Graham. These farms do not, however, by any means comprise all the good agricultural land.

Reedy, or Wyaldra, Creek may be crossed just after joining the main road, or by an earlier turning to the right, which eventually leads on to Tallewang, Dunedoo, Denison Town, Leadville, Coolah, etc. The creek, which has a very deep and wide channel, flows strongly only after heavy rains, but the amount of gravel in the bed indicates an undercurrent. After crossing, the quality of the land on the right hand perceptibly deteriorates, and what can be seen from the road is mostly suitable for grazing purposes. Mrs. Docwra and Mr. Stahl are holders of land hereabouts.

Farther on, at Tallewang, there are, however, a number of farmers who go in for cultivation with success. In most seasons, though the present one is far from being favorable.

THRIFTY FARMERS.

On the left hand, sloping up from Wyaldra Creek, however, is some very fair farming land indeed, mostly acquired from the Rouse family, and held by such persevering farmers as the brothers Campbell, Mr. Croome, etc. One Mr. Campbell has been a considerable experimenter with different varieties of wheat, no fewer than seven having been tried on sufficient scale to practically demonstrate their suitability to the district and current methods of cultivation. The popular Purple Straw has been found to do well upon the whole, while White Lammas has yielded but 12 bushels to the acre alongside of Steinwedel with 27 bushels under identical treatment and in exactly similar soil. The latter has generally been found to be ahead of Purple Straw by about five bushels, and as much as 50 bushels per acre have been obtained from a small area (12 acres). Other varieties tried have been Trilby, John Brown, Plover, and Schneider, the two latter having yielded very good results.

Mr. Croome has 560 acres, which was purchased when in a ringbarked state some six years ago. One hundred acres are under crop, principally for hay, as chaff is a profitable product. A little maize is grown, principally for home consumption. Mr. Croome's land runs right down to the creek, at the crossing of the main road, where is a small settlement and the Beryl school. Near by are one or two market gardens, prettily situated at the foot of rugged hills.

THE COBBORAH-ROAD.

On the Cobborah-road, when Reedy Creek is passed, most of the good country is left behind so far as the immediate roadside is concerned. The exceptions are at Goodiman, where Mr. O'Connell has a large holding and some cultivation; at Haley's, where new land is being brought into cultivation, and ring barking is going on; and at Faulkner's (Lackey Creek). Spring Ridge, the property of Mr. Niven, is a large holding, a very great area of which has been cleared at what must have been a very heavy cost. It lies between Goodiman and Lackey Creek. The country consists chiefly of steep ridges, with little depth of soil, but affording useful grazing ground for sheep and cattle. The picturesque and substantial roadside hotel here illustrated is located on this property. Though the country passed through is at places very steep and hilly, the road has been very well surveyed, and neither rises nor falls to any very considerable extent.

After passing Faulkner's, the country is heavily timbered, but no agricultural land is met with until one nears the Talbragar, a few miles from  Cobborah. But at a little distance on either side is sterling good agricultural land, that on the west being on Sandy Creek, which runs into the Talbragar a few miles below Cobborah, while that on the right is undulating, with a few small stony ridges. It is here, about 12 miles from Cobborah, that the Stringybark alluvial goldfield is situated, and the adjoining country is known as Tucklan.

GOOD COUNTRY.

In this bit of back country is some of the most pleasing agricultural land that it has been the lot of the writer to see. The average elevation is some 1500ft, and the rainfall about 27in, which, notwithstanding recent seasons, is generally fairly regular. The few ridges, and some timber which has been left, must assist in protecting the country from the westerly winds. Wherever one turns the useful kurrajong is to be found, and though the shapely heads of the trees evidence the recourse which has been had to them of late for fodder, this does not in any way take from the productiveness of the country in general.

Isolated from the railway, and with rough travelling tracks until the main roads are reached, productive farms are met with one after another, some of which have been occupied for many years. This country will be well served by the Mudgee Dunedoo railway when completed.

One of the older farmers, in this district is Mr. R. Ballard, of Park View, a resident of some 20 years. When he first started operations his whole capital amounted to an exceedingly small sum, but it does not appear that he has any reason to repent of his energy and perseverance. He holds upwards of 1400 acres of conditional purchase and conditional lease land, runs 1300 sheep, and crops from 100 to 200 acres each year. As showing the productivity of the land, he considers 20 bushels to the acre a rather poor crop, and has obtained an average for the year of 39 bushels, although, through delay in getting the strippers to work, a considerable loss was sustained through shedding. As illustrating his sound methods of farming, the present dry season has found him well prepared, and between hay and the carefully-preserved kurrajongs, it must be a lengthy drought indeed which will result in losses of his stock.

Source; Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Wed 6 Nov 1907 Page 34