Western Australia has been the scene of a number of
pioneer experiments, due for the most. part to the wise philosophy of Sir James Mitchell. Long ago he was good enough to take me over a number of the family farms that he set afoot on the black fine soil of the Peel estates near Perth and else- where in the cleared woods. The most eager and promising of all the settlers I talked with came from the Old Kent Road ; and it was not unusual, though a surprising experience, that the townsman did better than the countryman. He adapted himself more quickly to new conditions and was a much better marketer of his stuff, if not so good a producer of it. But attractive as these holdings were, each adding to the inherent wealth of the country (for the land in each case was specially drained or cleared) they are more expensive and not so effective in their social or perhaps economic influence as the training of children in the ways of the farm to the end of their natural infiltration into the rural life of the country.
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