In most districts 250 acres of wheat is as much as one man can manage without outside help, except at harvest time, although some energetic farmers manage 300 acres. In the more settled districts wheat farms usually range from 300 to 600 acres, but larger farms, up to four and five thousand acres, are common. They are either worked on shares (see p. 38), or with hired labour, and are usually owned by men who have started on a small area, and increased it by subsequent purchase with money made from wheatgrowing. On many large properties hitherto devoted to sheepraising the practice is growing of putting down a large area under wheat. It is not practical to definitely state the amount of capital required to purchase and prepare an area of land for a wheat farm. Much will depend upon the capacity and experience, business acumen, and resourcefulness of the settler, as is the case in all callings, but the detailed information given in these pages should enable the intending settler to work out the amount approximately required by his condition and the lines he intends adopting. WORKING PLANT REQUIRED. The intending settler has to consider not only the capital required to secure his farm, whatever its nature, but also the expenditure necessary in obtaining a working farm plant. Prices of machinery cover a wide range, according to size, &c. In working 200 to 250 acres of wheat crop, the following plant would be required, and the prices given are approximately correct:-- Five horses (good selected mares, if possible, that will give an annual return of, say, four foals), at $144 per head $720.00 Five sets of harness 72.00 One dray and set harness 86.00 One four-furrow plough 144.00 One set of harrows 33.00 One seed drill 182.00 One cultivator 96.00 ------ Implements for putting in and working growing crop $1333.00 One reaper and binder 142.00 One stripper-harvester 430.00 -------- Total $1905.00 [Illustration: STEAM THRESHER AT WORK.]