July 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 465 



Recommendations of the Crop for New South Wales. 



The desirability of establishing the crop in New South Wales is obvious, 

 and small trials should certainly be made^ with the idea of finding suitable 

 districts, and accustoming farmers to the crop. The question of erecting a 

 factory, since it would involve an outlay of at least £150,000, may well be 

 left to the future. Since, however, the factory must be within reasonable 

 distance of good supplies of coal, limestone, and water, a district must fuitil 

 these conditions to render it worth while considering as a possible beet- 

 growing area. The working expenses of the Maffra factory are considerably 

 increased owing to the fact that their coal comes from Newcastle to Mel- 

 bourne, and then to Maffra, while their limestone is sent a distance of about 

 200 miles. 



Several growers were very interested to hear that the New South Wales 

 Government was interesting itself in beet-growing, and expressed themselves 

 as anxious to take up land in some district where it had been shown that the 

 crop could be grown profitably and where a factory had been established. 



A point which struck me was the probable difficulty of working a factory 

 for the first year owing to the scarcity of skilled labour. Mr. Williams 

 (Factory Manager) informed me that the Honolulu Iron Works — a company 

 which specialises in the setting up of sugar factories — undertakes to run 

 for the first year any factory which they crept. Other companies probably 

 do the same. 



However, not a great deal of skill is required in running the various 

 portions of the plant, and this year at the Maffra factory two-thirds of the 

 hands are newly employed. 



Whitening for Roofs. 



Tiih; following mixture is largely used by the Department with good results 

 for whitening roofs : — 



Slake half a bushel of freshly burnt stone lime with hot water, covering 

 the mass over with a few layers of thick bags (such as maize bags) while it 

 is slaking, and leave it so covered for about half-an-hour. Add to this 

 firstly, 1 lb. of soft soap previously dissolved in hot watei', and then 1 lb. of 

 alum, also dissolved in hot water. Stir well together until about the 

 thickness of cream. Cover up tightly as before and leave standing for about 

 three days, when it will be found to be in putty form. 



To prepare for use, thin down with hot water to the consistency of good 

 paint, and strain through a fine sieve. Apply to the roof in cool weather with 

 a two-knot brush two coats, allowing about six days between the two. When 

 desired, colouring matter may be added. 



The above makes a good cheap paint for roofs and tanks, and also for 

 brick, cement, stone, or even rough wood work, and will last for three to four 

 years. — A. Brooks, Works Overseer. 



