76 



AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



active young women) may be taken at about thirty bushels 

 of ears, although over one hundred bushels have been got 

 through at husking matches. The fingers and finger-mils 

 suffer severely while husking; and it is usually dene in 

 spells, in the evenings, during the heat of the day, &c. To 

 aid in the work, a glove is made with small hooks at the 

 points of the fingers and at the palm of the hand. This 

 glove helps the worker very much. 



Shellmg Corn Maize Fevers. Very excellent shelters 

 are made in the colonies. Hand, horse, 

 and steam power are employed for 

 operating ; and power is very helpful, 

 for the work is hard when done by 

 the hand. The corn should be win- 

 nowed or cleaned as effectively as 

 possible, in order to look well when 

 sent to market. While shelling, the 

 fine dust (fungus dust amongst it) 

 from the sheaths of the cobs, is apt 

 to get into the throats of the 

 operators. It is disagreeable, and 

 has caused fevers, by irritation. The most effective pre- 

 ventive is to arrange the work and the shellers so as to blow 

 the dust away from the operator. 



WHEAT. The land available for wheat farming in 

 Australia is enormous. Where 

 the rainfall ranges between 20 

 and 30 inches, the location is 

 likely to be suitable. South 

 Australia exports this grain 

 largely ; Victoria is also a heavy 

 producer ; New South Wales 

 grows nearly enough for her own 

 use : and Queensland grows a 

 considerable area. It is a winter 

 crop, the seed being sown during 

 the months of March, April, 

 May ; the harvest is in Septem- 

 ber, October, November. Loca- 

 Oau, Barley. tion and the state of the wea- 



Shelling C'>rn. 



