304 



[October, 1912. 



DRIED MANGO. 



An observer in North Queensland thus describes a method of drying 

 mangoes that is carried out successfully in that part of Australia. The 

 description appears in the Queensland Agricultural Journal for February, 

 1912:- 



The mango is picked just before turning colour. It is then cut up 

 with a large knife in chips or small slices some 2 inches in length, 1 inch or 

 so wide and perhaps h inch thick. These slices are laid in the sun to dry, 

 and become diy enough to store in three or four days. Sheets of galva- 

 nized iron (roofing) are used with sheets of paper laid on them. Cloth 

 was not found satisfactory, and the paper could not be dispensed with, as 

 the acid juice of the fruit turned the product a dark colour if in direct 

 contact with the iron, The fully dried chips are of a very pale-yellow or 

 brownish-white colour, and if only cut into similar shapes could hardly be 

 distinguished in appearance from the best dried apples. These chips 

 when thoroughly dry are stored in aii -tight receptacles and may be pack- 

 ed quite tightly in them . The best receptacles are large earthenware jars. 

 Hermetical sealing is very necessary and is generally done with ordinary 

 beeswax. 



When cooked, the dried fruit darkens in colour a little and is not so 

 decided in flavour as is the typical fresh mango— in fact, to one who did not 

 know what it was ; it tastes somewhat like a mixture of dried apples and 

 apricots. It makes excellent tarts and pies, and could equally well be 

 used for jams or ehutneys. 



OSTRICH FARMING IN AUSTRALIA. 



According to a recent consular report, ostrich farming in Australia 

 has not made any marked progress during recent years. The number 

 of ostrich farmers has remained almost unchanged, and the number of 

 birds has increased to a smaller extent than would be supposed. Yet 

 experiments made during the period in question seem to show that 

 ostrich farming in Australia is remunerative, provided that a cheap 

 supply of the essential green food (chiefly lucerne) is available through- 

 out the year, and if the stock is improved by the introduction of fresh 

 blood. Since the birds flourish only in the dry inland regions, the question 

 of food often presents serious difficulties during the hot and rainless 

 summer months ; but it appears that these can be obviated, at least in 

 New South Wales, by establishing ostrich farms in the region under the 

 great dam of the Burrinjuck, where a sufficient supply of green food can 

 be raised under irrigation. The Australian ostriches are descended from 

 a comparatively small number of imported birds, the consequent inbreed- 

 ing has therefore reduced the quality of the feathers ; and owing to the 

 prohibition of the export of ostriches from South Africa, the expense of 

 importing new stock has become too great for the farmer to incur. The 

 Minister for Agriculture of New South Wales has appointed a Commis- 

 sion to visit South Africa, Morocco and Egypt to study ostrich culture 

 and to buy a number of good stock birds. By that means, it is expected 

 that ostrich farming will be improved and will soon show a marked 

 expansion, 



