Edible Products. 



420 



^November, 1909. 



machine, by a series of cogs and cranks, 

 makes the rice pass through another set 

 of sieves, and, at the same time, the 

 wind from a rotary fan contaiued in the 

 machine and driven at a high velocity 

 clears off any impurities of husk, dust, 

 &c, that may be with the rice after 

 leaving the grading machine, aud com- 

 pletes the milling operations by finishing 

 the product in a perfectly cleau and 

 highly polished state. Samples of this 

 rice were exhibited at the last National 

 Agricultural Society's Show in Brisbane, 

 and submitted to experts, who ex- 

 pressed themselves as pleased at the 

 improved samples displayed, which were 

 equal to any imported rice of the same 

 variety aud very little different from 

 the best Japan. 



The Rice Crop— Will it Pay? 



This is the question invariably put to 

 the writer whenever advocating the 

 growing of rice as one of the crops to be 

 successfully undertaken in the coastal 

 districts of this State. 



In the first place, take the cropping. 

 In ordinary situations, with only fair 

 cultivation, from 30 to 40 bushels of 

 60 lb. of paddy can be obtained per acre, 

 which is double the wheat yield, the 

 average crop of wheat being from 15 to 

 20 bushels per acre. I know in some 

 instances these quantities have been 

 exceeded in both crops, but I give a fair 

 average for comparison. The value of 

 wheat per bushel ranges from 3s. to 3s. 

 6d., whilst the value of rice sold to the 

 local mill averages from 4s. to 5s. per 

 bushel delivered at the mills. Then dry 

 rice chaff is of great value as a feed 

 for stock and horses, and I feel sure, 

 if placed on the maket and once fairly 

 tested, it would command a ready sale. 

 The straw is less hard, and, when well 

 dried, compares favourably with oaten 

 straw, and a fairly low estimate would 

 give (according to variety grown) from 

 3 to 4 tons per acre, of an estimated 

 value of £2 to £3 per ton, or au 

 average to the grower per acre of straw 

 and grain of £15 10s. per six months' 

 crop. Of course, in favoured districts 

 two crops can be obtained in the 

 year — that is, where frosts do not ap- 

 pear. Then the above figures would have 

 to be doubled as a yearly income, but, 

 in the Logan district, only one crop of 

 rice is taken, to be followed by a late 

 crop of some other kind, such as oats, &c. 

 Of course, the greatest benefit is derived 

 by the grower on a large scale if he 

 does his own milling. A glance at the 

 prices paid for paddy and the prices now 

 obtainable for the finished product will 

 be worth consideration. Taking the 



current prices of rice, at the time of 

 writing, in the Brisbane market, duty 

 paid, best Japan is £24 per ton. The 

 commonest quality of imported rice, 

 "Rangoon," fetches, duty paid, £19. 

 This price gives a fair margin of profit 

 to the local miller it he sells at £18 per 

 ton. The samples being milled this 

 season at the Pimpama Island Mill are 

 of very high grade, aud closely resemble 

 " Patna" in shape of grain, but slightly 

 darker in colour. Taking then, the local 

 rice at £18 per ton market value, to 

 produce which 1 ton 10 cwt. of paddy 

 would be required (according to records 

 taken at recent trials) to be milled, of a 

 value of £12 9s. 9d. ; this would leave a 

 margin of £5 10s. 3d. I will add here 

 that paddy rice is bought locally like 

 wheat at 2,240 lb. per ton, deducting the 

 cost of milling, the average of about 

 £2 per ton leaves the miller a net profit 

 of £3 10s. 3d. per ton. To this must be 

 added the value of the pollard, which 

 also is of great value as feed for calves, 

 pigs, or poultry, when steamed and then 

 mixed with separator milk. Its com- 

 mercial value is certainly uot less than 

 £2 to £3 per ton. 



The following is taken from the 

 Brisbane "Observer" of 29th June, 

 1901 :— 



" We were to-day shown a sample of 

 rice grown at Pimpama Island, Moreton 

 Bay. It resembles Patna rice in shape 

 of grain, but is darker in colour. 

 Qualified experts who have seen the 

 sample say that it is the first really high- 

 grade rice that they have seen grown 

 in this State, aud as it can be marketed 

 at from £18 to £18 10s., should command 

 a ready sale. The commonest quality of 

 imported rice, Rangoon, fetches £19, duty 

 paid, here just now, while for Japan 

 rice £24, duty paid, is asked by the 

 distributing houses." 



The price quoted for the mill such as I 

 have described, and which is so con- 

 structed that it can be duplicated or 

 extended at a very small cost is, for the 

 No. 4 machine, with a capacity of not 

 less than half-a-ton per day, together 

 with grader, &c, about £130, delivered 

 at Brisbane. Of course, the buildings 

 are extra, and the power required to 

 drive the machinery ; but worked in 

 conjuction with any existing sugar-mill, 

 or sawmill, &c, it would prove of great 

 value to the district, and a source of 

 profit on the outlay to any enterprising 

 millowner. 



Future Prospects of the Rice 

 Industry. 

 Like all other crops, rice has its ene- 

 mies and diseases ; it has a kind of rust, 

 smut, &c, and in some parts of Queens- 



