Dec. 1895.] 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES. 



339 



mended to devote more attention to the quality of their produce 

 and to the improvement of their breed of cows. There is said 

 to be a large scope for the development of the Australiiin trade 

 if the colonial factories can produce butter to be sold at Is. a 

 pound in Great Britain. 



It is stated that the best time for placing Australian butter on 

 the British market is from September to April, as later arrivals 

 would meet with strong competition from Irish, English, and con- 

 tinental supplies. The*creamery system is recommended as being 

 the only means whereby butter of uniform quality, texture, and 

 appearance can be produced. Attention is also directed to the 

 necessity of neatness as well as cleanliness in packing the bvitter, 

 appearance being essential in a first-rate article ; and it is sug- 

 gested that the article should be packed in best parchment 

 paper, weighing 30 or 32 lbs. to the ream, and placed in clean 

 well-made boxes holding 56 lbs. Some important firms are said 

 to insist particularly upon the boxes being well seasoned, and 

 upon the avoidance of cheap paper for packing. 



Australian cheese would, it is stated, find a good market 

 from September to the end of May. It is pointed out, however, 

 that only the finest qualities could be expected to find a per- 

 manent market. 



There are alleged to be prospects of a good opening for 

 Australian eggs in this country, and a few consignments are 

 stated to have realised remunerative prices. Colonial producers 

 are recommended to select and grade their eggs into sizes, 

 inter-mixing brown eggs with the white and rejecting soiled 

 specimens. Clean straw is said to be preferable to any other 

 material for packing as it does not taint the eggs, and keeps the 

 temperature more uniform. 



Dairying in Queensland. 



In the Annual Keport of the Queensland Department of 

 Agriculture for the year 1894-95, it is stated that rapid strides 

 have been made by the dairy industry of the colony since 1893- 

 Factories or creameries have been established wherever milk is 

 procurable in any quantity, especially on the Darling Downs, a 

 district admirably adapted for dairying. The farmers and large 

 landowners are said to be realising the importance of the 

 industry, and the large proportions it bids fair to assume at no 

 distant date. 



It seems that the majority of farmers in Queensland find that 

 it will not pay to follow the old system of dairying, i.e., milking 

 inferior cattle, making no provision for winter feed, and carry- 

 ing on individual dairying. Consequently they are now giving 

 attention to the selection and feeding of their dairy herds, and 

 providing fodder for a time of need. They also, with a few 



