342 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES. 



[Dec. 1895. 



The Darling Downs territory is the chief seat of the in- 

 dustry, comprising, 29,000 out of 34,000 acres sown. Three 

 districts situated there, viz., Allora, Toowoomba, and Warwick, 

 contributed very nearly four-fifths of this area, and returned 

 fully 80 per cent, of the total wheat produced in 1894. 



It seems that in 189-4: full}- two-sevenths of the total wheat 

 area was, more or less, affected "with rust. 



Agricultural Export Trade of South Australia. 



According to a report issued by the Ministry of Agi'iculture 

 at Adelaide, the action of the South Australian Legislature in 

 establishing the Wine and Produce Depot in London, has had an 

 important bearing on the export trade of the Colony. There is 

 said to be no doubt that an excellent market can be obtained in 

 England for South Australian wines, provided a uniform stan- 

 dard can be maintained. The chief desideratum in this direction 

 is stated to be the establishment of co-operative wineries, which, 

 in the direction of equalising the product are expected to do for 

 small winemakers what the butter factory system has done for 

 milk producers. 



As a necessary complement to the storing and distributing 

 depot in London, a receiving depot for ^ produce of all kinds has 

 been established at Port Adelaide. An excellent site on the ocean 

 steamers' wharf has been secured for this purpose, and refrige- 

 rating machinery and chambers have been erected. The pre- 

 mises were opened and the machinery started by His Excellency 

 the Lieutenant Governor on April 17th, 1894, in the presence of 

 -a large gathering of business men and producers. 



A trial shipment of frozen produce was made hy the ss. 

 •' Woollomoolloo " and " Warrnambool " in April and Ma3\ The 

 produce is reported to have reached London in excellent condi- 

 tion, the poultry having sold at 4s. a bead, while tbe pork was 

 described as very good, the size and dressing being all that 

 could be desired. 



The Ministry of Agriculture has also, through the produce 

 depot, undertaken the export of fresh fruit, with satisfactory 

 resnlts. Apj^les are said to have reached as high a price as 17^. 

 a case, and on the whole have travelled well ; with pears the 

 results have not been so satisfactory, the fruit being frequently 

 worthless on arrival. Hitherto the onlj^ variety of grape that 

 has borne the journey well is the Almeira. Shipments of eggs, 

 honey, and other minor products have also been made. 



In the working of the depot as an agency for the benefit 

 of the producers, attention is chiefly directed to building up 

 new industries and opening fresh channels to the markets. 

 The difficulty and expense in these directions are stated to be 

 so great that the individual exporter has but small prospect of 



