3 66 



Preservation of Eggs. 



The manufacture of butter now forms one of the staple 

 industries of Queensland, and the ramifications of the trade 

 are spreading. The climate and other conditions are said to 

 be suitable, and farmers are paying more attention to the 

 breeding and housing of their cattle. The export in 1897 

 amounted to 3,770 cwt., which was practically the begin- 

 ning of the trade, though some local shipments were made 

 in 1895. Last year it amounted to 7,820 cwt.; and in the 

 present year the export is expected to reach 20,000 cwt. 



The bacon industry is increasing, and an export trade has 

 been established. Merchants have taken advantage of the 

 trade opened up in the Philippine Islands, and have obtained 

 a hold in that market. The number of pigs in the colony in 

 1898 amounted to 127,081, or 16,226 more than in the pre- 

 ceding year. Of this number 85,510 produced 6,973,000 lbs. 

 of bacon, excluding the fresh and salt pork used by the 

 farmers for home consumption. In addition, 216,194 lbs. of 

 lard were made. The value of the export trade in bacon and 

 hams has been increased from £7,904 in 1896 to £32,033 

 in 1898. 



Preservation of Eggs. 



The Union of Poultry Breeding Societies of the Province 

 of Saxony offered early in the year prizes for the best 

 practical processes for the preservation of eggs. The 

 rules of the competition required that the eggs submitted 

 by the competitors should be kept at the offices of the Union 

 for six months during the summer, and tested at the end of 

 that period by a Committee. The competition was divided 

 into two sections, one for cooking, confectionery and kitchen 

 eggs, the other for table eggs. For the latter it was a con- 

 dition that the appearance of the eggs should not have 

 suffered from the preservative treatment. 



About 150 eggs were sent in for trial, and when the test 

 took place on 31st October last not one specimen was found 

 to be decomposed. 



