1 Sepr., 1897.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 267 
SUGAR LANDS AT CAIRNS. 
From the Cairns Post we learn that the whole of the land, 1,050 acres, com- 
prising what is known as Letraille’s selection, situated on the banks of the 
ulgrave, has now been sold to sugar farmers, who are actively engaged in 
preparing the land for crops. Scrub-falling on this block of land is the order 
of the day, and the crash of falling trees is continuous. Mr. T. Bowen has 60 
acres under cane on this land, and the following have cleared areas in prepara- 
tion for planting cane:—W. J. Munro, 100 acres; J. Gordon, 60 acres; 
T. Swan, 60 acres out of 140; Mr. McElhone, 25 acres, and others who in the 
aggregate will total an additional 70 or 80 acres. It is anticipated that fully 
600 acres of this land will be under crop in readiness for the 1898 season of the 
Mulgrave Central Mill, and that the following season will see the whole 1,050 
acres under cane. When this takes place the directors would do worse than 
to follow the advice given by the Hon. R. Philp, ‘‘ When you have got more 
cane than you can conveniently crush, go to the Government and ask for money 
to extend your mill, and I am confident it will not be refused.” 
Aw American horticultural paper describes the Casabanana (Sicania oderifera) 
as a “new fruit” of considerable value. The plant which produces it is 
represented as one of the most handsome climbing plants ever introduced, 
as well asa good fruit-yielder. In a suitable climate, it is said, the plant will 
climb to the height of 50 feet in one season, and it succeeds wherever the 
melon flourishes. The fruit is about 18 inches long and 3 inches in diameter, 
and of a brilliant red colour when ripe, while it exhales a strong pineapple 
fragrance. It is suitable for preserves, and, when unripe, for curry. 
‘Tz balance-sheet of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association 
shows a profit of £11,692. This has been apportioned in a dividend of 6 per 
cent., and a 4 per cent. bonus on the called-up capital has been distributed to 
the shareholders. 
Tz New South Wales Fruit Export Co-operative Company have declared a 
padend of 10 per cent., and have placed £951 to the credit of the reserve 
und. 
Tun Scottish Harmer says:—‘ A Portobello dairy, in which one of the female 
milkers was affected with scarlet‘fever, has been proved to be responsible for 
the prevalence of the disease in the neighbourhood.” 
A repvorr on the working and results of the Woburn Experimental Fruit 
Farm, established by the Duke of Bedford at Ridgmont, in 1894, has been 
written by the Duke and Mr. Spencer U. Pickering, and published by Eyre 
and Spottiswoode, London. The farm consists of 20 acres of a sandy loam, 
described as heavy, in spite of the large proportion of sand in it. Various 
experiments in methods of planting fruit trees, manuring, pruning, neglecting 
them, and allowing grass to grow around them, have been tried, and the tests 
as to growth, size of leaves, and yield of fruit are methodically stated. As 
the trees have not ‘yet come into full bearing, the differences in yield are not 
as great as they probably will be hereafter; but some of the results are already 
instructive. It appears that the growth of the trees is affected by beneficial 
or injurious treatment to a much greater extent than the leaf-size. Indeed, 
except where the difference in growth approached 50 per cent., the size of the 
leaves was not affected. Careless planting and subsequent neglect had a great 
effect, the growth of the trees thus badly treated being in one year 93 per 
cent. less than that of trees well planted and properly cared for; while the 
leaf-size was 75 per cent. less, the total leaf area 84 per cent. less, and the crop 
of fruit in 1896 was less than 5 per cent. of the yield of the trees properly 
treated. The growth of grass around young apple-trees had a marked effect 
in reducing growth, size of leaf, and yield, the reduction of the latter being 
71 per cent., though it is supposed that this was in great part owing to the 
drought of 1896. Weeds had a less injurious effect than grass. - Neglect of 
eutting-back trees when planting them, fesulted in a great diminution of 
