ST, i ee 
SS —— NZ 
1 Ocr., 1897.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 345 
station, turns them into the tank, and sends them off by the first available 
train to Switzerland or Germany. On arrival at their destination, these 
crushed grapes go straight to the factory, and may be reckoned to produce 70 
per cent. of wine at their first pressing, apart from the by-products. Of these 
tartaric acid is the principal, but the grape-stones are said to make excellent 
chicken food, while the stalks and skins when burnt to ashes form very good 
ley for washing purposes. The total export-of crushed grapes amounted last 
year to about 8,000,000 tons.” 
Allusion is also made to the recent discovery in Germany of the possibility 
of making artificial wine (especially port) from malting barley by the introduc- 
tion of the bacilli of port wine into the mead. These bacilli transform the 
immature beer into port, and, when they have done their work, can be sterilised, 
a sufficient stock of microbes being preserved in the laboratory for further use. 
[Foreign Office Report, Annual Series, No. 1868.] 
JERSEY BULLS FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 
An Trenchard’s sale of pure-bred stock last week, the South Australian 
Agricultural Department purchased a collection of valuable high-class Jersey 
bulls for the use of the various dairying centres in that colony. 
CENTRAL WINE CELLARS. 
Wuen receiving a deputation of vignerons the other day, the Victorian 
Minister for Agriculture stated that he contemplated discussing with his 
colleagues the question of the desirability of establishing central wine cellars 
for the blending and making of wines. : 
RAILWAY REVENUE. : 
From the report of the Queensland Commissioner for Railways for the year 
ended 30th June, 1897, we learn that the revenue from agricultural produce 
has advanced from £63,068 in the previous year to £83,333 during the present 
year. That the railway revenue from this source should have topped previous 
records by £20,265 is good evidence that the efforts of the Government to 
stimulate and assist the agriculturists have not been without marked effect. 
Not only is the individual farmer benefited, but the colony as a whole derives 
an advantage by the broadening of the foundations of railway revenue and its 
constantly improving source attendant upon the moving of crops. We may, 
if the season continues as favourable as at present, look confidently forward to 
a further expansion in this direction. Amongst the crops which have contri- 
buted to this very satisfactory state of affairs, sugar and sugar-cane take a 
prominent place, but all other farm produce shows a substantial increase. The 
Southern line and Killarney branch forwarded during the year under consider- 
ation 45,000 tons of produce, as against 30,000 tons during 1895-96. The 
tonnage from Wallangarra, coming over the border from New South Wales, 
was 1,365 tons (principally potatoes), as against 521 tons for last year. 
The totals are 256,981 tons, against 198,642 tons; and the revenue from 
this was £83,333, as against £63,068. In the Roma-street cold stores, as much 
as £17,000 worth of butter has been stored at one time. It is observed in the 
report that imports of maize, bran, and pollard have nearly ceased, and that 
flour from the southern colonies has also decreased. A further reduction will 
probably be suffered, as our own wheat crop promises an abundant yield, and 
additional flour-mills are being erected at Toowoomba and on the Downs. 
ADULTERATED TOBACCO. 
Tue Louisiana Planter is responsible for the statement that, “amongst the 
worst frauds on the Ohio market, are a number of brands of tobacco.” This 
should stimulate our Killarney and Texas friends to create a taste for their 
pure tobaccos, which will doubtless be eventually rendered equal to the best 
brands of the American weed, when the newly appointed tobacco expert has 
settled down to his work. 4 
