1 Nov., 1897.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 415 
year. . . . The present capital is £12,753, of which £7,900 is paid up, 
leaving a calling power of £4,800. In May, 1897, there were thirty-two 
agencies throughout the colony, and nearly 1,800 shareholders—nearly three 
times as many as there were twelve months previously. Branches will be 
established in districts, on forty persons subscribing for a total of not less than 
250 shares, upon which 5s. per share is to be paid. Calls are made as further 
capital is required. In 1896, the Union paid to its shareholders for 175,377 
bags of wheat, £151,000; for 3,200 bales of wool, £22,000; for 20,533 bags 
of potatoes, £5,346; skins, oats, barley, and other produce brought the total 
for the year to over £180,000. . . . Last year the Union imported 100 
tons of commercial fertilisers for shareholders, who were, in consequence, 
enabled to get it at nearly 10s. per ton less than they would have had to pay if 
they had purchased for themselves. This year 700 tons have been ordered. 
Cornsacks and woolpacks are imported in large quantities, and here, again, the 
shareholders benefit to a considerable extent.--Journal of Agriculture and 
Industry of South Australia. 
SUB-DRAINAGE. ; 
In reference to the point raised by Mr. H. Logan, in his remarks on Mr. 
Watt’s paper on Sub-drainage, read at the Farmers’ Conference at Gatton, it 
would appear that Mr. Watt was misunderstood by Mr. Logan. He did not 
advocate the use of stones large enough to block a drain only intended for 
pipes. He said that the larger of the stones used should be placed in the 
bottom. We do not publish Mr. Watt’s letter (of which the above is the 
gist) for the reason that controversial matter does not come within the scope 
of the Journal, which is issued with the sole view of affording useful infor- 
mation to agriculturists, pastoralists, and others. 
KIDNEY WORMS IN PIGS. 
Ir anyone has swine weak in'the loins, or dragging their hindquarters on the 
sround, afflicted with what is known as “kidney worms,” give them a table- 
_ spoon of indigo in thick slop twice a day for three days. If not cured, wait 
three days and then repeat the dose. I have never known it to fail to cure in 
eighteen days. Usually twelve doses cure those dragging their hindquarters.— 
Australasian. 
BEET SUGAR. 
From the Bairnsdale Advertiser, we learn that the beet sugar factory at 
Maffra is making rapid progress, and will shortly be completed. The machinery 
from Germany is expected in the first week in November, when the fitting up 
will be begun at once. It is to be ready for making sugar at the end of 
March next. Meanwhile the sugar beet crops are being got ready. For 
months past the 1,800 acres intended for the beets have been prepared, and are 
now in splendid condition. Sowing was commenced a fortnight ago, and the 
plants are already showing up very nicely. The bulk of the acreage has, 
however, yet to be sown. ‘The company has obtained from Germany and 
France the best seed, and is selling it to the farmers at cost price, which is less 
than 8d. per lb. The quantity of seed sown per acre is 11 lb. 
SCHOOL GARDENS. 
Aun children love flowers, and a large proportion of them love to delve in 
the soil and plant flowers in “ make-believe” gardens. This innocent recreation 
should be encouraged and worked upon until the young are taught to raise 
flowers in real gardens. specially in schools can this be, carried out 
systematically. The writer attended a school in Germany and another in 
Switzerland, where the boys were all allotted small patches of garden ground, 
and trifling prizes were given for the best and earliest spring flowers and 
yegetables ; and he, on one occasion, took prizes for sweet-peas and -balsams 
grown from seed supplied by the botanical professor. In this colony he carried 
