108 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Frx., 1899. 
It is stated that about 90 per cent..of the leaf grown under this cover 
grades as wrapper. This, and its spotless gloss, the immunity from insects, 
hail, beating rains, and the scald which sometimes occurs at the beginning of 
the rainy season, are considered. to yield an ample profit on the heavy expendi- 
ture. This is the first year-of extensive culture under this system, and 
the results have not entirely equalled expectations, since this rainy season 
gave an unusual amount of precipitation, whereas the shading system will 
naturally develop its strong points best in a dry season. 
The unusual amount of rainfall and cloudy weather gave the leaves an 
abnormal succulence and brashness, which have not characterised them under 
previous tests. The system is considered to be approved and established; 
however, it is to be of great value, and will be further extended next year. 
A small experimental plot was grown under cover in the peninsula proper 
at San Mateo, and the results are regarded as favourable. 
But the most elaborate and expensive operations have been conducted by 
a wealthy firm of truckers-at Tampa, who have experimented in covering 
lettuce, celery, and other vegetables. They have felt their way along, and the 
results have been so encouraging that they arenow preparing to grow twelve acres 
of wrapper leaf under cover. They use canvas gauze, which costs 600 dollars 
an acre, to which the expense of labour, fertiliser, &c., is to be added, bringing 
the total outlay up to 1,000 dollars an acre for the first crop. ‘hey will raise 
three crops of tobacco a year, which will reduce the average of the final cost 
per acre to about 600 dollars. They produce wrapper leaf, which is extra- 
ordinarily fine and silky, bringing the highest prices paid in the Tampa cigar 
factories. What their profit may be is, of course, known only to themselves, 
butitis believed by tobacco experts who have watched their crops as marketed 
that they realise from 1,000 dollars to 1,500 dollars gross per acre for the main 
crop.—Florida Agriculturist. 
Bush Work. 
By A. J. BOYD. 
CROSS-CUTTING. 
_ Iv will be remembered that we dropped our tree across a couple of small logs, 
thus raising the butt some 6 inches from the ground. 
It will sometimes happen, however, that the tree has a decided curve, 
unnoticed when selecting it. When the tree falls with the convex or curved 
side uppermost, our logs are of no use. The butt is jammed into the ground, 
and has to be raised before the cross-cutting can be finished. 
But before cutting off a log we must know what we want. If we want 
rails, the log must be 9 feet long, or 9 feet 6 inches is better. If posts, these 
will require to be 7 feet long. or ordinary slabs, 7 feet 2 inches is the correct 
length. For palings, well—that depends upon the order. Some people want 
4-foot palings, others 5 feet, and so on. Vive feet is, however, a good staple 
length. For shingles, 15 to 17 inch blocks must be cut. 
We must not forget that it may happen that we lose our saw-set, and then 
it is well to know how to set the saw without it. This is effected by the help 
of two wedges. A wedge has a somewhat rounded base, and it is this formation 
which enables us to take advantage of it in the case of the loss of the saw-set 
To operate with the wedges, drive one of the wedges firmly a short distance int 
a log or shingle block. ‘Then arrange the saw so that a tooth lies on the wedge 
the point slightly raised. 
