1 Mar., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 237 
BUTTER AT BUNDABERG. 
Tue first shipment of butter from Bundaberg to England by the Bundaberg 
Dairy Company, which is managed by Mr. D. Gibson, was sent to Sydney last 
month. The shipment, consisting of 100 boxes, was consigned to Messrs. Shelton 
and Brown, Brisbane, for transmission. The butter was most carefully prepared 
under the supervision of the manager, and was made from the very best cream, 
uniform in quality, and was salted to stand the journey. Another consignment 
of 100 boxes will be sent in about a week’s time. i 
BELATOURKA WHEAT. 
As showing the hardiness of Belatourka wheat during protracted periods of 
drought, we were shown a sample of the straw and ear grown by Mr. Percival, 
of Lord John Swamp, near Warwick, which was considerably over 7 feet*in 
height; the crop was a clean upstanding one, free from rust, and ears well 
formed, grain full, no pinching. Mr. Percival found some difficulty with the 
reaper and binder, owing to the straw being too long to travel over the carrier 
of the machine, notwithstanding that the cutting gear was raised to the highest 
point. 
Tt should be stated that only 2 inches of rain fell from the sowing of the 
seed until the grain was harvested. 
A fine sample of the same wheat was also grown at the Hermitage Experi- 
ment Farm, near Warwick. The wheat is equal in height, cleanness from rust, 
and fullness of ear to that above mentioned. 
Given fair seasons, and the Downs will hold their own, and even surpass 
many of the older wheat-growing countries. 
. 
PINEAPPLE FIBRE, 
Tir fibre derived from the pineapple plant has hitherto been generally sup- 
posed to bea product of the leaves, as is the case with Sisal hemp and other 
plants of the aloe tribe, but we now learn from the Oeylon Trepical Agricul- 
turist that a trial shipment of pineapple fibre has been received from the 
Hon. J. Buckingham, O.1.E., of Amguri, Assam, by the Imperial Institute, 
prepared from the rough outer covering of the fruit. Several tons of the fibre 
were sent over to England, and the material has been well reported of. It ig’ 
said to nearly resemble flax and to be suitable for spinning into fine twine, and, 
if properly softened, for textile purposes. Its value is set down at from £20 
to £25 per ton. The process by which the fibre was prepared is not stated. 
PRICE OF FERTILISERS. 
By an oversight the cost of nitrate of soda, superphosphate and kainit was 
set down in our February number at “ per sack.’ It should have been “per 
ewt.” 
APPOINTMENT OF A COFFEE EXPERT. 
Turn extension of the coffee-growing industry in Queensland, especially in the 
Northern portion of the colony, having drawn the attention of the Department 
of Agriculture to the necessity for instructing planters, present and prospec- 
tive, in the best methods of conducting planting and curing operations, the 
services of Mr. Howard Newport have been engaged. Mr. Newport is a 
coffee-planter of eleven years’ experience in India, where he successfully 
managed a plantation at Melrose, Yercand, in the Madras Presidency. He 
also visited Ceylon, where he applied himself to the study of coffee culture in 
that island. He is at present visiting all the districts where coffee is being 
grown, and will advise planters on the best methods to be adopted in all 
branches of the industry in order to ensure success. 
