422 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 June, 1899. 
VEGETABLE FAT. 
By HENRY A. TARDENT, 
Manager, Biggenden Experiment Farm. 
Wuen we compare our agriculture with that of countries enjoying a climate 
similar to ours, there seems a lack in the cultivation of some sort of oil-producing 
plant. Still we feel daily the need of such a plant in the economy of a well- 
managed farm. In consequence of the increasing use of cream separators, our 
calves are being now mostly fed on poor skimmed milk. This results in dysentery 
and other diseases, and willleave us ere long with degenerated breeds of milkers. 
Pigs are also in need of some oily food. Even the women folk and growing 
children would be all the better for some sort of vegetable oil in their diet. 
Where shall we get it from ? 
The olive, both under the form of expressed oil and as pickled fruit, is 
- of course the vegetable fat par excellence. No doubt, in years to come, the 
olive will occupy a large place in our rural economy. Our soil and climate seem 
to be admirably adapted for its profitable growth and cultivation. It seems to 
do well all along our eastern coast land. But west of the range, our vast 
inland plateau with its sandy soil and stony ridges, with its dry and bracing 
climate, seems to be most pre-eminently adapted for that sort of culture. 
At Westbrook Head Station there is a magnificent olive grove, planted some 
20 years ago. Although the trees hardly received any care, most of them are 
vigorous and healthy. Whilst I was at the Westbrook Experiment Farm, the 
genial host of Westbrook Head Station, Mr. J. Jennings, kindly authorised me 
to prune all the trees, and to take truncheons from them. The result was not 
only beautifully shaped trees, but a most abundant crop of fruit on all the 
varieties—the branches bending under the weight of fruits were the very image 
of riches and plenty. When pickled, they turned out of excellent taste and 
flavour, and were unsurpassed by any imported article. 
If we were aware of the real value of the olive, it would be found growing 
over the whole of the Downs ere long. It would be planted on all the stony 
ridges which are now useless, and where it would bear abundantly ; also along 
each farm’s boundaries. It would beautify the landscape, act as a breakwind 
against the cold westerlies of winter, and afford a beautiful shade for man and 
cattle in summer; furthermore it would, in addition, provide one of the most 
nutritious and useful of fruits, 
Unfortunately, it will be many years ere that ideal is reached. The trees 
are not yet planted, and when planted they take many years before they come 
into bearing. In the meantime we want some sort of quick-growing oil- 
producing plants. Walnuts, hazel nuts, and other trees are excluded for the 
same reasons given above, besides being less adapted to our climate and soil, 
Cotton is believed to be not yet a paying crop until labour is somewhat cheaper 
than it is at present.* The castor oil plant will produce an excellent lubricating 
and leather-softening oil at probably remunerative prices; but it spreads like a 
bad weed, ripens very unevenly, and, as an esculent, is appreciated only by 
Chinamen, who seem to have a specially built {stomach to digest it. Rape, 
mustard, sunflower, which are all good for some purposes, have all some draw- 
back which prevents them from entering into general cultivation. 
After numerous experiments with a great variety of oil-producing plants, 
I came to the conclusion that the one which would answer best all purposes was 
the so-called “ Peanut” or “ Earthnut” (Arachis hypogea). It belongs to the 
Leguminosa family, and is, properly speaking, not a nut but a bean. Like all 
the other members of that numerous family, its roots are covered with numerous 
nodosites full of minute microbes, which live on nitrogen, and then fix it in the 
* The cotton plant would scarcely prove a success on the cool tablelands of Southern 
(ueensland,—Ed, Q,.4.J. f 
