. 
78 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Jan., 1898. 
NEW ZEALAND BUTTER. 
On the 6th November last a shipment of butter was made from New Zealand 
per s.s. “ Tonic’ for England, which we believe is a record for that colony. 
16,703 boxes and 743 kegs were shipped, and of this quantity Wellington is 
credited with 14,168 boxes and 60 kegs. In Queensland a box of butter 
weighs 56 Ib. net, the tare on the total weight of butter and box being about 
12 1b. Supposing the New Zealand box to be of the same dimensions.as our 
own, the shipment in boxes amounts to over 417 tons. No butter is shipped 
in kegs from Queensland, but the New Zealand keg probably holds 80 Ib. net, 
making an additional 26} tons, or a total of 4434 tons. 
SHIPPING FRUIT. 
A scneme bya Colorado man is founded on the principle that dry, fresh air is 
far more beneficial to fruit in transit than is the moist and confined air of a 
refrigerator car. In the new car, ice is done away with. An immense metal 
funnel is attached to the engine of a train, just above the pilot, and from this 
funnel a pipe, about 1 foot in diameter, extends back to the fruit-car, resulting 
in an automatic draught of air flowing through the car. This, it is claimed, 
makes a perfect ventilation, and, according to the dry-air theory, will preserve 
fruit for several days longer than the ice process.—California Fruit Grower, 
AUSTRALIAN RABBITS. 
Arrention is called by the Colonial Consignment Company to the great 
increase in the imports of rabbits from Australasia which has taken place this 
year. During the ten months ending with October, 150,453 ewt. of rabbits 
have been received from Australia and New Zealand, as compared with 60,255 
ewt. and 21,811 ewt. for the corresponding periods of 1896 and 1895. Sucha 
great contribution, it is remarked, could not fail to have a marked effect upon 
the consumption of frozen meat, the trade for which has been very dull for 
some time past. 'rozen mutton is selling at 2%d. (or even less for some lots) 
to 32d. per lb. for the very best Canterbury, and beef at 13d. to 23d. With 
such prices current in the wholesale market, the poorest of consumers should 
not lack meat.—Standard. 
MALTING BARLEY. 
Tue Neerandra correspondent of the Warwick Argus says there is great 
demand in the district for malting barley. Representatives of various malting- 
houses have been “doing” the farms of Warwick in quest of samples of 
Chevalier barley. Fancy prices are quoted which will warrant farmers in | 
paying more attention to the growth of this cereal this year. But growers 
should not lose sight of the fact that Warwick has its own malting-house, 
erected at great expense, and which should receive the support of every farming 
centre in the Warwick district. By supplying its loca] maltsters, the farmers 
will be helping themselves. 
In this connection we learn from the Zoowoomba Chronicle that Messrs. 
Perkins and Co. intend building another malt-house, so as to enable them to 
malt for all their breweries. ; 
SHOW FIXTURES. 
Drayton and Toowoomba Agricultural and 
Horticultural Society om ... 12th January, 1898. 
Central Downs Agricultural and Horticul- 
tural Association ... ay) .. 2nd February, 1898. 
Eastern Downs Agricultural and Horticul- 
tural Association (Warwick) «. 9thand 10th February, 1898. 
