1 Frs., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 101 
The following statistics will prove that the Queensland farmers have to 
produce a great deal more from the land before supplying the world’s 
markets :-— 
STATEMENT showing the REQUIREMENTS of QUEENSLAND for certain Crops, &c., and the VALUE 
sent out of the Conony to provide the same. 
rk a I Product E Require: onto 
which Pro- mports roduction ixports x 
ea parse Valued at | Valued at | Valued at veneaese Se 
: Wants. 
£ £ £ £ 
Onions cwt. 10s. 8d. 21,905 1,040 36 22,909 
Cheese lb. 6d, 1,820 4,803 205 6,418 
Condensed Milk ip 26,494 ~ 694 25,800 
Butter ” 10d. 43,075 256,843 618 299,300 
Bacon x) 6d. 305 83,478 4,385 79,498 
Ham *, 10d. 910 69,565 3.517 64,958 ( ype 
Potatoes ton £6 10s. 14,449 119,931 283 134,097 | \ 14, 7s 
Wheat bush. | 3s, 9d. £50,875 112,735 804 | 662.306 549,561 ee ; 
arley 8. } 86 ifs 7,342 SATA RSs ; 
Oats at re sid. | 11,506 5,802 se 17,358 | 1hs08 0 OU! 
eaten on 
Josten 23 a “it 3,826 165,677 125 169,503 3,701 
Hay Barley 3. 
[pacers a £2 
Panicum ” £2 
Total money value sent out of Queensland that should be retained | £664,199 
Compiled from the Statistics for 1896. 
From the above figures it may be observed that we are sending out of this 
colony a sum of £664,199 yearly (or at least we did so in 1896) for 
products that we can produce more remuneratively and of greater excellence 
than can be produced elsewhere. Although we are importing very largely, 
especially wheat, butter, and condensed milk, I think it is wise to keep on 
gradually opening up a trade in the world’s market, which will prevent 
industries exploding when we have an over-production here. 
FARMING IN QUEENSLAND. - Seas 
Until within the last few years, farming in this colony (with few 
exceptions) was carried out in a very slipshod manner. The farmer arose 
late in the morning, got into his clothes as if afraid of hurting them, and 
reached the field when the best part of the day had passed; and on reaching 
the field, the harness that had been left there from the previous day (or may be 
for weeks) was usually attached to four or six horses, a number not unusually 
to be seen working a single-furrow plough. In some instances I have ‘seen 
these horses completely exhausted with less than half a day’s work, whereas 
two well-fed horses could do the work all day without the slightest exertion. 
Men who carry on farming under such conditions can never hope to be 
successful, and it is much to be regretted that there are numerous cases similar 
- to those mentioned. Others, again, are content with ploughing a large area ina 
- short period, or what is usually called ‘a big day’s work, regardless of skill or 
the necessity of making a good seed bed or ploughing in such a manner as to 
destroy the weeds or noxious growths, which, when properly ploughed in, are 
prevented from growing again, and which when decayed act as a good fertiliser. 
A great deal of good seed is wasted by being planted in badly cultivated lands. 
My experience of farming is such as to convince me that the man who 
understands his business and cultivates his land thoroughly is rewarded tenfold. 
It is a great mistake for a person to imagine that the only knowledge required 
in farming is to be able to drive a pair of horses and hold the plough on the 
ound. This erroneous idea has led many to ruin, and will lead many more 
in the same direction. 
