1 Fes., 1898. ] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 163 
manifest from its use in certain experiments in Scotland. No adyantage what- 
ever was derived from the use of the preparation in trials upon beans and 
clover, carried out for the Glasgow Technical College in the south-west of 
Scotland last season; but, apparently, the experiments were tried on land 
which grew good crops without any assistance, and presumably, therefore, 
were supplied with all the organisms needed. The only fair test is to apply 
the preparation upon “ clover-sick ’’ land, or soils too poor to grow beans, peas, 
or lentils properly. But Mr. J. R. Campbell, of the Harris Institute, Preston, 
records in the Agricultural Gazette some favourable results of the use of 
‘‘nitragin”? even on the good land of the Lancashire County Council Farm 
near that town. One captious argument against the possibility of any good 
being done by inoculating the soil with “nitragin”’ is that soils suited to the 
existence of the bacteria are sure to contain them in abundance; while they 
will not thrive in soils not suited to them. This is simply begging the question ; 
and, if it were true, it would apply to the inoculation of land sterile for 
leguminous crops with small quantities of soil from fields in which such crops 
flourish ; whereas such inoculation has given excellent results in a number of 
cases in Germany. The value of “nitragin” has not yet been sufficiently 
demonstrated ; neither has it been disproved. 
BUTTER RATIO OF MILK. 
REFERENCE was recently made to the high butter ratios of milk in Australia, 
and it was stated that one example given was not by any.means a “record.” 
It appears that the best ratio hitherto made public in Victoria is 1 lb. of 
butter from a small fraction under 17 lb. of milk as the average result attained 
at the Wilburg Creamery, presumably for a period of six months, as accounts 
are made up and presented half-yearly. The Australian writer who chronicles 
this very remarkable achievement states that several examples of 1 lb. of 
butter having been obtained on the average from 18 Ib. of milk have been 
given. It would be interesting to learn what was the average yield of milk 
for the cows which supplied the creameries. In British, Irish, American, or 
Canadian creameries 1 lb. of butter from 25 1b. of milk would be regarded. 
as a very good ratio.—Stock and Station Journal. 
CLOSING OF AN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 
From a telegram received last week from Victoria, we learn that the Longere- 
nong Agricultural College and Experiment Farm near Horsham (Vic.) has 
been closed. ‘The reason for this appears to be the want of water. Owing to 
the long-continued drought, it has been found impossible to continue agricul- 
tural operations, notwithstanding that a part of the land is watered by the 
channels of the Wimmera Water Trust. That corporation, however, is unable 
to supply water for irrigation purposes, and only the stock can benefit by its 
channels. There were thirteen students in residence, who will be sent to the 
Dookie Agricultural College. The college will probably be reopened when a 
sufficient water supply is again available. 
WHAT IS A HOGGET? 
Two graziers in a railway carriage are conversing upon market prospects, and. 
one remarks that he expects to get a good figure for his hoggets. After 
leaving, one of the remaining occupants asks his neighbour, “ What's a 
hogget ?” ‘* Well, I don’t know exactly,” was the reply, “but I think it has 
something to do with a pony when its mane is cropped.” “Not at all,” 
interjects the other, ‘a hogget is a young pig.” A new passenger comes in, 
and it is resolved to leave it to him. “A hogget,” sagely replies the new- 
comer, ‘‘weil, you'll have to excuse me, gentlemen, because I really don’t 
know anything at all about poultry.” : 
M 
