326 ’ QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Aprin, 1898. 
THE LARGEST WINE TANK. 
Tre largest wine tank in the world has been constructed at Osti, Sonoma 
County, California. It holds 500,000 gallons of grape juice. 
THE RABBIT PEST. | 
A corrusponpEyt in Ceylon, writing on the above subject, says :— 
The subject of the rabbit pest in Australia has engaged my attention for 
some time, and it has to be observed how it is that the rabbit multiplies so 
vastly in Australia and adjacent countries, whereas in other parts of the world 
it has not run wild to that extent. On reference to a certain work on 
geography, I have gathered that the carnivorous animals of Australia are very 
few, both in numbers and variety, compared to the other parts of the world. 
This, if true, is the root of the whole evil. It is not to be wondered at that an 
animal of such marvellous powers of fecundity has arrived at such numbers if 
it has been in the land without a sufficient number of enemies. The human 
race too, we are told, would ere this have overcrowded the earth were it not 
for the agencies of devastation. But a race of wild animals cannot be destroyed 
by the sword, famine, or pestilence. The attempt of M. Pasteur to do that has 
failed so far. One species should be kept in check by another, lest they over- 
run the earth. The kangaroo, too, has threatened to jostle the farmer and his 
sheep out of the land since the disappearance of the dingoes. The remedy for 
the rabbit pest lies in the introduction of such animals as will prey on them 
and hold them in check. That is the law of nature. 
I do not know what animals have operated against the increase of rabbits 
in other parts of the world. But in Ceylon I think it is the jackal, and perhaps 
some others too. Were it not for the jackal, there would very likely have been 
a rabbit pest in Ceylon too—to say nothing of other countries. And I venture 
to say that if the jackal—an animal known to go about hunting in packs at 
night (vide Funk and Wagnall’s Standard Dictionary) —can be acclimatised in 
Australia, the cessation of this pest will only be a matter of course, along with 
the increase of the jackals. 
[Our correspondent does not appear to be yery well posted up in the 
question of rabbits, dingoes, and kangaroos. 
The former are undoubtedly in evidence in Queensland, but are kept 
very much in check by extensive rabbit-fencing, and by the chicken-cholera 
introduced by Mr. C. J. Pound, F.R.M.S., Director of the Stock Institute. 
This remedy is one that must eventually exterminate bunny, if properly and 
persistently applied. As to dingoes they are very far from having disappeared, 
notwithstanding the reward of 10s. per head for their destruction. Kangaroos 
are no longer heard of as such dire pests as in former years when thousands 
- were destroyed in the West at periodical battwes. he kangaroo’s hide has an 
established market value, and shooters find their work none too easy, now that 
the kangaroo has become scarcer. Wallabies of various kinds are a far greater 
pest. With respect to the introduction of the jackal into Australia for the 
purpose of rabbit-destruction, anyone with a knowledge of the habits of these 
noctambular carnivores would smile at the idea. The jackal is not particular 
as to its food, and sheep, lambs, and calves would have a lively time of it with 
the Ba Besides this, they are occasionally dangerous to human life.—Ed. 
Q.A.S. 
A NEW VARIETY OF OATS. 
Mr. W. Manrin, of Welbar, Drouin, is making a practical test of a new 
variety of oats, the “Surprise” (states an exchange). The name is certainly 
“uppropriate, as from present indications it will be a prolific cropper. The crop 
stands almost if not quite 7 feet high, and the stalks are of corresponding 
strength. Competent judges declare that the yield cannot be less than 70 or 
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