858 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 May, 1898. 
pumpkins becomes a very laborious business when the crop consists of such 
monsters as that shown in our illustration. ‘This large specimen was 
grown at Tenterfield, and weighs 164 lb. We have not ascertained its 
name (probably it is the “‘ Mammoth Tours’’); but it is intended to save the 
seeds and ascertain if it is a distinct variety, or if it is merely an abnormal 
growth. Large pumpkins such as this are of doubtful value to the farmer. 
They are usually soft, and of bad keeping quality, and this is a serious defect 
in a vegetable which of all others should possess the quality of keeping for a 
considerable time without deterioration. The market price is usually low for 
this class of produce, especially when such vast quantities of them follow the 
first maize crop. They have been sold as low as 10s. per ton, and an instance 
is known where demurrage was paid on a truck load of pumpkins in order to 
Allow of the market being cleared and thus obtaining a better price when there 
were few in the hands of produce dealers. At the beginning of winter prices 
improve, and pumpkins are in demand for feeding stock. At times they have 
realised £4 per ton, and £2 to £2 10s. is no uncommon price during the 
winter. 
The best keeping pumpkins are the Ironbark, a great favourite in Queens- 
land for table use, and the Japanese small rough variety. The Tark’s Turban 
is also good as a vegetable. The Tronbark will stand a great deal of ill usage, 
and if carefully stored will last throughout the winter. 
Many people have no idea when to pull a pumpkin. ' The best guide is to 
notice the curl near the stalk. When this withers, the fruit may be gathered 
in. Another test which many farmers go by is to try the rind with the thumb 
nail. If an impression is easily made, then the pumpkin is not ripe, but if the 
rind is hard and the finger nail will not cut it, the sooner it is pulled the 
better. 
Where it is intended to cultivate pumpkins by themselves, they should be 
planted in hills 10 feet apart each way, and in each hill a few grains of maize 
should be sown. The maize will shade the vines and increase the crop, in the 
same way that the pumpkin vines return the compliment by shading the roots 
of the cornstalks from the sun. 
THE ECONOMIC FEEDING OF WORKING HORSES. 
By T. U. WALTON, B.Sc., F.G.S., F.L.C. 
In is a generally accepted principle that in order to keep a working horse in 
good condition a food rich in nitrogenous material must be used, or, as it is 
sometimes expressed, the “aibumenoid ratio” must be high. This ratio is 
defined as the numerical relation of the digestible nitrogenous matters in the 
food to the digestible carbohydrates (including any small quantity of fat, 
calculated into its equivalent of carbohydrate, but not including any digestible 
fibre which has been found to be useless for the production of work).* ‘Thus 
a ratio such as 1: 5 is said to be high, while a ratio of 1: 12 is regarded as low. 
Hor farm horses, Wolff, the recognised German authority, recommends} 
a daily diet containing the following quantities of nutriment per 1,009 Ib. liye 
weight :— 
1:56 lb. digestible albumenoids 
11:19 lb. digestible carbohydrates (including 0°5 1b. fat) 
Albumenoid ratio 1: 7. ; 
When horses are very hard worked, he recommends an increased diet still 
richer in nitrogen :— 
_ 25 lb. digestible albumenoids 
13'8 lb. digestible carbohydrates 
Albumenoid ratio 1 : 53. 
* Farm Foods, by Wolff, translated by Cousins, p. 111. 
t+ Ibid.,‘p. 242. 
