422 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 May, 1898. 
IS MALTING BARLEY A PAYING CROP? 
Mr. T. Murputy, of Swan Creek, would be disposed to answer this question in 
the affirmative (says the Warwick Argus). During the past season he grew 
a considerable quantity. The yield was 40 bushels per acre, and the grain 
realised 4s. 8d. per bushel on trucks at Swan Creek Railway Station. This is 
the best result we have yet heard of in the Warwick district. ° 
SUCCESSFUL SHIPMENT OF ORANGES. 
Iv the early part of last month the first shipment of oranges from Mary- 
borough was sent to Melbourne, and the result has been awaited with some 
_ anxiety in local fruit circles, both as regards the decision of the Victorian fruit 
inspectors and market prices (says the Maryborough Chronicle of 16th March). 
On Saturday, however, the ¢ ratifying intelligence was received by Mr. Connor 
that the inspectors had admitted the oranges without demur, and that they had 
sold at exceptionally high prices, much beyond sanguine expectations. The 
oranges were quite green in colour when they left Maryborough, but were of 
fine size and quality, and no doubt had ripened and looked well when placed on 
the Southern market. ‘The local crop this year promises to be a splendid one, 
the fruit being unusually large and clean. 
CHICKEN CHOLERA IN NEW ZHALAND. | 
New Zeatanp is industriously experimenting with chicken cholera as a rabbit 
exterminator. Mr. I. A. Gilruth, the Chief Government Veterinarian, has 
been making experiments in Otago. The wet weather, however, was somewhat 
against the successful demonstration of the effects of this new destructive 
agent. Mr. Gilruth spent a portion of his time going about amongst the 
farmers and instructing them how to prepare and lay the poisoned baits, and 
has since received some news that successful results have been obtained. 
TEN REASONS FOR KEEPING SHEEP. 
A uecturer at one of the Canadian farmers’ institutes recently gave the 
following ten reasons why farmers should keep sheep :—1l. They are profitable. 
2. They weaken the soil least and strengthen it most. 3. They are enemies of 
weeds. 4. The care they need is required when other farm operations are 
slack. 5. The amount of investment need not be large. 6. The returns are 
quick and many. 7. They are the quietest and easiest handled of all farm 
stock. 8. Other farm products are made more largely from cash grains, while 
those from the sheep are made principally from the pasture. 9. There is no 
other product of the farm that has fluctuated so slightly in value as mutton. 
10. By comparison, wool costs nothing, for do not the horse and cow in 
shedding their coats waste what the sheep saves? In conclusion let me 
repeat—Sheep pay.* ; 
* Sheep will not thrive or pay on our coast lands.—Ed. Q.A.J. 
NEW IDEA IN WIRE FENCING. 
WueEnz a wire fence is stretched tightly (as it must be stretched if it is to be 
- most serviceable), it is important that the post where the wires start be 
unyielding. Where the wires are attached to the post in the ordinary way, 
the post will give and the wires become slack. The cut shows an excellent 
