1 Ava., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 175 
this year, the existing “ tops” should be carefully examined by cutting across at 
each end, and any showing red spots in the flesh should be scrupulously. 
rejected and burned. Next year it will be necessary to consider the feasibility 
of importing seed or taking other measures. It is too late to do so this year. 
— Engineer. 
WHEAT IN THE UNITED STATES. 
Revorts from the Spring wheat States of America show that sowing has made 
great progress, under favourable circumstances, and that a good deal of early 
sown wheat has come up well. The area of the crop has been generally 
increased, in consequence of the inducement offered by high prices. The con- 
dition of the winter crop in most of the Atlantic States is also declared to be 
satisfactory. Thus, so far as a large area and a good start go, there is every 
reason to expect a great production of wheat in the United States next harvest, 
in spite of the poor prospects in California, though resuits, of course, will be 
largely dependent upon the character of the weather for the next two or three 
months. 
TOMATOES. 
Mr. W. ff. Hrrewcock, of Hill View, Tungamull, has grown some very fine 
tomatoes last season. The winter was mild, and the plants survived through it, 
and bore large quantities of fruit (the Ponderosa variety) during the summer 
months. ‘lomatoes weighing 1lb. each were common, while one especially 
large weighed 22 oz. The vines are still fruiting. Mr. Hitchcock is so 
satisfied with his experience of tomato-growing that he intends to plant largely 
this season. 
SURPRISE OATS. ! 
We have received the following notes from Mrs. F. M. Martin, mycologist, 
“ Weebar,” Drouin, Gippsland, concerning a valuable variety of oats which 
Mr. Martin obtained in Canada. If what is reported about this particular 
cereal continues to be borne out by results, it should be a good thing for the 
Queensland farmer :—In reply to your memorandum of the 26th February, re 
Surprise oats. Seeing a notice in Canadian publications when we were looking 
out for a better class of oats than we were able to obtain in Victoria, and 
having tried in vain for some years, we thought of getting it. Some time after- 
wards it was advertised in the Melbourne Argus as selling at a much higher rate 
in America than any other oats. We decided to send for it, and were greatly 
pleased with it on arrival. We sowed 14 acres, but, owing to the season being 
the worst yet known in Gippsland, we only gathered 18; bags. There 
has been no crop we can hear of in the district better for straw. Many old 
settlers came to see it, and wished to buy. A man bought all we could spare at 
10s. a bushel before it came into ear, we reserving the right to all we wanted 
to plant, and we are so satisfied, we are planting all, and sold or disposed of 
none, although we have had applications from all the colonies except South 
Australia, also from West Africa. 
SOURSOP WEED (OXALIS CHRNUA). 
Tutrs rather pretty-looking flower has become a great pest in many gardens 
around the city. We are asked how it is to be got rid of. Although not 
nearly so difficult of eradication as nut-grass, yet so many hundreds of 
minute bulbs gather round the parent bulb that the more the ground is stirred 
the greater the area infested. We know, however, of no destructive agent 
which could be applied to it in a flower garden without at the same time 
injuring the flowers. The surest way is dig up the bulbs on the clear ground 
and pick them off, and amongst the flowers to constantly pull up the leaf- 
stalks. By repeating this latter process, in the course of a single season, the 
nuts or bulbs will shrivel up from want of nourishment, and the smaller ones 
will come nearer and nearer to the surface till at last they can be pulled up 
attached to the flower-stalks. 
