1 Ocr., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 253 
The Queensland Agricultural College. 
Tira winter being now fairly over, sowing and planting operations at the College 
are being vigorously carried on. The persistent dry weather, to some extent, 
hampers the work; but, on the other hand, ploughing has had the opportunity 
of being vigorously pushed on. Several acres of potatoes have been planted, and 
the earliest sown are well over ground, with very few misses apparent. There is 
an object lesson to be learnt in this connection. 
The Principal, Mr. John Mahon, has made an early and successful start 
with a large plot of experimental grasses. About 150 varieties of grasses, 
clovers, &c., have been sown, some in drills and some broadcast. Many of these 
are already showing up well. Of maize, a number of valuable new varieties 
have been sown on an experimental plot, and are now growing vigorously. 
Amongst these experiment grasses, maize, &c.,are— White and Red Clover, New 
Zealand Rye Grass, Prairie Grass, Giant Italian Rye Grass, Texas Blue Grass, 
Paspalum dilatatum. Clovers: Dutch, Alsike, Hop, and Cow Grass; Rape, 
Cocksfoot, Creeping Bent Grass, Meadow Foxtail. The maize plots consist of 
Golden King, Paterson’s Variety, Bristol Early Yellow, Pennsylvania Long 
Yellow Dent, Golden Dent, Maryland White Dent, White Horse Tooth, and 
Old Cabin Home; Southern White Gourd seed, Old Man Saltbush, Real 
Saltbush, Creeping Saltbush, and Saltbush from Lake Dunne, near Jericho. 
None of these varicties will be available for distribution at harvest time, 
as only a limited quantity of each has been sown in order to test their 
value. The results will, of course, be published, and the advice and 
assistance of the Department of Agriculture will be given to all who 
wish to sow any of the seeds which have proved themselves of value. The 
experimental wheats were slightly affected by rust, but the disease makes 
no headway, and the ears are well formed and rapidly swelling. As an 
experiment, a plot of about four acres of wheat and oats have been sown, which 
will come in handy for the silo, if it proves a failure as to grain. Land is being 
got ready as quickly as possible for maize, cow-pea, mangold-wurtzel, and 
horse carrots. Should a few genial showers soon fall, the whole of the land 
under cultivation will be planted, and the breaking up of another fifty-acre 
paddock will be commenced. 
The grass paddocks, which, up to a few weeks ago, presented the appearance 
of a yellow sea of long dry grass, were burnt off before the last rains in August, 
and now present a beautiful stretch of young green grass. There is every 
appearance of abundance of feed for the stock. 
THE GARDEN. 
Under the skilful management of the horticulturist, Mr. Gorrie, the 
vegetable and fruit garden, vineyard and orchard, make a very fine show. The 
whole of this portion of the College Farm (15 acres) is as neatly cultivated 
as asmall garden patch, neither weeds nor unsightly worn-out beds of old. 
produce being visible. Here, as on the farm, operations have been hampered. 
