296 “QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ocr., 1898. 
monsoon crop, and it, at its best, is light compared with what the plant is 
capable of producing in districts with a warm, moist, equable, tropical climate.” 
It is just possible that in some parts lying between Mourilyan and the 
Mulgrave, rhea could be grown, as the climatic conditions there approach those 
of some of the districts mentioned by the writers quoted, with perhaps the 
difference that the thermometer at times recedes to 43 degrees F. 
Trials for fibre could be reasonably made with the plants known to thrive 
withus. These have been noticed in this and foregoing articles, but the subject 
should not be finished without giving a few hints to prospective fibre-growers :— 
Be very carefuland keep all the butts of your fibres at one end. Bale them in 
uniform lengths and colours. It is better to have one bale of discoloured fibre 
than a bale of discoloured fibre scattered through a consignment. You may be 
sure that the merchants or brokers at the market end will grade your article 
from the lowest standard; so keep it high. Mark all your best goods as best, 
and your lower quality as your lower. Act faithfully in this way, and your 
brand will soon become known and trusted. Consign your goods to a well- 
known broker who will do his best. London is the best market for fibre of all 
grades. 
COFFEB-PICKING. AT CAIRNS. 
We have received from Mr. E. Cowley, Manager of the State Nursery 
at Kamerunga, Cairns district, the final results of the coffee-picking on 
Hambledon Plantation in that district by aboriginals from the Yarrabah 
Mission at Cairns Inlet, which is under the charge of the Rev. E. R. Gribble. 
By an error, the mission station was previously stated to be situated at 
Nyola. 
The picking was continued during June, July, and up to the 5th August, 
with the following daily results :— 
Date, Result. Boys Working. | Date. Result. Boys Working. 
; ——— I 
1898. 1898. 
July— lb. oz. July— lb. 02. 
1 rity rte 781 4 10 }) 21 oy aT. 628 9 8 
2Saturday ... 402 8 10 22 Wy im syay Gk 9 
4 +: ok 663 12 10 | 23 Saturday...; ; 240 2 
5 571 12 10 }| 25 aaa eel 5386 12 8M. 7A 
6 528 8 10 || 26 a Nt 480 4 8 
7 518 8 10 || 27 ua 557-15 10 
§ rh “ee 423 12 8 | 28 4h ek 6l4 7 9 
9 Saturday ... PERE al 9 (wet); 29 rs ir; 896 45 Met ESTAg 
11 Bs; fers 579" 2 8 | 30 Saturday ... 5386 12 | 9 
12 ot) ce 536 12 - 9 | 
13 593-4 9 | 
4 iota 658 9 August— | 
Tt cant BURY ) oak 755 11 9 
16 Saturday ... 303 2. 9 2 875 12 10 
18 +e oe 461 5 7 }} <3 536 12 9M. 104 
19 ar ie 548 10 8 ||. 4 494 6 9M. 8a, 
20 tee of. 607 10 i) | 5 444 15 1 
The price agreed on for the work was fixed at 3 1b. of coffee for 1d., and 
Mr. Gribble states that this price paid the pickers well. 
The total crop gathered amounted to 25,741 lb. 12 oz., for picking which 
£35 15s. was paid to the natives. 
Excluding Sundays, Saturdays (3 days), and wet spells, there would then be 
‘an average of about 10 boys per day in the field for about 40 days, who earned 
is. 9d. a day each. In the last (August) number of this Journal we showed 
that, according to the statistics furnished us by Mr. Cowley in connection 
with this aboriginal labour, the cost of picking 18,015 lb. of cherry would 
amount to £37 10s. 73d., and that this quantity at the rate of 5 Ib. of cherry 
