1 Noy., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOUBNAL. 859 
Apiculture. 
QUEENSLAND HONEY. 
Writing in August last to the Under Secretary for Agriculture respecting 
the testing of the London honey market, Mr. Alfred Wright says, inter alia, 
that the highest market value at present for Queensland honey in London is 
22s. per ewt., but that a higher price would probably be obtained in November. 
He considers that honey should only be shipped from Queensland to arrive in 
London from September to December. At other periods the market is generally 
reported as sick, as plenty arrives from all parts, and there is no firm demand. 
The holding to await a demand should be in Queensland and not in London, 
as prompt sales on arrival pay best all round. 
Being anxious that the opportunity afforded him of opening up some 
business should take a practical form, and that to the advantage of those con- 
cerned, Mr. Wright made arrangements with a well-known Mincing Lane 
colonial broker, with whom he had been associated before going to the colonies, 
and who has the highest reputation, to receive any consignment made to him, 
and to allow the consignor to draw against a bill of lading upon him for £22 
per ton c.i.f. paid on this side. This is rather out of the usual custom of 
brokers, but was agreed to in order to start the business. Thus the consignor 
will have the advantage of placing his honey at the very lowest cost. Mr. 
Wright strongly advises any producer to take advantage of the opportunity. 
The firm in question is Messrs. W. and $. Bowditch, 48 Mincing Lane, 
London. 
With respect to shipping oranges to London, the same gentleman states 
that the system of circulation of air in a steamer’s hold is the right and only 
right one, both for apples and oranges—particularly oranges. 
Refrigeration induces moisture, and the least moisture on oranges causes 
a mould, after which decay sets in. Fresh air, and a constant circulation of it, 
means a dry hold, so that the oranges would be free from the danger of 
moisture falling on them. ‘The difficulty was, and yet is, to find the correct 
means of applying it so as to obtain a constant circulation. It is singular that 
ventilating engineers of the highest reputation are unable to suggest any 
means to this end. One principle is, however, unanimously agreed to, and that 
is, the necessity of forcing in the air, instead of exhausting. Until the last 
year or two exhaustion was the universally accepted medium to induce circula- 
jation—‘‘ Exhaust and the air will find its way in,” was formerly said by every 
authority. Now it is—‘ Force in the air and it will find its way out.” 
Mr. Wright concludes by promising, on his return to the colonies, to for- 
ward the fullest details of all the information he has been able to gather on 
the subject that may be of value to the orange-growers and honey-producers. 
Tropical Industries. 
DETERMINING THE DENSITY OF SUGAR-CANE. 
By A. ALEXANDER RAMSAY. 
Sugar Chemist, Experiment Harm, Mackay. 
Te question of determining the “ density ” or, better still, ‘‘ the sugar content ” 
of sugar-canes by some easy and rapid method is an interesting one, especially 
to sugar-growers. ( 
The value of cane to the manufacturer depends entirely on the percentage 
9 ; as I eoy8 bee 
of sugar. ‘To determine this is not an easy matter, and few farmers are likely 
to possess themselves of the apparatus necessary to carry out these tests, 
P J y 
