100 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [Ll Suny, 1899. 
almost as soon as cut, due, probably, to the rapid fermentation and decomposition | 
of the sap, which is supposed to be present in the wood in greatest quantity — 
during the waxing moon.” Mr. Woakes says that he expects engineers to laugh — 
at the idea; but he warns the scoffers that experience is- abundant in support of — 
the theory; and lumbermen from the Western States, who came there to get 
out timber for the stamp-mills, and refused to obey the native warning, found — 
that nearly all their sawn timber rotted before the carpenters could use it— 
Engineering News. : 
USEFUL INFORMATION FOR FARMERS. 
AN EASY MODE OF HARDENING PLOUGHSHARE POINTS,. 
A Vicrortay farmer, who regularly gets the Queensland Agricultural | 
Journal, sends us the following :—‘ Frequently the patience of a farmer is 
seriously tried by working witha share whichis so very much worn on the under 
side that it is difficult to keep it in the ground. ‘To remedy this, when a black 
smith is not conveniently available, the farmer should get a portable forge and 
anyil, and dress the share himself. When dressed, put it back into the fire, 
and at the same time put a piece of hard cast iron in with it. When both haye 
come to a white heat, take them out and rub the cast iron well on the under 
side of the share-point, after which plunge the share into cold water. This 
process will leave a coating of very hard chilled iron on the share-point, which 
will last a long time.” 
Our correspondent says the above mode of dressing ploughshares, under 
the circumstances stated, is not generally known in the part of Victoria in which 
he resides, but he has used the process himself, and can vouch for it being a good 
one. 
AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
Tue Editor will be glad if the secretaries of Agricultural and other Socicties 
will, as early as possible after the fixture of their respective shows, notify him 
of the date, and also of any change in date which may have been decided on. 
