1 Jur, 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 51 
Though the green crop is rolled preparatory to being ploughed in, a large 
percentage is lost for manurial purposes, owing to the difficulty of ploughing 
under in the very open porous soil of the Johnstone. 
Planting operations are commenced as soon after March as the rain will 
allow. ‘The cane is usually planted continuously in drills about 10-12 inches 
deep, though some prefer 6 inches. About 30 ewt. of cane per acre is used for 
planting. Cross ploughing costs about 6s. per acre, inclusive of cost of horse. 
Harrowing costs 10d. or 1s. per acre ; and planting, including cutting cane for 
plants, draying, cutting up plants, laying, and covering up, costs 18s. to 20s. per 
-acre, Covering by hand toa depth generally of 3 inches or 4 inches (but 
according to circumstances) is preferred to covering by chain harrow, as, with 
the latter, the soil is unevenly distributed, and lumps will probably be covered 
in as well as fine earth. The general practice is to use plant cane for seed, 
but from past experience a number of farmers are in favour of planting first 
ratoon cane; the former plants come up quicker than the latter, but the latter 
better resists spells of wet or dry weather. 
Up to the time the cane is 4 months old it will probably receive three scari- 
-fyings and three weedings. Scarifying costs about 2s. per acre, and weeding 
about 7s. The first trashing takes place usually when the cane is 7 months 
old, and it is not trashed again till about four weeks before cutting. Trash- 
ing high, or stripping as it is sometimes called, is not extensively practised. 
Trashing costs, if the cane is fairly straight, about 8s. or 10s. per acre, but if 
-crooked or lying down the cost would probably be 12s. to 14s. per acre. 
The new cane agreements with the C.S.R. Company, on the Johnstone, 
provide for ploughing in the trash and not burning it, also to fallow one-third 
-of the cane area each year. The average area of farms on the Johnstone is 50 
acres, and at Mundoo 30 acres, while few anywhere exceed 80 acres.—Mackay 
Sugar Journal. 
Science, 
BORACIC ACID. 
By J.C. BRUNNICH, F.C.S., Agricultural Chemist. 
Boracre acifl, or boric acid and its sodium salt borax, are now so extensively 
used for the preservation of liquid and solid foods, such as milk, butter, cream, 
fish, and meat, that a short description of their origin and properties will be of 
' general interest. ‘ j 
In all the preservatives sold in the local market, boric acid and borax are 
the chief ingredients, and, for comparison, I give below the analyses of some of 
these preparations, which were analysed at our agricultural laboratory at 
Gatton :— 
Presérvitas, a mixture of boric acid, borax, salt, and saltpetre, contained— 
Water, H,O ...: ay a8 x ... 3450 per cent. 
Soda, Na,O) ... og 0 tri penOLOD 
Boric acid, B,O, fe a ie we 47°39 
Salt, NaCl... £55 ob on OH 
Saltpetre, K No, oy. ~ Fok co” DOD 
99°80 
Sal Praeservare, 2 mixture of borax, boric acid, and salt, was found to 
-contain— 
Water, H,O ... as <x 3 ... 84°30 per cent. 
Soda, NajO... fn. ae aby coo nt MSTSPe 
HoriciaciGiBs Qu: oe ayes wen ESO Wan 
Salt, NaCl .., on cox fc 2. 8:52 
” 
