108 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ava., 1899. 
WHEAT. 
The wheat crop last year was, owing to dry weather and comparative 
failure, most unsatisfactory. No less than 23,914 acres failed to germinate, 
Undeterred by this disaster, our farmers have been putting in more wheat than 
ever this year, and there is every appearance of an excellent harvest. Within 
a few years we shall hear of the Central districts as large wheat-producers. 
Such small areas as haye been planted near Emerald and Barcaldine are 
reported as looking most promising. Queensland offers special inducement to 
the wheat-grower, climatic and soil conditions being eminently suited. This is 
strikingly observed from the average production per acre in Queensland as 
compared with the principal wheat-producing colonies in Australasia :— 
Queensland, average per acre 16°32 bushels; Victoria, average per acre 8:06 
bushels ; South Australia, average per acre 5:09 bushels. 
SUGAR. 
The progress made by sugar last season was very great, the output 
increasing from 97,916 tons in 1897 to 163,734 in 1898. The average yield is 
still low, standing lower than almost any other sugar-producing colony. Java 
and the Sandwich Islands produce more than three times as much sugar per 
acre. This is due entirely to their system of cultivation and manuring. It was 
not so long ago since the manure fromthe Queensland Meat Works was going to. 
Mauritius, so enabling that island to compete successfully with us in the 
Melbourne and Adelaide markets. 
The net importation’ of sugar into Australasia were for 1898 :—New South 
Wales, 34,678 tons; Victoria, 56,597 tons; South Australia, 28,105 tons; 
Western Australia, 7,218 tons; Tasmania, 6,752 tons; total, 127,310 tons. If. 
we add 24,300 tons, the estimated consumption of Queensland, we have a total 
of 159,610 tons required by the colonies proposing to enter into Federal Union. 
To supply this amount we made last year 163,734 tons, so that it will be seen 
that we are already producing 12,124 tons in excess of the Australian require- 
ments. ‘The sugar-growers have realised the position, and are already seeking 
a market outside Australia. Last year over 9,000 tons were xent to Vancouver, 
and a larger amount will go there this year. Three thousand tons were sent 
to Hong Kong, and small consignments to Japan. The narrow margin of profit 
now earned, by those engaged in the sugar industry, leads us to look for some 
means to enable growers of cane to enlarge their area, at the same time 
lessening the risk of ruin through haying one crop only. This will probably be 
found in dairying in combination with sugar-growing. We have examples of 
the successful combination of these two industries in one district of the 
colony, where the canegrower is able and willing to send to the mill at a price 
which would be considered ruinous were he not improving the land with the 
manure got from the cattle and using as feed the cane-tops which were hitherto 
burnt and so wasted. ; 
DAIRYING. 
The progress of dairying by the peg system is gradually making head- 
way. Gympie and Bundaberg have each established a factory. At the 
present time two factories are being established in the Central district—one at 
Emerald and another at Capella—and I trust there will be some in the 
Northern district before long. Jn this district it is to be hoped there will also 
be one before long. With dairying, pig-raising is associated, and very profitably. 
The last two years has shown a considerable increase in the number of pigs 
raised in the colony, and it is quite evident that, with attention paid to breeding 
and feeding, the profits of pig-raising are great. The number of bacon factories 
now established in the colony forms a safe and profitable outlet for pigs, which — 
farmers are not slow to avail themselves of. Last year 85,510 pigs were sold 
for preserving purposes in the shape of bacon and hams, apart from those killed 
for local use, and these produced 6,973,000 Ib. of bacon and ham. 
