1 Noy., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, 433 
Aoriculture, 
NOTES ON ROCKHAMPTON AND CENTRAL DISTRICTS. 
Bya SiG: VOLLER, 
Department of Agriculture, 
AsT have spent more than three months at work amongst fr 
Agriculturists in the Rockhampton and Central districts, it may be more or less 
interesting to the readers of this Journal to have put before them a few of the 
lmpressions I received of the work at present being done there, and of the 
Possibilities of development in the future. 
_ , My first business, on arrival in Rockhampton early in M 
M judging in several classes of exhibits at the annual show. 
This, of course, brought me immediately into touch with a good deal of the 
Work and its results, as well as with a good number of the workers or producers ; 
‘nd while some classes of exhibits were more or less disappointing, on account 
of their meagre representation, others again gave good ground for praise, and 
'nspired hope for still better things to come. 
Vor instance, the farm and dairy sections, although not he 
of exhibits, still included a good deal of very 
‘doubt that the district is capable of mucl 
4s yet accomplished. 
Fruit—in which I was most directly interested— was conspicuous by its 
tbsence, and this made me wonder what kind of a fruitgrowing district I” had 
Sot into. However, to do the district justice, I found out shortly afterwards 
that, although the fruit was not at the show, there was a good deal in the 
Neighbourhood quite worthy of a place on the show tables, Why it was not 
cre I cannot say, but I hope next year's show will tell a different: tale. 
The exhibits in the dairy stock classes gave ample proof that dairymen and 
teeders are waking up to the fact that the quality of the dairy herds must be 
Mproved us much as possible, in order to reach the highest point of profit in 
airy work. I was glad to see some animals of undeniable quality on the 
Stound ; and if all who are concerned in this line of work will only keep on 
Soing for the best, the Rockhampton Show Ground will, before long, turn out a 
yery satisfactory parade of dairy stock, Unfortunately, the ticks had interfered 
adly with the condition and appearance of many of the animals shown; and 
exhibitors deserved the sympathy not only of the judges, but also of the public, 
" the difficulties under which they were working through this pest. ; 
_ Warmers and dairymen who have lived and worked only in “clean”? 
districts can form no idea of the trouble and loss caused by the ticks, and I 
‘ncerely hope the evil day when they gain actual experience may bea very 
°ng time coming. 
_ Fat cattle were not too numerous, but their quality was first-class, and, 
being an old lover of the “ fats,” I took a very keen interest in them, 
The most fastidious critie could find very little to fall out with in this 
Class. If weight as well as quality were wanted, it was there to the tune of 
1,520 Ib. dressed, which was the record of the champion ox, while many other 
Steat weights were reached by the various animals com eting. 
I was particularly delighted with some of the “ ballies” in the “ freezer” 
Pens. T think that for breeding, condition, and general quality as butcher's 
“ttle it would puzzle anyone to fault them anywhere in the world, Then the 
ows !—fit for any show in the old country, where they think they get real fat 
tittle, not like our poor Australian stuff! Colour, shape, weight, everything 
at means breeding, was there pretty well to perfection, while the condition was 
of to anything acattle-man could want. No lumps, no patches, but every, part 
®t the beast covered evenly and thickly. 
uitgrowers and - 
ay, was to assist 
avy in the bulk 
decent produce, and proved beyond 
1 more in these directions than it 
