~ I Nov., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, 439 
Mr, Campbell is the pioncer in this work at Barcaldine, and he has a fair 
‘rea planted on plain country, and irrigated by bore water. His wheat was very - 
Young when I saw it, and 1 shall be anxious to hear of the results obtained 
When harvesting is completed. This gentleman deserves every credit for Ais 
effort to prove the possibilities of wheatgrowing. 
Mr. Peut has also made a commendable attempt, and deserves success. His 
Wheat is also on plain country, and is irrigated by water from a fine bore. 
Ten miles from Barcaldine, at Geera Geera, Mr. IT. J. Hannay is also 
Carrying out a most useful experiment with wheat on the desert country. He 
as a fair block cleared and planted with several varieties, all of which looked 
"ncommonly well when I sawthem, Irrigation is also carried on here by means 
of a splendid bore. Being on the sandy soil, this owner is able to irrigate by 
‘oakage from furrows opened at regular intervals, and the result is very satis- 
actory, Here, again, results after harvesting will be anxiously looked for. 
As good evidence of what this desert country is capable of, I may state that 
Mr. Hannay has been most successful in raising first-class potatoes and a variety 
of other vegetables with the aid of his bore. A very ingenious contrivance was 
Met with here in the shape of a large water-wheel erected over the bore, and 
'nto which the whole stream ean be directed at will. The power so gained will 
Work three or four different machines at the same time, and is a very great 
Advantage to the owner. Once started, it keeps going on without any trouble. 
Another owner, Mr. Cronin, is growing oaten hay extensively with the aid of 
bore water on sandy country. 
Now I want to say a word or two about my own work amongst the people in 
these different parts. The reader must not imagine that all I had to do was to 
"™mble about and look at the country. On the contrary, I had to carry out a 
“certain line of duty for the Department, and I found plenty to do both of the 
€oretical and practical. Quite a number of lectures and addresses were 
-*llvered in various centres of population, accompanied by actual demonstrations 
ti the various branches of work concerned, and followed up by visitation to many 
of the individual places in each part. The kindly attention paid to me in my 
Work in all parts of the country visited gaye me the greatest pleasure, and will not 
‘oon be forgotten byme. Ifound that growers everywhere had their share of enemies 
contend with, both scale and insect pests being very plentiful; but I trust 
at, with the attention which is necessary, and the information given to work 
®n, one marked result of the work will be a very considerable reduction of 
Uhculties and an increase of successful production. Success will not come 
Without effort and thoroughly systematic work. Not only must the best methods 
of cultivation be persistently followed up, but the capabilities of each district 
ust be well understood, and in the case of fruit culture, for instance, only the 
est varieties of trees put in. It may be said that I have written a little too 
uch on the bright side of things, but I don’t think I have. Certainly I have 
ot enumerated all the possible difficulties that may beset the fruitgrower or 
“rmer, but then this is not the purpose of this article; matters of that sort 
Were comprehensively dealt with by me in my work, as the people know amongst 
Whom I travelled. What I have done is to present an idea of possibilities of 
Production in some directions only, under what I consider to be the correct 
“nditions of work and generaltreatment. Granted these conditions, I consider 
‘fair measure of success may be looked for; and in the interests of the colony 
Sa whole, I most cordially wish the best of success and prosperity to the Rock- 
h, 
ampton and Central districts. 
CORN-COBS AS A FOOD. 
Tite subject of ground corn-cobs as a food for stock has given rise to much 
“ontroversy, especially amongst the farming community in the United States of 
Merica, some farmers asserting that once the grain is removed the cobs are of 
Xo value, whilst others quite as positively assert that they possess high nutritive 
