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] FEz., 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 79 
employed to teach men to farm aright, while Agricultural Bureaus, composed 
of level-headed practical men, are disseminating knowledge and information 
broadcast amanelent the length and breadth of the land, and manufacturers by 
‘hventive genius and skill are doing all in their power to reduce the cost of 
‘hour, simplify the working, and thereby increase the profits of the farm. The 
Present-day farmer has knowledge and appliances at his disposal never even 
reamt of in the philosophy of his father. And yet how often do we hear 
Nen—particularly the pioneers—harking regretfully back to the “good old 
ays of yore”—the infant days of the colony. What glorious times they then 
‘tjoyed—how sweet the memory still! In fact, we have actually heard envious 
_ telerence made to Adam, who is said to have been the first farmer, and as such 
*njoved privileges and position never since equalled by mortal man. But what 
ire the actual facts of the case? We have lately been hunting up the records, 
‘nd find that this Adams—or, as he in our day would be called, Mr. Adams— 
ean life as a gardener, but by some mismanagement, the blame of which he 
tried to put off on his wife, lost his situation, and, not having been brought up to 
any trade or profession, was unable to obtain other employment, and probably 
‘ing a little means of his own he decided to invest it in farmmg, as many a 
‘n has sinee done to his sorrow. We have no details as to his method of 
Working. He does not appear to have kept a diary, a rain gauge, or a bike, 
elonged to no agricultural or show society, wrote no letters to the papers, and 
“oes not seem to have been a member of any bureau; consequently we are 
"nable to say whether he was more successful with his farm than he had been 
With the garden. True, he had unlimited scope of country on which to work, 
ind could extend his holding without let or hindrance. He was not hampered 
Y Complicated land laws, was free from land tax and water rates, never had his 
books or banking account overhauled by suspicious income tax collectors, was 
Hot compelled by the district council to contribute towards the construction and 
Maintenance of roads, had no exorbitant railway charges to pay, but could 
‘ectate his own price and terms for wheat, and was in fact at one time in a 
Position to corner the markets of the world. ; 
i But with all this, we do not learn that he made enough to retire on, for he 
“¢ hot the assistance of improved machinery. ‘The stump-jumping plough was 
“nknown in his day, likewise the stripper and twinebinder. He does not appear 
© Have used seed drills or fertilisers, put his crop in as best he could, took it 
ot the same way, and instead of using Bagshaw’s winnower and bagger 
Probably had to do his wheat-cleaning with his hat and the wind. No; every 
tdvantage has its disadvantage, and as to the good old days of the colony, 80 
Otten referred to, in what respect were they so much better than now? ‘True, 
Agnificent crops were grown, but what did it all amount to? A. few acres 
th Y, cultivated with considerable labour, pain, and sorrow. ‘The implements 
“0 in use were crude and ancient in design, and largely assisted in making 
Wheat-srowing a slow, laborious, and distasteful undertaking. In these happy 
tyback days horses were few and far between. The chief motive power on 
<r off the farm was bullock power. Ifa man was out on business he would 
Probably take the whole team with him ; if on pleasure, two yoke of oxen and 
tay; but if in a hurry, then he would walk. ‘The old swing plough of one 
°W was then the speediest known method of: breaking up land; conse- 
ah the area under crop was never very great, which was probably 
th ortunate thing, as the method of harvesting was even worse than 
ie puttine in. The reap hook and scythe, worked of course by man power, 
nated © principal factors in taking off the crop. After the cutting—which 
ay: nde fingers, legs, &¢e.—the wheat was tied in sheaves, set in stooks, 
thy “arted into stacks to await the threshing operation; and this same 
cher ig was no yain undertaking. The sheaves were strewed around in a 
© %d a long string of bullocks yoked and chained was run round and round 
wa to knock it about with their feet. This they generally succeeded so well 
i 
ng that by the time they were hauled off they had scattered the wheat over 
Marly byice rath ground as it was grown on. If the threshing was not 
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