1 Fex., 1900.) QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 81 
the road—and a bad road at that—now in most cases a day’s journey will land 
the farmer and his wheat at the railway, where he may speedily be relieved of 
ull further responsibility concerning it. 
_ Even in selling wheat we have post and telegraphic advantages unknown 
to the ancients. In the olden times there would often be a difference of two or 
three pence per bushel in the prices offered by the different wheatbuyers. 
€ farmer had, therefore, when selling, to hawk a sample around to the various 
‘yers to see who would give the highest price for it. In this enlightened day 
e buyers are on better terms with each other, and thoroughly understand the 
position and requirements of the farmers. It is not, therefore, necessary to 
take a sample around. We can take it straight to the nearest buyer, and rest 
4ssured that the price he offers is the highest we will get, for he knows exactly 
What the others will give, and should a man be rash enough to doubt 
Ms word, and take his wheat to the next town or station, he will 
find the price the same, or perhaps less, and that the buyer knows 
he offered it to the other fellow first. All this may be done by a 
‘imple little wire. Then about the bags. The old system was to have 
the weight of the bags deducted from the wheat, but now the buyer takes 
Ags and all, and. pays for gross weight, so that 5s. a bushel for wheat the 
‘mer would get 3d. for the bag, and if it cost him 43d. he would only lose 
Lid, (at 2s. Gd. a bushel, 3d.), which is not much on one bag; but if, on the 
other hand, he got the bag for 2d., then he would net 1d. clear profit: on the 
ligher price, which is worth thinking about. But it is almost impossible to 
enumerate all the advantages possessed by the present day farmer, as compared 
with the by-goners. In addition to improved machinery, oil engines, windmills, 
Uggies, and bikes, he has the assistance and advice of scientific men, agricultural 
JUreaus, insurance societies, mortgage companies, State banks, courts of 
solvency, hospitals, and destitute asylums! He is allowed to contribute in 
various ways to the general revenue, and is eyery year becoming a greater 
shareholder in the national debt! He has also a voice in State affairs, and may 
Sccasionally become a candidate for parliamentary honours. 
. Yes, the farmer is now a recognised institution in the land, and so deep an 
Mterest does the State take in his welfare that by special request he is asked 
each year to furnish, on a large blue paper prepared for that toes purpose, 
“ full and minute account of all his doings, his income and expenditure, 
4s profit or losgs—no detail is too small to interest the Government, whose 
Watchful eye is ever on him. ; 
The comparison between past and present is great indeed. The old 
order of things has passed away, and farming to-day all the world over is being 
onducted on more systematic and scientific lines than has ever before obtained. 
"hese are real, live, go-ahead days, in which there is no time for vain regrets or 
Coking backward. The man who now puts his hand—or himself—on the 
Plough must not look back unless to see if there is a stump under the share! 
4 these days of keen competition we must keep abreast of the times or go to 
wall, 
The method of cultivation in vogue in the colony in general, and these 
districts in particular, was none too good when the land was new and clean, but 
to Continue it now simply means courting failure. Circumstances compel us to 
‘Copt safer and more economic lines, putting less land under crop, doing it 
etter, and thereby getting larger returns. By a proper system of resting and 
vorking, the land can always be kept in good heart; and, seasons permitting, 
‘lt yeturns secured. Seed drills and artificial manures have come to stay, and 
Will play a prominent part in future farming operations, and will, in fact, 
revolutionise farming; but the cost and construction of both must be greatly 
reduced to bring them profitably within the reach of all. But this is only a 
testion of time, and at no very distant date we shall be using seed drills and 
_ fhlisers manufactured on the Peninsula. We know that increasing the pro- 
“Uction does not improve the price, but we have no choice in the matter. ‘The 
Price ig regulated by the markets of the world, and we nave therefore to 
