230 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Maz. 1900 
_ TO PRODUCE LARGE CARROTS. 
One of our exchanges has the following extract from the late Mr. ft 
McEwin’s “South Australian Vigneron and Gardener’s Manual,” which we ihe 
published in 1843 :—Dig over the ground intended to be sown, mark 0 im 
rows, and stretch a line; then make holes 9 inches apart with a dibble, 3 8 
inches in diameter at the surface, and gradually tapering to a dept a ot 
inches. Full up the holes with a rich, light, sandy compost, and sow tht, 
four seeds in the centre of each. When the plants are nicely up and M4°” 
growth, thin out, leaving the strongest plant in each hole. The calt™ 
supplied with water, will fill the holes. 
Georg? 
ACTION OF HEAT ON INDIARUBBER. 
' A wrirer in Engineering discusses the action of heat on indiarubber, ® " 
of considerable importance, having regard to the extensive use of this artic vet 
the present time. There is a very prevalent misconception that india | 
contracts when heated. The very reverse is the case—heat causing ox esi) | 
and cold contraction. With regard to the chemical action of heat on TU) | 
is known to be injurious if at all high, or if the time of exposure 1s pr? 4a ‘A 
That this action is some form of oxidation is taken for granted, thoug) i 
not definitely known to be the case. Rubber cannot be heated sue onte 
degrees Fah. without decomposition setting in; and even if this is not 4 
visible, it shows itself in a few days’ time, or on exposure to light. The int 
sulphur, which is always present in mechanical rubber, is liable to oxidation ot 
that destructive body—sulphuric acid ; and this acts injuriously on the he, 
when heated ; hence it is difficult to apportion the blame properly 12 © peits 
decay. Rubber not only expands on being heated, butit gives out heat 0? Jasb 
stretched—a fact which is easily demonstrated by stretching a piece ° 
thread quickly over the bulb of a delicate thermometer. Investigatiovs ; 
in 1891 by Gee and Terry into the specific heat of rubber found it to 
which is identical with that of turpentine. 
wnt 
a 
STRAINER FOR FENCING WIRE. ls 
A QUEENSLAND correspondent of the Australasian sends to that june ly 
sketch and description of what would appear to be a yer useful tool, esp& Jes 
for the bush, where other appliances are unobtainable. He says it is the simp 
i 
nil 
ol? 
strongest, and cheapest of wire-strainers ; merely a fork of a tree, with 8g 
to admit the wire. It will strain and break any ordinary wire used 10 fent te 
The two handles can be made longer or shorter as deemed most cone ca 
Of course the longer they are the more purchase they. will afford, and ™ 
easily believe wires may be well tightened up thereby. 
OLIVES IN ITALY. pf 
Many Englishmen have invested money in Italian olive groves. Italy's Cai 
olives is worth £22,000,000. Sixty trees are planted to the acre, a? is allo 
grown tree will yield 190 gallons of oil, which sells at from 2s. to 3s. pe 
a 
