Mh, 1900,] QUEENSLAND AGXICULTURAL JOURNAL. 235 
huni : ; 
Bee Wool or woollen cloth. ‘Twenty minutes in the smoke will take the pain 
oe the worst case of inflammation arising from the wound. People may 
S| a + at this remedy as much as they please, but when they are afflicted just 
PRICKLY-PEAR DESTRUCTION. 
& Queensland Grazier’s correspondent at Yeulba writes: —A few days since, 
; lay subouring station, I had an opportunity of seeing how the arsenical 
» 0 acts on the prickly-pear. ‘To make the solution, arsenic and soda are 
Man iron tank. When the liquid has cooled, it is pumped into a similar 
“kan Set upon a dray, sufficient plain water being added to reduce it to the 
} es Streneth. It is then carted to the scene of action, and, by means of 
theis ing-pots, liberally sprinkled over the pears, which have been prepared. for 
Ths Polson bath by having the outside leaves cut away from the main stem. 
| to is one by men with long, sharp shovels, two men cutting sufficiently quick 
|. ayetlee one poison-sprinkler at work. In a few hours the plant begins to turn 
| y ba” colour, and the following day emits a very bad odour. Finally it dries 
the qutbletely that by stamping on it one can reduce it to a fine powder. As 
| being danger to stock depasturing on country where the arsenical solution is 
\q a Used, itis very slight. The change from succulent green to stringy yellow 
] Seni Place very rapidly (except on those plants operated on very late in the 
4 netic , So that even a confirmed pear-eater can see nothing to tempt its 
de 2 a “treated pear.” Twas unable to ascertain the cost per acre of 
Se | an a Ng the pear by this method, as sufficient country had not been operated 
| Sbtai fnable one to form a correct estimate; also the chemicals had. been 
| aj 4 at a cheaper rate than usual in consequence of such large quantities— 
= | ot arsenic with soda in proportion—being ordered at one time. There is 
=I | t that the arsenical solution is a most effective mode of destroying the 
‘nd cheaper, where labour has to be paid, than the old method of rooting 
Cg urning, but still too costly for the poor man on thickly infested 
‘tim, "yY. Prickly-pear is an ever-growing evil which, unless checked, will 
the ately ruin large tracts of country which otherwise, in view of the rise in 
ee of cattle, sheep, and wool, would become very valuable. We have 
tt ae the results of the Government experiments in this matter published. 
be interesting toa great many. 
a Suse With reference to the above, we learn from Mr. W. Soutter, Inspector of 
| Jonae 228, that upwards of 40 acres of the prickly-pear have been treated at 
| Ue «22 by Messrs. Kable and Adams and the results are very satisfactory. 
| the, Prickly-pear Destroyer” bids fair to completely destroy the pest without 
1 Normous labour and expense which other methods entail.—Ed. Q.4.J.] 
ARMY MEAT RATIONS. 
| So 
ie i ‘Urprise has been expressed at the enormous quantities of meat, in various 
a Which are being shipped from Australia, the United States, and Canada 
| Sizeq peat of war in South Africa. It is not generally known that an average- 
Stig lock furnishes meat rations for 800 men for aday. A sheep will 
, the wants of 45 men, whilst a pig will yield 110 dinners. If the British 
Deke sists of 200,000 men, it requires, to supply their daily food, 666 
‘houlg 8, 4,444. sheep, or 1,818 pigs, irrespective of other articles of diet. There 
thus be an excellent market for meat-producers for some time to come. 
r ROrECTION OF BIRDS IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
bo | Peal has been issued by the United States Department of Agriculture 
Cun observance of a “bird day” in the public schools throughout the 
af me that children may be instructed in the value of birds, and the means 
ting them from wanton destruction, 
Sa are mr 
We i 
