WP) | I 
1 May, 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 845 
‘Wovided they have a suitable soil to enter, the plant will flourish and tubers 
Mil be produced if certain conditions are observed. The South Australian 
ournal of Agriculture records that the late Mr. G. S. Fowler, on several 
_, aslons, grew good crops of potatoes by a similar method to that here 
- "scribed. :— 
a Break up the soil, and work it down fine, manuring it with stable manure 
_ | “chemical fertilisers. Plant the setts on the surface, and press them into the 
| “until half buried, or just cover them with light soil; then cover the plot 
‘| 1th Straw, grass, or similar material to depth of 2 feet to 3 feet, and keep it 
— | Hoist, _ The potato stems will grow up through the straw, &¢, and produce 
esi | bers in the lower layers. The straw must be kept moist. An old method of 
q Producing a constant supply of tubers is described as follows: —Place the setts 
—— out 6 inches apart ari way, build round the plot a pen with rails several 
‘| thes apart, cover with straw to depth of 8 feet or more, and throw over it a 
= jj i buckets of water occasionally. ‘The tubers produced can be removed as far 
| 4s the arm will reach through the crevices from time to time without seriously 
| “Sturbing the plants. A large quantity of smooth, clean potatoes of good 
Mality can be raised on a comparatively small area by this means. 
BARLEY-GROWING FOR MALTING PURPOSES. 
By F, J. PATERSON, 
Queensland Malting Company, Limited. - 
Dy. TIME FOR SOWING. é 
i. doubt every barley-grower has his own theories and opinions as to the 
} , "ect method of growing barley, but possibly the following may be of interest 
] — ttending growers :— | 
| a The question is often asked: ‘“‘ What is the best time for sowing?” ‘To 
'S question the answer seems to be: “There is no golden rule, as it depends 
itirely on the seasons.’ But, from careful information from those growers 
® had good crops during the season of 1899, the best results were obtained 
os Sowings between the middle of May and the middle of June. The 
Bt. Wines outside of those dates were mostly failures, and the conclusion I have 
| marred at may be summed up in a few words: ‘“ No matter what time barley is 
| °™., see that it ripens about the first week in Noyember.” 
Pinth ‘any farmers will say: “ If rain comes in April, it is better to put the seed 
7 « ‘en than run the risk of rainnot coming in May or June.” This, no doubt, 
q treet, but, if sownin April, it must of necessity ripen earlier thanif sown in 
| ref” and it is for early sowing that the remark, “ Make it ripen in November,” 
| ti ®'s to; and the way in which this may be done is by feeding off with sheep 
| | Say, the first week in June, or by running the machine over the crop. 
| fevding off with sheep seems to be the best course, on account of its economy 
th Ceding the sheep. Now for the reason why. During the 1899 season 
© caterpillar apiseue visited many parts of the Downs, and nearly if not 
| te destroyed the early-sown barley, or that barley which would have 
Pened in the beginning of October. A short account of the caterpillar 
the hot be out of place here, and, being information obtained from Mr. Tryon, 
ay An entomologist of the Agricultural Department, and partly from my own 
ay evtion, the facts, so far as the 1899 season is concerned, may be taken as 
aul accurate. After the caterpillar emerges from the chrysalis in the ground, 
Sut the latter end of November, when the thunderstorm season commences, 
at changes into the moth, the latter, in turn, lays its eggs, and the eggs come 
feos caterpillars, and the caterpillar, after living his life, turns into the 
; salis, to repeat the routine. During the rainy months there may be three 
rege generations, the number depending on the duration of the wet weather ; 
vill Suppose the wet season to end in March, the last generation of the cater- 
_*8r comes out from the chrysalis and remains in a lethargic state during 
DO) ( 0O0O0OULO 
