l June, 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 457 
hinly expect to take off two crops per annum. Suitable land can be obtained 
om the ssovernment in fee-simple at a cost of 2s. 6d. per acre. So far, native 
*bour only has been employed at a wage of £3 per annum. The cost of food 
“td clothing is a mere bagatelle, the latter item consisting of a bit of calico 
"und the waist, while the former article is grown in the country, and, on an 
‘erage, a pound’s worth of common tobacco will suffice to purchase native 
‘Moduce sufficient to feed 50 menfor a month. It is, of course, presumed that 
Me planter possesses an $ or 10 ton lugger to utilise as a tramp for buying food 
it different islands. The cost of building houses, &c., is included in the cost of 
our, for the natives have all been accustomed to this work, and run up houses, 
‘tive fashion, rapidly. The buildings are amply sufficient for all necessary 
burposes. Under such advantages as these, peanuts ought to become a thriving 
‘dustry in the very near future in British New Guinea. 
REPORT ON WORK CARRIED OUT AT THE QUEENSLAND 
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 
APRIL, 1900. 
Tie farm at present looks well, although suffermg somewhat from want of 
in. Although the total rainfall for the month amounted to 2°24 inches, the 
Thole of this fell during the first ten days, and, a succession of westerly winds 
‘“Usuing, a great portion of the moisture was dried up. 
| The crops, however, are healthy, especially the potatoes, which cover an 
"ea of nearly 33 acres, including about 4 acres treated with manures for 
"perimental purposes. In the latter, the unmanured crop appears even better 
an the manured. As regards the other root crops, a large amount of the seed 
8 germinated, but some has not done so and requires rain badly. The lucerne, 
towever, looks remarkably well, and will yield a good return within the next 
ortnight. 
Wheat experiments, under treatment with various manures and under 
‘milar conditions as to time of sowing and implements used, were begun on 
ith April. The wheats chosen were Allora Spring and Belatourka. They 
Nere planted with the Massey-Harris seed-drill at different depths, as detailed 
below, and manures calculated to produce the best results were applied. The 
‘lind sown was that bordering on the Tarampa road. As the results of these 
Xperiments may be interesting to many, it may be as well to give details :— 
Plot 1.—Allora Spring: Pickled with bluestone; 1 acre; 20 lb. seed (per 
“cre) ; 2 inches deep. 
,, Plot 2—Allora Spring: Pickled with bluestone; 14 acres; 30 lb. seed; 
Tinch deep. 
Plot 3.—Belatourka: 3 ewt. superphosphate ;1 cwt. kainit (mixed); 1 
“re; 25 Ib. seed ; 14 inches deep. 
Plot 4.—Belatourka: No manure; lacre; 25 lb. seed; 13 inches deep. 
a Plot 5.—Belatourka: 122 lb. unslaked lime; 1 acre; 35 1b. seed; 14 inches 
rtep. 
Q Plot 6.—Belatourka: Pickled with lime; 1 acre; 80 lb. seed; 14 inches 
Pep. 
. _ Plot 7.—Belatourka: Pickled with bluestone; 52 acres; 25 lb. seed; 2 
‘ches deep: 
r The bluestone pickle consisted of 3-Ib. of bluestone crystals dissolved in a 
_ ttle warm water and added to 14 gallons of cold water, applied to each sack 
‘‘ontaining 4 bushels of seed. The lime treatment was carried out with 8 Ib. of 
“Nslaked lime mixed with 4 gallons of water. The seed in a sack was allowed 
_° remain in the liquid for three hours. 
oT 
