110 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Fes., 1902. 
The fire is always laid and primed with fat pine kindling and refuse resin, | _ 
and an extra supply of which is conveniently placed. Thus one escapes the 
task of closing tents or boxes. The tree has almost normal out-of-door con. 
ditions, and there is no encouragement of insect pests. 
So far I have discovered no important drawbacks to this style of protec- 
tion. 
THE THRESHING OF BARLEY. 
A circular, signed by Thomas Bernard and Co., Leith; the Edinburgh ~ 
Brewers’ Association ; Hugh Baird and Co. Glasgow; and Robert Hutchison | 
and Co., Kirkcaldy, has been circulated among farmers in Scotland on the | 
subject of the threshing of barley. They say :—-‘“ With the view of drawing the _ 
attention of farmers to the loss which they are sustaining by the damage done | 
to their barleys in the process of threshing, a memorial on the subject was 
submitted to the Highland and Agricultural Society, signed by the leading — 
maltsters in Scotland and others, pointing out that, since the introduction of | 
the travelling threshing mill and high-speed drums, the proportion of broken, 
skinned, and bruised corns had largely increased, and in this way many parcels 
of barley had been rendered unfit for making into brewers’ malt, and the value 
of same, therefore, seriously affected. The directors of the Highland and 
Agricultural Society, considering the question involved of the utmost importance, 
appointed a committee to confer with the memorialists, and ultimately a meeting | 
took place at the Highland and Agricultural Society’s Show at Inverness in 
July last, at which there were present the leading maltsters of Scotland, barley 
merchants, and implement makers. Asa result of the discussion which then 
took place, it would appear to be the opinion of the implement makers that the 
trouble complained of is due in great measure to the drum and concave not 
being properly set. We would urge upon you, therefore, the necessity of 
seeing, before having your barley threshed, that the drum, concave, hummeller, 
&e., are so set that your barleys may not be damaged in the way described. 
Barleys of heavy bushel weight are no longer sought for, and those that 
are carefully threshed, and not too closely dressed, will fetch a higher price 
than if they are in the condition complained of. Therefore we have no doubt 
you will find it to be in your interests to exercise careful supervision of the 
threshing to obtain the required results. In conclusion, we might point out 
that the unsatisfactory threshing of Scottish barley in late years has greatly 
increased the importation of heavy foreign barleys.” 
