256 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL souRNAL. [1 Aprin, 1902. 
farmer to utilise the boulders for walls, and possibly in no other place in 
Australia can be seen more permanent field enclosures than those built of this 
eruptive material, so well adapted both by reason of durability, cheapness, and 
accessibility. Atthe foot of these hills the lands spread out into great level 
plains sparsely timbered with a species of eucalyptus, some of the lower areas 
forming themselves into extensive lakes and in some instances well-grassed 
marshes and extensive plains. Looking over these magnificent areas from the 
summits of Mount Leuraand Mount Pordon, a good idea of their nature and 
value is obtained. 
The view from Mount Leura is especially fascinating. In the immediate 
vicinity of your eyrie, evidence of volcanic action is visible in the numerous 
crater formations seen in the many hills nestling around what must once have 
been the prime active centre of eruption. Then in the far distance the eye 
scans lake and plain intersected here and there by plantations of wattle and 
pine trees running in symmetrical lines, evidence of the farmers’ desire to 
minimise as far as possible the bleak winter weather conditions to which his 
dairy stock is too often exposed. In all directions, as far as the eye can see, 
lies splendid country dotted with prosperous homesteads, some nestling near 
the foot of a sheltering hill, others isolated on what in winter time must bea 
bleak plain. Other houses, again, are snugly located ona lake shore whose 
huge expanse affords many aquatic advantages and pastimes. So happily 1s 
this district situated with respect to its advantages of soil, climatic conditions, 
and nearness to market, that it would be very strange if it did not above all 
others demonstrate fully the importance of the dairying industry. In describing 
what came under my notice, I must, in justice to my readers, mention that at 
the period of my visit—the early part of December—the country is seen at its 
best. The seasons in Victoria and with us differ ina remarkable degree. Here 
in Queensland our period of scarcity of forage extends from the end of winter 
to the early spring months. In Victoria the dearth period occurs during 
the summer time. In those western districts they have, owing to a 
moist autumn and winter, practically eight months of favourable growing 
weather. This, taking the nature and variety of their natural and artificial 
grasses into consideration, accounts materially for the very pros- 
perous condition of the dairying interests in this part of the State. 
The comparison between the grasses indigenous to our Queensland soils and 
those so very luxuriant in their growth and excellent in their fattening and 
milk-producing qualities of Victoria point conclusively to the very important 
factor this is in the success of Victorian dairymen. This matter of the acelima- 
tisation of new grasses has not in our State been given the attention it 
merits. Save the little effort of the Acclimatisation Society during the past 
few years, no sustained attempt has been made in this direction. However, 
good progress is now being made by the society, and no doubt valuable results 
will accrue from the experiments now carried on under considerable difficulties 
at Bowen Park, owing chiefly to the very restricted area available for conduct- 
ing these very valuable experiments. ‘Too much stress cannot be laid on the 
value of improved grasses, more especially after observation of the luxuriance 
and quality of grasses introduced into Victoria—a value which is abundantly 
demonstrated by the results shown at the milking-pail, the Babcock tester, and 
the butcher’s block.. That many of these grasses can be successfully intro- 
duced into Queensland and prove the same success that they are in Victoria, 
there is no reason-to doubt. ‘The grasses native to Victoria, so I was informed, 
and this was borne out by my personal observation, were of a character 
vastly inferior to those which now, through introduction, serve such a useful 
purpose in Victorian dairying and grazing pursuits. Whether it is possible to 
grow these varieties in our State must be largely a question of experiment. 
That such experiments are justified and likely to prove valuable, the record of 
Victorian success amply illustrates. This is, perhaps, patent more in the 
eagerness displayed by farmers to secure leases and freeholds in these favoured 
districts at prices that would in the ordinary sense be deemed prohibitive to 
