298 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Aprtn, 1902. 
General Notes. 
THE LAWTON PROCESS OF FRUIT-PRESERVING. 
Last month we stated that a shipment of fruit loaded in Jamaica and in 
Central America had left for London, preserved by the Lawton process, on 
board the R.M.S. “ Para.” The sequel to the trial has proved tragic, as, when 
nearing Barbados, an explosion occurred by which Mr. Lawton, the inventor, 
an American, Mr. Astwood, the representative of the United Fruit Company, 
a Jamaican, and Mr. Hamilton, the engineer in connection with the experiment, 
were all killed. This terrible accident is very regrettable, not only for the loss 
of valued lives, but for the suspicion of danger that will now attach to the 
preservative process ; and, possibly, some important details may have been only 
im the possession of the inventor. Our information as to the mishap is derived 
from the Journal of the Jamaica Agricultural Society. 
A SIMPLE BARBED WIRE STRETCHER. 
A_ very handy tool with which one man can stretch a barbed wire fence may 
be made by any blacksmith. Take a stout piece of steel, about 1 inch wide and 
five-eighths of an inch thick, and let one end be forged after the fashion of a 
jemmy, but with claws similar to those found on hammers. To stretch a wire 
the claws are caught behind a barb in the wire, and the tool is plied around the 
post, as will be seen in the accompanying illustration. ‘ 
TO MAKE GINGER BEER. 
That most refreshing drink, ginger beer, should be made in every farm- 
house. When we ran a farm, we were never without it and hop beer. Both 
are easy to make and cheap, and are an agreeable change from the everlasting 
tea during the summer. 
First Recipe——White sugar, 5 lb.; lemon juice, 1 gill; honey, -Ib.; 
ginger (bruised), 5 oz. ; water, 44 gallons. Boil the ginger 30 minutes in 3 
quarts of water ; then add the other ingredients and strain. When cold, put 
in the white of an egg well beaten with 1 teaspoonful of lemon essence. Let 
stand for 4 days and bottle. It will keep for months—much longer than if 
yeast were used. ‘The honey, however, operates mildly in place of yeast. 
