830 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 May, 1902. 
“The past month has been an irregular one in the wheat markets of the 
Commonwealth. Adelaide and Sydney have danced up and down to the tune 
set by buyers and sellers in Melbourne. The market was a difficult one to 
gauge in this centre, and twice rose to 3s. 6d., only to fall each time by 2d. 
per bushel to 3s. 4d., followed again by a slight recovery. As far as the 
Melbourne market is concerned, it seems plain that shippers’ engagements are 
drawing to a close. Whether they will be increased is a difficult question to 
answer, but we must confess ‘that as soon as exporting is over the prospects 
of an active market are small, unless speculation is carried on. The same 
applies to Sydney, while Adelaide is also pretty well cleared out as far as 
large supplies are concerned. Generally speaking, it is our opinion that the 
end of April will see almost all the Australian exporting done, and the 
remaining months of the season will be filled in with a jobbing market, which 
can be expected as usual to show remarkable fluctuations. 
“The Australian oat position is being carefully considered. To some 
degree it is dependent on New Zealand, for if prices in that colony rule high 
we may expect a recurrence of the demand for export to South Africa ; on the 
other hand, if New Zealand farmers are willing to sell at what we now term 
low prices, this market is likely to be quiet for some time, at least until 
Tasmania’s surplus is absorbed. It is questionable, however, whether the 
supplies of Australia will be sufficient for the whole of her wants for the 
season, and though a period of quietness may be passed through, there is little 
doubt that ultimately the market will regain activity and will not be over- 
weighted by any great surplus. It appears to be growing plain that we must 
import barley with some freedom, and we expect to see some considerable 
quantity brought in from New Zealand. Until the New Californian crop is 
reaped about four months hence no further supplies than already ordered can 
be obtain from ’Frisco. The quantity under engagement from ’Frisco for 
Sydney and Melbourne is said to be 40,000 bags. 
“ Wuerat.—The market, which ruled firm at the opening of the week 
covered by this report, has since hardened, and very little is offering. We 
quote prime in parcels, 3s. 5d.; good, 3s. 42d. ; fair, 3s. 4gd.; medium, 3s. 4d.; 
and inferior, 3s. 83d; seed, from 3s. 6d. to 8s. 7d.” 
LEAKAGES ON THE FARM. 
We some time ago pointed out where leakages leading to petty losses and 
even to heavy losses on a farm occur. As emphasising what we wrote, we print 
some excellent remarks by Mr. C. G. Freer-Thonger, M.R.A.C., F.C.S., on the 
subject, which are much to the point. He writes in Colonia, the Colonial 
College Magazine, Wollesley Bay, Suffolk, England :— 
In order to pay, farming should be considered as any other business 
enterprise. Itshould not only yield a suitable return for the amount of money 
invested in the land, the implements, and the stock, but should also return a 
suitable remuneration for the labour in maintaining the work and the manage- 
ment of the entire business. Yet we often hear the complaint that, in far too 
many instances, what is outlined above is not attained, and in this note it is 
our aim to point out some of the loopholes by which the profits of the farm are 
often imperceptibly drained away. 
One of the most important leaks on many farms is the lack of system. 
Any business that has grown from small beginnings, and attained any 
considerable degree of success, will in every case be found to have been 
managed by a mind which had a systematic and methodical way of doing things. 
Of course, system may be abused and cause the farmer to be a slave to it, and 
in such cases it is a cruel master, but more farmers are sadly lacking in this 
regard than otherwise. Let there be careful thought and planning how to get 
at the best way of doing things, and when this best way has been decided upon 
