42.4, QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Jung, 1902. 
from fields of one variety only of cane, failure resulted. Then it struck him 
to try seed from a field containing several varieties. These were sown under 
glass, and Dr. Reid advised a screen of red linen. The result was that numbers 
of seeds were raised. These have been planted out, and some of them are 
from 6 to 8 feet high, being very thick canes, more like suckers of the old 
Bourbon than like canes for the mill. All these will be carefully tested, and 
it is hoped that the results will be satisfactory. 
At Mr. Swallow’s, chicory was being prepared by sun-drying. It appeared to 
be of very good quality, and should be of much value in a coffee-growing district. 
Leaving Mr. Swallow’s hospitable gates, we returned to Hambledon, and 
in the evening I met a number of farmers who appeared to be greatly interested. 
in the matter of cotton-growing. I understand that some have since written 
to the Agricultural Department to inquire as to the means of obtaining seed. 
I was shown cotton bushes on several farms, which gave evidence of the 
suitability of the soil and climate for the production of Sea Island cotton. I 
am convinced that if the farmers would agree to put in from 2 to 5 acres each 
on land which no longer produces heavy crops of cane, they would be no losers, 
especially in the case of farmers 1 met, who had from nine to eleven sons each, 
Dr. Thomatis, of Smithfield, near Cairns, has planted 15 acres of cotton, and 
expects to obtain a yield of 9 1b. of Sea Island cotton per tree. This seems a 
large order, but the doctor says that he knows this to be the yield, from his own 
experience. If such a crop can be obtained, it means 3 1b. of clean lint per 
tree, and as he plants them 7 feet apart every way, he will have 881 trees per 
acre, yielding 2,643 lb. of clean lint, worth from 2s. to 2s. 6d. per Ib. Besides 
this, there will be 5,286 lb. of seed, worth £4 to £5 per ton. I shall decidedly 
watch this experiment, for such a return has not been heard of in Queensland 
to my knowledge, and I sincerely hope the doctor’s anticipations may be fully 
realised. 
I was introduced to a farmer named Petersen, close to Hambledon. He 
was a successful cane-grower and a believer in white labour, so I asked him how 
the loss of the kanaka would affect cane-growers. His reply was ambiguous in 
the extreme. He is the father of nine fine sons. The eldest of these boys hel 
him to do all the work in connection with his sugar crop. Why should he 
employ black labour? The young men, I suggested, earned white men’s wages. 
Well, there was the rub. He could not afford to pay his sons the wages they 
could earn in other capacities or as regular farm or mill hands. _1t was not fair 
to the boys, but what could he do? ‘“ Employ black labour while you can get. 
it,’ was my natural suggestion. But this would be against his principles as a 
believer in the Labour Party. The natural inference was that rather than 
employ black labour, and being unable to pay proper wages to his sons, he 
would throw up the farm, only he did not say so, and I did not press my inquiries 
further. It is wonderful what men will do for the sake of a principle. He has 
a beautiful farm, a comfortable home, rich land, and a good crop, and yet 
but I eschew politics. 
After a day’s travel through various plantations, in the course of which 
trip I met and conversed with several farmers, who all promised to meet that 
evening at O’Brien’s Hall at Hambledon Junction, we returned to Hambledon, 
and I paid a visit to Mr. Binnie, who owns a cane farm 9 miles from Cairns. 
He had kindly arranged for the use of the hall for the evening, and had sent 
out messengers to notify the farmers, with the result that there was an 
excellent attendance that evening, and, as a consequence of my lecture, several 
farmers expressed themselves as willing to add a few acres of cotton to their 
cultivation provided suitable seed could be obtained. I must here express my 
obligations to those gentlemen in this and other districts of the North who took 
so much trouble to show me round the country and to make my visit profitable 
and enjoyable. Wherever I went horses and vehicles were willingly provided, 
and it is entirely owing to the efforts of the planters and others to assist me 
that I was enabled to see so much of the country and of the industries carried 
on there during my short visit. 
