1 Jury, 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 5 
DAIRYING. 
The butter manufactured in 1900 was 8,215,889 Ib., 247,256 lb. less than 
in 1899. The exports were, however, in value, some £2,233 in excess of the 
previous year. It is satisfactory to know that, although dairying was so 
hampered by drought, the trade outside Queensland more than maintained the 
normal conditions and retained the commercial side of the industry unbroken. 
A point to be remarked is the development in the manufacture of cheese. In 
1899:- we made some 1,900,300 Ib.; but last year our output reached 
2,461,730 Ib., or an increase of 561,430 lb. in one year. It is a notable 
fact that, during the year, the erection of large modern butter factories 
has increased not only in the Southern portion of the State but in the 
Central and Northern divisions also. Factories have been erected, under the 
provisions of the Meat and Deiry Produce Encouragement Act, at Mackay 
and Capella; and inquiries have been made from other Northern centres, 
such as Proserpine and Ayr, as to the terms upon which money can be 
obtained for such purposes. As for the Southern districts, a large factory 
at Booval, on the co-operative principle, has been just completed, and at 
Maryborough a similar factory has been at work for some time. This 
class of factory, if properly managed, has-a bright future, and from the promis- 
ing start made by each of these works.it 1s expected that they will have to be 
increased in size at no distant date. A. movement is on foot in several of the 
districts where central sugar-mills exist to erect co-operative butter factories, 
and thus assist the sugar farmers by providing a certain and remunerative 
addition to their cane farming. As a proof that these factories are paying con- 
cerns, it may be mentioned that, so far, every dairy factory has met its liabilities 
to the fund, and at the same time paid the producer the highest prices 
for his milk and cream. Another feature of the year’s operations is 
that a second condensed milk factory is now in course of erection, Mr. 
Charles Sealy, of the Trelawny Cheese Factory, being the proprietor. This 
will be the largest of its kind in Queensland, and its erection, as 
that of another unsubsidised factory of the same kind at Helidon, is no 
doubt due to the success obtained by the Cressbrook factory erected in 1898 
by Messrs. McConnell and Munro, the demand. for whose milk‘has necessitated 
the duplication of their factory. Closely allied to this form of factory is the 
Commonwealth Factory at Beaudesert, erected during the year, which turns 
cout what is known as concentrated milk, largely used by the coastal steamboats, 
as it keeps fresh for a period of from seven to ten days, and thus enables 
assengers to be supplied with practically fresh milk during the voyage. This 
iS alae it is understood, has successfully competed with the Southern factories 
of its kind, and it is gratifying to hear that the A.U.S.N. Company have given 
a contract to supply all their boats trading north from Brisbane. 
AGRICULTURE. 
It was thought that the drought last year would necessitate a doleful 
account of agriculture in Queensland for this year’s Conference, but the 
statistics of the Registrar-General show a very satisfactory state of things 
considering the ordeal that has been undergone. In some agricultural districts, 
it is true, the drought was severe, but in others a fairly good season was 
experienced, so that, on the whole, the history of Queensland agriculture 
during the period is not as disheartening as might have been expected. 
Taking, for a first review, wheat farming, it will be found that in 1900 
for grain (excluding hay and green feed) the area under cultivation showed 
an increase of 26,777 acres, the area for 1899 being 52,527, and for 1900 
79,304 acres. The yield amounted to 1,194,088 bushels, making this year 
a record one, and giving an average of 15°08 bushels to the acre. How 
satisfactory this yield is, may be seen by comparing it with that of other 
wheat-producing regions. In Argentine the average return is 12°5 bushels; 
in the United States, 12°29 bushels ; in New South Wales, 10°60 bushels ; in 
South Australia, 7°15 bushels; in Manitoba, 8:90 bushels; and in Victoria, 8°84 
