6 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Jury, 1902, 
bushels. Of the other cereals, malting barley shows an increase in area of 2944) 
acres over the area cultivated in 1899, and maize an increase of 17,485 acres. — 
Against this must be placed a decrease of 329 acres for oats, 232 acres for barley, — 
47 acres for rye, and 48 acres for rice. Taking the grain crops together, the totals — 
show that there were 215,618 acres under crop in Queensland in 1900 as against 
17 1,721 acres in 1899, an increase of 33,887 acres. The Registrar-General, in 
an interesting table compiled by him, arrives at the conclusion that the pro- 
duction of wheat in this State in 1900 equalled 33 per cent. of the requirements. 
of the people, as against 22 per cent. in 1899. Cheering as the progress has 
been, it will thus be seen that there is yet abundant reason for more land to be 
placed under wheat before the supply meets the demand. 
SUGAR. 
Owing principally to the severe drought experienced in the Northern 
districts, and to the frosts in the Southern, the production of sugar for the past 
season, 1900, shows a very considerable decrease from that of the previous year, 
The total area under cane in 1899 was 110,657 acres as against 108,535 acres 
last season. Of this area, 79,485 acres were crushed during 1899 as against 
_ 72,651 acres last season, the average yield of cane per acre being 11°6 in 1900 
as against 14°8 in 1899, and the average yield of sugar per acre 1°28 tons as. 
against 1°55 tons, the figures in every case showing the inferiority of last season’s. 
results. The output of sugar for 1899 was 123,289 tons as against 92,554 tons. 
in 1900—a decrease of 30,785 tons, involving a money loss of about £807,000, 
of which about £138,000 falls on the canegrowers. It is interesting to: 
note that the only district in Queensland where irrigation 1s comprehensively 
dealt with—that is, the Burdekin—gives a yield of 1°88 tons of sugar per acre. 
The only direction in which the sugar statistics of last season show better results. 
than in the previous season is in the quantity of cane requisite to make a ton 
of sugar having decreased by half-a-ton which should perhaps be attributed to: 
improved manipulation at the mill. The quantity of sugar exported from 
Ist June, 1900, to the 8lst of March, 1901, was 54,586 tons; add to this. 
27,000 tons, the estimated consumption of Queensland, thus leaving 10,968. 
tons held in the State. As for the future of the sugar industry in this State: 
By the passage of the Sugar Experiment Stations Act the Government have 
shown their desire to do all in their power to help the industry, and, under the 
guidance of Dr. Maxwell, the industry will now be conducted on definite 
scientific lines, and it is hoped with the same splendid success he has achieved 
elsewhere. It is gratifying to note that in the proposed formation of the 
Sugar-Growers’ Organisation the first step has been taken to give effect to the. 
special services of Dr. Maxwell. It is only by means of such an organisation 
that his investigations and advice can be brought home to every individual 
engaged in the industry. 
. FRUIT. 
Fruit culture continues to make steady progress both as regards the 
output of fruit and increasing planting. During 1900 the export of fruit 
amounted to £104,385 as against £93,187 in 1899, being an increase for the 
year-of £11,198. The increase in planting applies both to deciduous fruits in: 
the cooler parts of the State—the Stanthorpe district in particular—and to 
the citrus and other semi-tropical fruits in the more humid coastal districts. 
The planting of fruit trees of all kinds in commercial quantities during 1900 
probably exceeded that of any previous year in the history of the State, and 
judging from the very large number of deciduous fruit trees now being imported 
from the Southern States for planting in the cooler districts, as well as the local 
demand for citrus and other semi-tropical fruits, the planting of 1901 bids fair to 
exceed that of last year. It is satisfactcry to note that orchardists now realise 
the importance of planting only such varieties as are best adapted to the local 
conditions of the district in which they are to be grown; so that the greater 
proportion of the recent plantings will produce fruit of high commercial value 
when the trees come into bearing. This is a matter of extreme importance 
