10 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Jury, 1901. 
and yery often indeed drive bargains. I am speaking mainly of country asso-- 
cations whose large committees are composed mainly of farmers; and I admit with 
regret that there are some town societies in whose management farmers are 
conspicuous by their absence. It is a pity, but it is their own fault, for often 
the management is taken up by those engaged in other occupations, because apparently 
the farmers hold themselves Aiea Nearly all the organisations in what I may term 
the show category, whether of town or country, have done, in their way, excellent work 
in the advancement of agriculture in the past, and it is a matter of regret that the 
farmers do not take more interest in their proceedings, und afford them the practical 
support they so much deserve. They could then make them what they choose— 
educational, consultative. or to an extent co-operative; or even a chain of posts 
throughout the country to advance the various interests of their industry, or defend it 
against attacks in any form and from any quarter. 
I observe a second class of organisation dealing with rural industries, on the page - 
referred to, mainly educational, technical, or scientific, which hold no shows, nor vive 
themselves much prominence, but which are domg a work, perhaps often silently and 
in the shade, of inestimable value. The members afford each other encouragement, 
and impart valuable information. They import and acclimatise new, plants, and 
discover the economic value of those we have; and what is more, they raise a warning” 
voice when any new pest, whether plant or insect. is insidiously seeking to take 
possession of the country. One might be pardoned for desiring an increase in the 
number of these associations and for more enthusiasm and vigour in their proceedings. 
Now we have a large number of other associations, which I presume are to a 
certain extent co-operative, though not soin name. Some designate themselves as 
progress associations, others as industrial, and a few call themselves leigues. ‘The 
precise functions of many of them will no doubt be explained by their delegates to 
this Conference. Possibly they exemplify the most valuable phase of co-operation— 
that is, of free and sympathetic intercourse and interchange of opinions and knowledge, 
of mutual help and counsel, and of combined action in obtaining seed and in the 
disposal of their products; and in various other ways which may be of vital import 
to their district. By these means they not only secure the welfare of the community 
as a whole, but stimulate individual effort as well. There is one function these classes. 
of societies—in fact, all agricultural societies—might fulfil with very little trouble, and 
which would be of great advantage to the State as well as to the industry—viz., that of 
supplying monthly or quarterly reports of the state of the staple crops of the district 
to th 
the probable yield. Statistics of crops are far more important than is generally 
conceived, and prices in the market are ruled by the probable and what is termed the: 
visible supply. As it is at present, newspaper correspondents—very often with the 
best of intentions—over-estimate probable yields, and there is a fall in prices in 
consequence. If the Agricultural Department cannot see their way to establish a 
statistical branch, I would suggest that they should request agricultural societies 
to furnish reports when they are needed, or at least once a year, of the probable 
yield of the crops in their district. Those who are acquainted with the industries. 
will not find much difficulty in giving these estimates. A short time before last 
harvest the Agricultural Department applied to an official in the Government service 
for an estimate of the total acreage of wheat in the Allora police district, and the 
reply was 10,000 acres. Not being satisfied with this, they wired to me for an 
estimate. Without leaving my premises, I made it up as well as I could, and it was 
something over 19,000 acres, and after forwarding it I knew it was under the mark. 
The RRS rae cetera return since issued shows that the actual area was 21,000 
acres. think this instance ought to show that the securing of estimates approxi- 
mately correct and the collection of statistics are not such difficult matters as is. 
generally imagined. 
_ Now, there are four centres which apparently have made a distinct advance in 
agricultural combination. These centres are Mackay, Bundaberg, Herbert River, 
and the Isis; singularly enough, they are all in the sugar country. Bundaberg 
alone of all the districts in Queensland—as far as I am aware—has a chamber of 
agriculture, with which I presume are affiliated in some form most of the societies in 
the district. The Herbert River Farmers’ League was, four years ago, one of the 
most influential and useful local organisations in Queensland—perhaps politically as 
well as industrially. What it is to-day, possibly its delegates will tell us. Of the 
Isis organisation I know nothing, but we are all more or less familiar with the 
Mackay association, which has branches throughout all that e.tensive district. and is 
of the highest value to each individual canegrower in various ways, inclusive of the 
sale of his cane and procuring his supplies. 
e Department of Agriculture, and, as the time of gathering them comes on, of 
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