1 Jony, 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 63 
Mr. W. P. Cooxstey (Brisbane): I need not say I am pleased with 
‘Mr. Corrie’s paper, as it is just up to date. He and I have travelled to many 
conferences together, and I think he has hit the right nails on the head. 
Personally, the knowledge I have gained at Conferences is very great. There 
is one matter which Mr. Corrie brought up, and that is, that the essays should 
be printed and distributed at the time of the Conference for the informa- 
tion of the delegates. This is a matter of great importance, because, 
under the present circumstances, we are not in a position to be able 
to properly discuss the papers that are read. If the papers were 
printed and distributed, we could then go through them carefully, and 
we would then have a much better discussion. We could criticise them 
more freely. Another point brought up by Mr. Corrie was, that the discussion 
on the various papers should take place after the reading of each individual 
paper. That isa wise contention, for, when we hear three papers read one 
after the other, we lose the trend of the first in listening to the last one. If 
we had the papers printed it would not be so bad. J am thankful we have not 
heard them all read together at this Conference. Another thing we have 
gained at this Conference is, that the persons reading papers on the same 
subject as other writers are allowed to discuss those persons’ papers before they 
come to their turn for replying to the remarks on their own. We have to 
thank our Chairman for the blessing. Conferences, as a whole, are a great 
benefit: to all agriculturists, Ho matter whether they are fruitgrowers, , wheat- 
rowers, sugar-planters, or otherwise. They get a vast amount of knowledge 
rom them. I was at a Conference once when a paper was read upon tomato- 
growing. We all think that tomato-growing is very simple—that you have just 
to plant the seed, and up comes the tomato. Now, I gained at that Conference 
a point about tomato culture which I was not previously aware of. We used 
to allow the woodbuds to grow until further orders. But we learned there 
that it was the correct thing to take away the woodbuds. It is only a matter 
of pruning, but a great many people never knew it until that Conference. The 
best thing ever instituted by our Department was the inauguration of these 
Conferences. I am of opinion that, when these Conferences go on a little bit 
further, the question which was brought up previously with reference to a 
chamber of agriculture will soon have force. I should like to make an explana- 
tion with regard to valuations for central mills I based my valuation of a 
certain portion of land I was speaking of upon its commercial value, since 
which I have discovered that the Department does not work out its valuation 
upon that basis. It bases its valuation upon what would be the output of cane. 
Therefore, I must retract what I said about the values allowed for, being above 
the value of the land. When I made my statement this morning, I was under 
the impression the commercial value of the land was considered. 
Mr. J. H. Mayyarp (Gympie): I think Mr. Corrie’s paper was one of 
the most valuable we have had before us this afternoon. His suggestion about 
having lectures in the afternoon is a very good one. We have, for instance, at 
this Conference gentlemen capable of giving such lectures. There are Mr. 
Benson, Mr. Mahon, Mr. McLean, Mr. Pound, and others. Various members 
here are interested in different industries, and, by having a lecture from such 
experts, those who have a slight knowledge will have it improved by the ques- 
tions that will be asked of the lecturer by the practically expert gentlemen 
amongst the audience. Therefore, we shall get not only the information that 
we would get from a similar address delivered in our own district, but this will 
be supplemented by the facts elicited, through the medium of questions, by 
the expert listener. ‘Ticks are getting very bad in the Gympie district, and I 
should like to get some information from the men who have gone through’ the 
mill as to their experiences in inoculation and dipping. At present we are 
ignorant of whom we should go to. : 
Mr. J. McPHerson (Rockhampton) : I shall be pleased to give you all the 
information I can. 
