224. QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ava., 1901. 
The following information on this important subject is furnished us by 
Mr. George E. Pybus, of Fruitland Park, who has been growing cassava for 
several years. He estimates the cost of growing cassava as follows :— 
Per apis , 
8. a. 
Ploughing ... mee i af on, «OD ES 1G. ©) 
Harrowing... an ae nes} ne (ORY SS tL. Ge 
Seed, planted 4x 4, 2,700 hills, 6-inch 
pieces, 1,500 feet, at 12} cents... 170 = 611 
Planting... re ae re es Ife 4h @ 
Six cultivations at 35 cents a al OR — eae 
Four hoeings at 1 dollar ... a .. 400 = 16 0 
Fertiliser, 350 Ib. at 28 dollars per ton... 4°00 = 16 0 
14°65 = 58 8} 
Digging and hauling, say 1 mile... a, Jeb oS & © 
Value, f.0.b. 7 ee! 30% sox HU) = BN) 
NG tame: tee a ox) ac Gh) = 1H kt 
Necessary to make, say, 4 tons to pay 
expenses x: ks 219 .. 14:00 
Leaving a net profit of 3°75 dollars per ton on all above 4 tons. Of 
course, two of the above items, cultivating and hoeing, may vary, but to make 
a success of the crop, it must be kept clean until it can take care of itself, and 
he believes his estimate to be a fair one. Notwithstanding the ill-luck which 
attended all who adopted fall planting in 1899, he has just finished planting 
10 acres, being determined to give cassava-growing as a farm erop a fair trial. 
The resulting crops with good fertilisers will amount to from 6 to 8 tons 
per acre, and the digging can be done for about 2s. per ton. The cost of 
hauling will, of course, depend on the distance. On sandy soil it will yield 
more feed than any other crop that can be grown. For feeding pigs, horses, 
cows, and chickens no better crop can be grown. It will produce the best of 
pork and bacon ; it will make excellent pastry and delicious breakfast cakes. 
ORGANISING THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 
The work of organising the Queensland sugar industry, remarks the 
Mackay Sugar Journal, is being pushed forward with some vigour, and is 
likely to eventuate in a strong association being formed, very much on the lines 
laid down by us last month, which lines were similar to those advocated by the 
sugar conference held fifteen months ago in Mackay. It now rests for the 
growers and manufacturers in the various sugar districts to complete the 
formation of, or strengthen the already existing associations or unions, in order 
that each district may be thoroughly in touch with the central body, which we 
hope is destined to effectively represent the whole industry in all matters where 
a general consensus of opinion is to be expressed. No time should be lost, and 
delegates with plenary powers should at once be elected to attend the 
conference which will take place in Bundaberg in the early part of next month. 
If this conference is well attended, not by persons acting on behalf of distant 
associations, but by actual delegates from those bodies, then a really sound 
commencement will haye been made to draw the sugar people together, and 
establish an organisation by means of which Dr. Maxwell’s splendid services 
will be placed at the disposal of every cane farmer in the State. 
There is, of course, much to be done before the organisation can become 
a living and active factor in promoting the welfare of our industry, but no time 
is to be lost, otherwise the years, as in the past, may be allowed to slip by with 
nothing being done. Dr. Maxwell’s engagement with the Queensland Govern- 
ment is only for five years, and at least one of the five years will have passed 
—_— le iio 
