1 Ave, 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 235 
ground, about 4 or 5 feet apart in width and 10 or 12 feet long, placing two 
long saplings lengthways and two crossways. Over these a sheet or tarpaulin 
is placed to hang and form a sort of long trough. In the centre, resting on the 
cross pieces, a rough kind of ladder is placed, and the bundles of rice are then 
beaten over the bars of the ladder, which causes the grain to drop ito the bag, 
as shown in the sketch. Some farmers merely nail a few strips across a box or 
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wooden trough, and beat the rice out on this by handfuls. After the grain is 
beaten from the straw (itis then known as paddy), the next operation is the 
winnowing. This is done in an ordinary sieve by letting the grain fall on to a 
sheet in a light breeze, the sieve being held up at a little distance; its weight 
causes the sound grain to fall on the sheet, whilst the light grain, bits of straw, 
&c., are wafted away to one side. The paddy is then carefully collected. and 
laced in the sun, spread out for a few days to get thoroughly dry, when it is 
ageed and stowed away in a dry barn, or else taken away to the miller for 
turning into the article of trade and commerce with which we are more familiar, 
and known as rice and not paddy. The straw, after the grain is threshed out, 
is spread out to dry or cure, or else it is fed to the stock. A great deal of 
nutriment remains in the stalk at the time of threshing, and I believe it would 
make up into a splendid ensilage if desired to be used when other feed is 
scarce. J should be pleased to hear the results if any of our enterprising 
farmers will give it a trial. 
MILLING THE RICE AND PREPARING THE CROP FOR MARKET. 
This is a most interesting operation, and for the want of the necessary 
machinery the rice industry has lain dormant for several years in the Logan 
district. Every credit must be given to Mr. F. W. Peek (the writer of this 
article) for the energy and enthusiasm he has displayed in reorganising the 
industry, and the farmers, through the medium of the Logan Farming and 
Industrial Association, who took the matter up, believing that a great benefit 
would result to the district if only carried out in a systematic manner. The 
matter was ably discussed at their meetings. The Agricultural Department _ 
was written to for advice, and their assistance was given as far as possible to 
facilitate the objects sought to be obtained. Jt was from information supplied 
by the Department that the farmers were induced to co-operate in the purchase 
of a new and better variety of seed, a quantity of White Java—900 lb.—being 
purchased and distributed at first cost among the farmers; next,a small experi- 
mental patch was started, the Department supplying rice seed of other varieties, 
which are now being tested for their producing and milling qualities, the seeds 
from this source being again redistributed free of charge to those willing to 
grow them and still further test the various kinds submitted. 
With the large increase of area planted, the want of a mill began to make 
itself felt. The prices offered for Queensland-grown rice were very low, 
principally owing to no local mills in Southern Queensland being established at 
that time. Again the Department of Agriculture was appealed to, and the 
address was obtained of the latest up-to-date firm of manufacturers of rice- 
milling machinery. This was the Engleburg Huller Co., of Syracuse, U.S.A., 
who were promptly written to for information, and price-lists and catalogues 
were received from them. A meeting of the farmers was called, and an 
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