1 Ava., 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 237 
obtainable for the finished product will be worth consideration. Taking the 
current prices of rice, at the time of writing, in the Brisbane market, duty 
paid, best Japan is £24 per ton. The commonest quality of imported rice, 
“Rangoon,” fetches, duty paid, £19. This price gives a fair margin of profit 
to the local miller if he sells at £18 per ton. The samples being milled 
this season at the Pimpama island Mill are of very high grade, and closely 
resemble ‘‘ Patna” in shape of grain, but slightly darker in colour. Taking, 
then, the local rice at £18 per ton market value, to produce which 1 ton 10 ewt. 
of paddy would be required (according to records taken at recent trials) to be 
milled, of a value of £12 9s. 9d.; this would leave a margin of £5 10s. 3d. I 
will add here that paddy rice is bought locally like wheat at 2,240 Ib. per ton, 
deducting the cost of milling, the ayerage of about £2 per ton leaves 
the miller a net_ profit of £3 10s. 8d. per ton. To this must be added the 
value of the pollard, which also is of great value as feed for calves, pigs, or 
poultry, when steamed and then mixed with separator milk. Its commercial 
yalue is certainly not less than £2 to £3 per ton. 
The following is taken from the Brisbane Observer of 29th June, 1901:— 
“ We were to-day shown a sample of rice grown at Pimpama Island, More- 
ton Bay. It resembles Patna rice in shape of grain, but is darker in colour. 
Qualified experts who have seen the sample say that it is the first really high- 
grade rice that they have seen grown in this State, and as it can be marketed at 
from £18 to £18 10s., should command a ready sale. The commonest quality 
of imported rice, Rangoon, fetches £19, duty paid, here just now, while for 
Japan rice £24, duty paid, is asked by the distributing houses.” 
The price quoted for the mill such as I have described, and which is so 
constructed that it can be duplicated or extended at a very small cost is, for 
the No. 4 machine, with a capacity of not less than half-a-ton per day, together 
with grader, &c., about £1380, delivered at Brisbane. Of course, the buildings 
‘are extra, and the power required to drive the machinery ; but worked in con- 
junction with any existing sugar-mill, or sawmill, &c., it would. prove of great 
value to the district, and a source of profit on the outlay to any enterprising 
millowner. 
FUTURE PROSPECTS OF THE RICE INDUSTRY. 
Like all other crops, rice has its enemies and diseases ; it has a kind of rust, 
smut, &c., and in some parts of Queensland grubs will take the roots, but up to 
the present the grub has not caused any trouble in the Logan district. The 
rust has yet to be dealt with, and I think this will be accomplished by 
experimenting with various kinds of rice seed till we meet with a rust-resisting 
-yariety. It is probable now, that under Federation the importance of rice 
culture will receive the attention it is worth. A large sum of money is 
annually expended in importing the product into the Commonwealth States, 
T would therefore advise all farmers to give rice a fair trial, especially as we 
are growing varieties that can now be classed as fairly successful on our coast 
lands, and where a fair average rainfall can be partly depended upon. The 
value of rice grown simply as fodder to cut green is great for stock feed, the 
stalks being sweet, juicy, and succulent, and giving a good return per acre, and. 
all stock will eat it with avidity. The question of labour does not enter largely 
into rice cultivation ; as I have pointed out, although a tropical product there 
is every facility for cultivation by present mechanical methods—thatis as far as 
the “Aus” or upland rice is concerned; the “Aman or Boro” varieties being 
swamp rices needing irrigation I have not yet heard of as being grown to 
any great extent, and they probably never will be for some time, if at all, 
owing chiefly to the heavy outlay required for a suitable water supply and an 
irrigation plant, which can be dispensed with in growing the beforementioned 
varieties of upland rice, which have proved most suitable for existing con- 
ditions and our present agricultural methods of cultivation and harvesting. 
Of this I am certain, that the rice is one of our coming crops which, together 
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