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240 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Ave., 1901. 
Act, he complains that the planter is much hampered and handicapped by its 
operation, and maintains that the greatest pest is neglect. During the early 
period of cedar-getting Mr. Pentzcke’s next-door neighbour had a selection 
comprising 160 acres. On this area he and his neighbour felled cedar-trees, 
which yielded 300,000 superficial feet of sound timber, whilst a great quantity 
was left as waste. Nota single tree was felled under 8 feet in girth, because, 
as all timber-getters know, cedar of less girth is not worth anything ; in fact, 
to fell smaller trees is nothing short of criminal. As soon as the regular cedar- 
getters had taken off the large timber, the land was selected for farming. Then 
the selector cut down all the remaining timber, even that only 2 feet in 
diameter, and pit-sawed it. Now, had he allowed that young timber to mature, 
‘it would by this time have increased 200 per cent. in size and value. There is 
still a great quantity of young cedar and over eighty fine bean trees on this land, 
besides numbers of other excellent timbers. One acre is planted in coffee, 
staked with bean-tree stakes. Had the timber producing these stakes been cut 
in’ “ flitches,” and sold to veneer-cutters, it would have brought £6. 
Weare greatly obliged to Mr. Pentzcke for his interesting letter. If more 
Northern men were like-minded, it would not be long before private forest 
culture would form a valuable Northern industry. Some people scout the idea 
of tree-planting on the ground that they would be in their graves before any 
profit could be reaped from a plantation. Such people forget that all good 
parents try and make some provision for their children. A couple of hundred 
acres of cedar and pine well managed would form a legacy which would render 
their children independent in the prime of life. 
This reminds us of a German story about tree-planting. Some travellers 
saw an old man of seventy planting an orchard of cherry-trees, and they asked 
him why he was so Foolish as to plant trees, the fruit of which he could not 
hope to live to enjoy. “I shall probably not live to enjoy the fruit, certainly, 
but those who come after me will enjoy it and bless the memory of the 
planter,” was the old. man’s reply. 
APPLES AS A MEDICINE. 
Everybody ought to know that the very best thing one can do is to eat 
apples just before going to bed. The apple has remarkable efficacious medicinal 
properties. It is an excellent brain food, because it has more phosphoric acid 
in easily digested shape than other fruits. It excites the action of the liver, 
promotes sound and healthy sleep, and thoroughly disinfects the mouth. No 
harm can come to even a delicate system by the eating of ripe and juicy apples 
before retiring for the night. 
TRADE IN PINEAPPLES. 
A direct trade in pineapples has now been established between Jamaica and 
London. We read of a consignment of 500 packages having been received in 
fine condition and fetching from 1s. 6d. to 2s. 6d. per pine. The favourite pine 
in the London market is the smooth Cayenne, and it is said that the chief 
reason for this fact is not so much its superior quality but its good looks, size, 
fine colour, and handsome top, the weight ranging foom 3 to 8 lb., the average 4 
to 6 lb. Larger fruit, it is said, are not required in England. Another 
important fact about this particular variety is that it reaches the market in 
better condition than any other. Of course a sweet pine is essential for a good 
market.—Tropical Agriculturist, Ceylon. 
