} 
1 Nov., 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 487 
GERMINATION EXPERIMENTS WITH SUGAR-CANE CUTTINGS. 
[By Z. Kamertinc, Meded. Proefstat. Suikerriet West Java, 1900, No. 41, pp. 6-17.] 
Two series of experiments were carried on, the first to ascertain the 
influence of fertilisers on the growth of sugar-cane cuttings (bibits), and the 
second to determine the effect of applying tar or Bordeaux mixture to the 
cut surface of the cutting. 
For the first series of experiments forty pots were used, in each of which 
two cuttings of three eyes each were planted. The manures used were 
potassium phosphate, magnesium sulphate, and sulphate of ammonia. These 
were applied to the pots in different combinations, 10 gm. of salt in solution 
being used in each case. The salts had no effect upon the growth of the 
cuttings. 
In the second series of experiments eighty-five pots planted with two- 
eyed cuttings were used. ‘The cut surfaces of some of the cuttings were coated 
with tar, others were first washed for half-an-hour and then coated with tar. A. 
third set was treated with Bordeaux mixture, while a fourth was treated with 
Bordeaux mixture after having been washed for half-an-hour. Of the cuttings 
treated with Bordeaux mixture, 81 per cent. of the eyes started as compared 
with 62 per cent. when the cuttings had been treated with tar. The former 
also started more promptly. When the cuttings were soaked and then treated 
with Bordeaux mixture, a greater number of buds started than in the unsoaked 
lot, and they also began growth more quickly. The soaking before applying tar 
hastened the commencement of growth, but did not materially increase the 
total germination. The author attributes the harmful effect of the tar to a 
clogging of the water vessels at the cut surface. 
HARVESTING RICE. 
Rice should not be cut too green. Many farmers do so, with the result 
that the grain is light and chalky, which depreciates its value. If obliged to 
cut it in this condition, cut it with plenty of straw. This will help greatly to 
mature the grain. When intending to thresh early, make the stooks very small, 
and do not cap them. You will find that it will be ready for threshing many 
days sooner than if in large, capped stooks. The reason is that with smail 
stooks the air can pass through and the sun’s heat can pass through to the 
inner bundles. Should, however, heavy rain and storm be threatening, then 
make large stooks and cap them. ‘This will keep the rain from the heads, and 
the large stooks are not so liable to be blown down. 
VALUE OF RICE. 
The Pimpama Island ricegrowers haye amply demonstrated the value of 
the rice crop as compared with other cereal crops. They have harvested from 
30 to 50 bushels of rice per acre, and the demand for paddy for seed from 
various parts of the State has been so great that from 6s. to 7s. 6d. per bushel 
has been and is still offered for seed rice. 
According to our wheat returns, the average yield per acre has been (for 
the harvest of 1900-1901) 15°06 bushels, whilst for rice, the yield is given as 
25°35 bushels. Many of the‘rice farmers harvested from 40 to 50 bushels. 
Now, say wheat is worth 2s. 6d. per bushel. Rice is worth at this moment— 
paddy, that is—as stated above, from 6s. to 7s. per bushel, and for marketing 
purposes 4s. to 5s. per bushel. The acre of rice is therefore, on an average, 
worth about £6 16s., whilst the acre of wheat is worth some £1 17s. 6d. Tn 
Florida, U.S.A., the comparison is: Rice, 20:36 dollars, wheat, 8°87 dollars, or 
in British money, rice £4 6s. 8d., wheat £1 17s. Now, rice, the upland variety 
