1 Jury, 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 7 
DEPARTMENTAL OFFICERS. 
Did time permit, it would give me great pleasure to refer in detail to the efforts 
of the technical officers of the Department, each of whom is doing his best in his own 
sphere to advance the cause of agriculture. Some of these gentiemen will be present 
at this Conference, and will contribute by their knowledge and experience to the 
value of our deliberations. ‘There is, indeed, one expert who not only has no superior 
and probably no equal in the world in his own special field, but is distinguished by 
his proficiency in scientific agriculture generally, who, I regret, will not be able to 
share in our discussions: I refer to Dr. Maxwell, who I had reason to hope would be 
present, but who has been detained in the South by illness. Short as is the time 
which has elapsed since his arrival in Queensland, he has amply justified his appoint- 
ment. He has not only introduced new principles of sugar cultivation, which -our 
more enterprising growers have adopted with excellent results, but has induced the 
Commonwealth Government to agree to certain tariff arrangements which will increase 
by 20 or 30 per cent. the bonus on sugar-cane grown by white labour. You will join me, 
I am sure, in wishing him both a speedy recovery from an illness brought on by over- 
work, and the success that should attend profound knowledge and skill coupled with 
tireless devotion to the public interests. 
Concuuston. 
Tn conclusion, gentlemen, I have to say that I am pleased with the large attendance 
of delegates, and that I hope that our discussions will be marked by the good feeling 
and the seriousness of purpose which were such notable features of the last Conference. 
T am delighted to see around me to-day many who made that Conference so agreeable 
a recollection tome. It gives me great pleasure to meet them again. Among those 
who were not present on that occasion is my old friend and former colleague, Mr. 
Thynne. I am very glad he is here, and I take this opportunity of testifying to the 
splendid services he rendered agriculture while a Minister, and of expressing my 
pleasure at the warm interest he still takes in everything calculated to increase the 
rosperity of the Queensland farmers, and at the circumstance thatin the problems we 
eee assembled to consider we are to have the benefit of his ability and experience. 
(Loud applause.) 
COMMITTEE OF RESOLUTIONS, Erc. 
On the motion of Mr. Perer McLean, the following were appointed a 
committee of resolutions :—Messrs. C. P. Mau (Mackay), H. G. Faithfull 
(Herbert River), F. W. Peek (Loganholme), J. G. Palethorpe (Toowoomba), | 
W. Deacon (Allora), W. Miscamble (Roma), J. McPherson (Rockhampton), 
J. Kyle (Bowen), H. A. Jones (Maryborough), C. Marks (Bundaberg), and 
P. McLean, the last-named to be convener. It was also resolved that speakers 
discussing papers, &c., be limited to five minutes ; the reader of a paper to be 
allowed ten minutes to reply. 
Mr. V. C. Repwoop, of the Drayton and Toowoomba Agricultural and 
Horticultural Society, Toowoomba, then read his paper on— 
HOW TO GROW BARLEY FOR MALTING PURPOSES. 
[By V. C. Repwoop, Drayton and Toowoomba Agricultural and Horticultural Society.] 
Sort.—Soil is, without doubt. the first and most important part of the whole 
question. From all information obtainable, and from my own experience, I have no. 
hesitation in stating that the best barley is grown on light, loamy soil; and it is a 
noted fact that virgin soil is piste tle to any other, as none of the constituents: 
necessary for the production of first-class barley are taken out, and barley grown on 
virgin soil will decidedly make a superior malt and a better beer. No matter what 
cereal is grown, many of the nutritive substances in the soil are in part absorbed ; 
so, therefore, virgin soil gives the best results. Putting it in a few words, it comes to. 
this: The farmer gets a more prolific yield, the maltster makes a better malt, and the 
brewer consequently obtains a better beer. Barley is a cereal that lives near the 
surface, or, rather, its roots very rarely go down more than 6 inches. Therefore. 
the most profitable ground on which to grow malting barley is that with a friable 
surface, as it is more easy to cultivate, and will grow amore suitable grain than that 
which is grown on a stiff or waxy soil. It is an established fact, in all barley-growing 
