98 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Aue., 1902. 
REPORT ON WORK—QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 
. MAY, 1902. 
Farm.—No change has taken place in the weather since last report. We 
have experienced warm and windy days, with cool nights, but no frosts. The 
rainfall for the month was °04 inches for two days. We still have plenty of 
dry grass upon which the live stock appear to hold out well, no hand feeding 
being done with the exception of the milch cows and the working horses. 
“Work on the farm: Grubbing, stumping, and burning 30 acres in the Gatton 
paddock, the large green trees being pulled down by means of the “ forest 
devil.” A number of stumps on the hill near the stables were also grubbed 
and burnt. A large quantity of sawdust was carted from Gatton for bedding. 
The breaking up of 15 acres in the sheep paddock was completed, and the 
40-acre creek paddock was cross-ploughed. Finished the manuring of No. 6 
ila of 5 acres, at the rate of 26 tons to the acre, 4-acre being left unmanured 
or comparison. ‘Three acres of plot 3 were also manured. Drills were made 
in plot 6, so that advantage may be taken of the first rainfall by planting 
without delay. During the last week of the month 10 acres of malting barley 
were planted in 40-acre paddock. The clearing and grubbing of new 30-acre 
paddock is almost finished, making a total of 75 acres rendered fit for culti- 
vation during the last two months. 
Garden.—Vhe orchard and vineyard are now beginning to feel the effect 
‘of the long-continued dry weather, but the constant cultivation benefits them 
considerably. In the garden a great deal of planting has been done, seeds of 
kohl rabi (8 varieties), beetroot (2 varieties), turnips, radishes, peas, and 
parsnips having been sown. All the above have been irrigated, and a marked 
improvement has been noticed. Several rows, each containing from 80 to 100 
plants of cabbages, cauliflowers, and broccoli, have been planted out. Cab- 
bages, cauliflowers, kale, onions, and lettuce have been kept well irrigated, no 
other form of watering being of much value. ‘The spray pumps have been 
kept going, using Paris green and tobacco water for grubs, aphis, &c., which 
have attacked the cabbages from time to time. Two rows of Burpee’s Surehead 
and Drumhead cabbage, planted in February, have done well, the ayereee 
weight per head being 11 lb. They had been well watered during their growth, 
and a little liquid manure, chiefly urine from the stable, occasionally used. 
Twenty-four loads of manure were carted to the garden, spread, and ploughed 
m. Owing to the dry weather, a very great deal of irrigation has been neces- 
sary, this having given much work. On the whole the vegetable garden never 
looked better, and is much admired by visitors. 
_ Dairy.—During the month 1,162 gallons of milk were converted into 
butter for a yield of 505 lb., and 460 gallons were supplied to the dining-hall. 
Forty-eight head of cows were milked daily, and were fed morning and night 
on wheaten straw chaff, which had been steamed, and to which molasses had 
been added at the rate of 4 1b. of molasses to each cow daily. On one occasion, 
when the molasses ran short, a considerable decrease in the milk yield was 
noticeable, and also when the chaff was fed unsteamed. I strongly advise those 
who feed dry chaff to steam it before feeding to milch cows. This may be done 
at little cost, as follows:—Make a frame of 6 by 1 foot boards, high enough to 
hold the required quantity, and place on a wooden floor, when boiling water 
mixed with molasses should be added in sufficient quantities to cause the stuff 
to become soft and succulent. Whilst steaming, cover with a sheet which may 
be made of old bags. The herd was also allowed to graze for three hours daily 
on the lucerne and paspalum plots. The natural increase during the period 
was 2 grades and 3 Shorthorns. We disposed of 13 head of fats to 
a local butcher at a satisfactory figure. The stud bull, Lord Harry, has been 
sent to the Biggenden State Farm. ae 
'  Piggery.—The increase for the month comprised 8 Berkshire boars and 
7 sows, and 7 Mid. Yorkshire-Berkshire cross. During the month we 
disposed of 10 pedigree pigs for breeding purposes, including 3 ‘Berkshire 
boars, 5 sows, 2 Mid: Yorkshire boars; also 4 fats for factory purposes. 
We killed for curing 14 head of baconers. 
