292 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ocr., 1902. 
ARROWROOT MACHINE. 
Aw Apert River I'armMER— 
Question —Would you kindly tell me how to make cheap machine for 
grinding arrowroot? I only grow a little, but the work of grating 
it is too slow. I am told you made one once and described it in one 
of your Journals, but I cannot get that Journal. 
Answer.—Our primitive machine was constructed thus :—First, a log of 
about 2 feet in diameter and 8 feet long was hollowed out by axe 
and adze into the form of a trough. At the head of this trough 
was fixed a framework much like the wooden stand of a grindstone, 
only of course, much taller. A large wheel was then cut from a 
perfectly sound gum log, 3 feet in diameter and 1 foot wide. Tin- 
plates, turned into graters (requiring frequent renewal) by 
punching holes in them with a flat wrought-iron shingle nail, were 
nailed onto the edge of the wheel, to which a stout wooden axle and 
windlass handle were attached. ‘The wheel was fixed so as to revolve 
in the water with which the trough was filled. 
On top of the framework was a wooden hopper in which the 
washed bulbs were placed, falling on the grater wheel. One man 
turned this with ease, and the bulbs were rapidly grated and fell 
into the trough in the shape of pulp and starch. The former was 
removed with a scoop and the latter subsided to the bottom. The 
water was then gradually drawn off by removing pegs inserted into 
the lower end of the trough. The starch was then dug out and 
washed in the usual way. Such a machine is quite good enough for 
making arrowroot for home use. It would also be useful for 
grinding cassava. 
VARNISH FOR TANK, Erc. 
Joux Nest, Toronto Farm, Coolabunia, Nanango— 
Question 1.—Will you let me know where I can get a sort of varnish to 
make a cemented tank watertight, called waterglass ? 
Answer 1.—Messrs. Elliott Bros., Eagle street, Brisbane, can supply 
waterglass at 3d. per Ib. 
Question 2.—Is there a sort of banana which will fruit on the high lands 
up here; if so, where is it to be obtained ? 
Answer 2.—Mr. A. H. Benson says:—There is too much frost at 
Coolabunia to permit of the cultivation of the banana on a com- 
mercial scale. A few plants might, however, be planted in sheltered 
positions for home use. Only one variety is likely to thrive—viz., 
the Common Plantain. Suckers of this variety can be obtained 
from any district in which bananas are grown, although not in 
quantity, as it is not extensively grown. Mr. Duhs, Walloon, grows 
more of this variety than anyone I know of. 
Question 3.—Has a man the right to make an article which has been 
patented, in exactly the same form for his own use? 
Answer 3.—No person may manufacture a patented article for which 
Letters Patent are still in force, unless under license from the 
patentee. 
