442 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Dzc., 1902. 
REPORT OF THE MANAGER, STATE FARM, BIGGENDEN. 
The spring months of the year were, on the whole, favourable for cultural 
operations, giving promise of a successful year which unfortunately did not eventuate. 
As the season advanced the usual rainfall was not experienced; instead, great heat 
and scorching winds prevailed, doing much damage to the maize, potato, and other 
crops. The attached meteorological table is evidence of the adverse circumstances 
under which all crops had to be grown, and experiments carried out. (Meteorological 
table attached.) , 
GENERAL EXPERIMENTS. 
Maizr—The following varieties experimented with were imported from 
America :—Legal Tender, Riley’s Favourite, Leaming, Golden Beauty, and Piasa 
Queen; the siliersm=vioe E. W. Horsetooth, Golden King, and Marly Yellow Dent, 
were Sto from locally procured seed. An area of a quarter of an acre was devoted 
to each variety. The seed was sown in rows, 4 feet 3 inches apart, with a distance of 
= andes between the seeds, in ground that had previously been worked to a depth of 
inches. 
Details of results obtained were published in the May issue of the Agricultural 
Journal (1902), p. 341, to which readers are referred. 
Barrgys.—The following varieties were sown in April and harvested in October :— 
Hallett’s Improved Chevalier, Sea of Azov, and Chevalier. A rather heavy fall of rain 
was experienced just before harvesting, and lodged them badly and somewhat spoiled 
the colour of the sample. The returns show that this crop is likely to do well in this 
district. Hallett’s Improved, 32 bushels per acre, 56 lb. per bushel. Sea of Azov, 
36 bushels per acre, 54 lb. per bushel. Chevalier, 32 bushels per acre, 56 1b. 
per bushel. 
On 22nd April further trial plots were again sown with Hallett’s Improved, Sea 
of Azoy. Chilian, and Nepaul. They showed up in little over a week, but have made 
very little growth since. 
Oats.—One acre each of artarian and Algerian was sown in March and cut for 
hay in October. The Tartarian gave a litttle heavier yield, but is somewhat coarser 
in the straw than Algerian. Both, however, made an excellent sample of hay. The 
exact returns cannot be given, there being no weighbridge on this farm. Approxi- 
mately the yield would be —Tartarian, 2 tons per acre; Algerian, a little under. A 
further sowing of the above varieties has again been made; but, owing to unfavour- 
able climatic conditions, they have so far made but little headway. 
Sorcuums.—These were put in by means of the Planet Junior Seed Drill, in 
rows 3 feet apart. The seed was sown on 15th October, at the rate of a little over 
2 lb. per acre. Very even germination resulted. The plants required scarcely any 
thinning-out. The drought affected the later stages of growth a good deal. They 
were cut in their green state and fed to the farm horses, proving a great stand-by 
during the continued dry weather. The following are the varieties experimented with, 
together with a few extracts from notes taken during growth :— 
Collier—Seed procured from America. Height, 6 feet. Yield per acre, 15 tons 
2cwt. 2 qr. Good fodder plant. E 
Folger’s Early.—Seed from America. Height, 6 feet. Yield, 15 tons per acre. 
Makes good fodder. ; 
Early Orange.—Seed from America. Height, 7 feet. Yield, 17 tons 0 cwt- 
3 qrs. Well known variety. Very good cropper. 
Saccharatum.—Height, 6 feet 6 inches. Yield, 15 tons 2 ewt. 2 qr. Very well 
nee variety. Does not make a good fodder, the stalks being of a fibrous and woody 
nature. 
Egyptian.—More useful as a seed producer than a fodder crop. Height, 4 feet 
6 inches. Yield of green stuff, 6 tons. Yield of seed, about 18 bushels per acre. 
Brown Dhowra.—Same remarks as applied to Egyptian. 
Giant Honduras.—Late variety, very strong stooler and heavy flag. Did not 
come to maturity owing to lack of moisture. Height, 4 feet 6 inches. Yield, 12 tons 
per acre. 
Planter’s Friend—Another well known variety. Height, 5 feet 9 inches. Yield, 
15 tons per acre. 
Amber Cane.—One of the best. Height, 6 feet 6 inches. Yield, 17 tons 4 cwt. 
per acre. 
White Kafir Corn.—Grown principally for seed. Height, 4 feet. Yield of seed, 
about 25 bushels per acre. 
