WHEAT ON THE DARLING DOWNS. (From the Queensalander.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1920, 4 December 1890, Page 8

WHEAT ON THE DARLING DOWNS. (From the Queensalander.)

It would be difficult to convince any stranger travelling on the Darling Downs at the present time that the history cf wheatgrowing in Queensland is that of an irregular succession of failures. We require, roughly speaking, about 2,000,000 bushels annually for our own consumption, and yet the supply raised on our wheat lands fluctuates between the low and high water marks of 10,000 and 200,000 bushels, Compared with what might be done, the record of yearly results is a dißmal one enough. * Since 1877 there have been six fairly good years and six thoroughly bad ones, but the average to the aore over the whole period should have led to greater efforts to increase the output. In 1880 the total harvest was 223,243 bushels, or an average of 17*68 to the acre ; in 1887 it was 182,308 bushels, with an average of 2210. List year the figures were 155,166 bushels, or 18*4 to the acre, but none of these averages, good as they are, give the slightest idea of the capacity of some of our lands. ' Near AUora and Warwick there are belts of country capable of doing almost anything asked of them, if such impossibilities as laughing into harvest at the tickling of a hoe be excepted, but, owing to want of enterprise as well as to lack of encouragement, the Downs farmers remain in much the same position, if, in fact, they are not in a worße Bfcate than before. Chief among their disabilities is the enormous cost of transport from the inlaad wheat-grower to the miller on tin coa^t, while tha same reason would diminish tho chanoea of country-milled flour even if a demand for it existed. The 63tah lishment of flour mills an the coast wa« certainly intended to benefit tha country producer, but last year's import statistic.* point to the fact that Bupplie=3 of wheat hava to bo drawn from other colonies to prevent the milling machinery from rusting. In ISB9 the imports in wheat and flour were 109,588 bushels and 41,371 tons respectively, as against 16.541 bushels and 39,910 tonaiu 1888. The value of rhe latest year's tran&aotions was over £500,000 sterling. If we" could only see our way to grow the necessary grain on the Downs, an industry would quickly be established before which the importance cf sugar growiner would pale, but in order to progress towards such a state of things. It is necessary that tho State should have tho capacity of the Downs district proved, and that the farmers should bring all the evidence .of fertility at their command befoie those who can help them. As a slight beginning it would be a valuable objeot lesson to the metropolis if a specimen of the present magnificent standing crop qouW be; brought down by

rail, and the question of (freight might be reconsidered by the Railway Commissioners. If a sample of the actual crop were only brought down, we venture to think that any one familiar with the best wheat-growing districts of America and of the Old World would be simply astounded at the rich growth of cereals on the Downs, and the experiment would prove itself an invaluable advertisement.