No. 7.-Blue mark on rump.

Merino ewe; broken mouth; poor condition; skin and eye, healthy; pulse, 70, weak; temperature, 105°; blood, microscopical examination, healthy; evacuations, normal.

Has had no food. Gave her chopped weed with a little chaff. Ate
a third of this by morning.

Left feed by her and gave water to drink.
Had eaten up clean.

Gave weed, uncut, and without chaff.

Has eaten two-thirds; took away remains.
Gave fresh weed only.

Eaten most of it; shows no ill effects.

Gave another feed; weed only.

Not eaten up clean; clear away.

Fresh weed given; eat all to-day.

Fresh weed given. Cleared up, and is lively and in perfect health. Gave some chaff, which she ate, but not readily. Altogether, she has had 8 lb., and is none the worse in any way whatever.

Appendix II.

In support of my views, I add the opinions of the following stock-owners :— The Queensland authorities were very strong in their opinions of its being a fatal and poisonous weed; but, judging from a recent letter, the views of Mr. Chief-Inspector Gordon are changing. He says about Euphorbia Drummondii :-"From what we have seen here, no results of any value will follow the feeding of sheep on that plant.' further says:-"We have immense quantities of Euphorbia Drummondii in Queensland, and sheep eat it in any quantity, and with no evil results."

He

In order to confirm my opinion, I have, from time to time, asked stock-owners to make careful observations of its effects under ordinary conditions on their runs, and having received written statements that support my views, I annex extracts from their letters, and take this opportunity of thanking them for courteously supplying the information. Devlin & Co., Ganmain :-" Our sheep have picked out this weed from amongst other grass, and have eaten it ravenously, and no ill effects have resulted. Sheep have been fed exclusively on this weed with no ill effects. The herbage in the paddocks where the milking-cows were kept last year was entirely composed of this weed, and no harm resulted."

Mr. J. Holloway, Mumbledool:"It is first-rate feed for our station sheep. During the drought this run was badly off for feed, and stock were very weak. In several small paddocks which had been eaten completely out, and the sheep removed, after a long spell and a little rain this plant came up and grew luxuriantly, spreading in some instances to 12 inches from the centre. Into one of these paddocks I put a few hundred of our best ewes; they were very hungry, famishing in fact, and were yarded the previous night; they eat the Euphorbia Drummondii ravenously, and had a good bellyful right away, without seeking for anything else. These sheep were left in the same paddocks for weeks, and did firstrate the whole time, although there was little or nothing but the plant in question for them. I am satisfied it is in no way injurious to sheep, and consider it a good, useful plant."

Mr. J. E. Warby, Billenbah :-"This plant grows more or less over my estate of 8,000 acres, and on 50 acres that had been irrigated it grew very abundantly, from plants half the size of the hand to a foot in diameter. I have had horses, cattle, and sheepfive or six to the acre-in the paddock for several weeks at a stretch, and have noticed cattle and sheep eat large mouthfuls of it, and none of my stock suffered from it in any way."

E

Mr. D. M'Larty, Bundure :-"There is a large quantity of the plant growing over the run here, and when other feeds were scarce stock could get plenty of this said poisonous plant. I never considered it poisonous, and never saw any bad results from it.'

Mr. P. R. Brett, Inspector of Stock, Urana, formerly believed the plant to be poisonous, and consequently has taken a good deal of trouble, and made several experiments to satisfy himself. He shut up 400 wethers in a yard for two days, and then turned them into a paddock full of this weed, and next day he could not find one sick sheep, and he says:-"The fact is, in place of this plant being a poisonous one, I think it is a very valuable one, being the first to show above ground after summer rain. A small lot of sheep for killing purposes are doing very well on this weed and crowsfoot, no grass."

Mr. Geo. Faithfull, Brewarrina :-"I have frequently observed cattle eating it in large quantities, and have watched individuals, but have never observed any effects. It cannot be poisonous, or numbers of my cattle would die."

Mr. J. H. Spiller, Tubbo :-"My experience proves that it is perfectly harmless. I had a paddock covered with it, and was afraid to put sheep in; at last I ventured to do so; the sheep ate it, and thrived well on it."

Mr. David M'Caughey, Coree :-"I have a great deal of this so-called poison plant on the run, and never find any loss of stock or bad effect from them eating it. Paddocks that have had a spell, after the first summer rains, throw up an immense quantity of this milk-weed. I generally put my most valuable sheep in these paddocks, and find they do splendidly on the fresh green feed, of which this milk-weed forms a very large proportion."

Mr. Angus Robertson, Yarrabee Park :-"As to the so-called poison plant, I have really known sheep to thrive on it."

Mr. Arthur Devlin, Uarah :-"I penned some sheep, and fed them on Euphorbia Drummondii for about a week. They appeared to be very partial to it, and were thriving on it. I also put a large number of sheep into a paddock where there was an abundance of it growing very luxuriantly, and the sheep devoured it without any injurious effect." Mr. J. A. Gunn, Yalgogrin Station :-"I have seen the ground covered with the plant after autumn rains, before grass had time to spring, and sheep feeding on very little else for weeks without the slightest harm resulting, either to station stock or to travelling sheep.'

Mr. W. J. Elworthy, Inspector of Stock, Narrandera :-"The plant was growing all over the recreation reserve, and I watched to see its effects on a flock of sheep that had eaten it, but no ill results followed."

Cultivation of Broom Millet for Manufacturing Purposes.

BY A. A. DUNNICLIFF,
Department of Agriculture.

HAVING been asked to furnish a little information respecting the cultivation of millet for broom and brush-making, I must state, in the first instance, that there is not an unlimited market for the product, and I do not advise a large section of our farmers to rush into millet growing; but still there is plenty of room for many more of our settlers, who are favourably situated as regards soil and climate, to cultivate this crop before the demands of our local markets may be overtaken. The only reason that I can give, why our farmers do not produce sufficient material for making all the brooms required here, instead of allowing thousands of pounds to be annually sent out of the country for that purpose, is that they do not know how readily they might secure the money for themselves and their families.

It is a crop almost as easily and simply grown as a crop of hay; the labour is light, the outlay to secure it is trifling, and the profits good; with a careful and intelligent grower they are very good.

The soil most suitable for the growth of millets, is an alluvial, or a rich strong loam capable of being worked up fine; but almost any well-wrought farm lands which will carry good maize, potatoes, and the ordinary crops, will answer very well for millet.

It is necessary that the land for this crop, especially if intended for broom making (and I shall keep this latter point in view all through my remarks), should be very well prepared, and clean. It should have one or two good deep winter ploughings, and cross-ploughings, with harrowings, to pulverise it, and bring it up to a good tilth.

Sowing may commence at any time after the beginning of September, and be continued as opportunities permit, all through the Spring and into the Summer; but as the early sowings give the finest crops both in quality and quantity, it is in the interest of the farmer to earnestly endeavour to get this crop planted, and well established as early in the Spring as he can. The land having been well and finely wrought, and rolled down, the drills be struck out at 3 feet, or 3 feet 6 inches apart, and about 4 inches deep.

may

The seed does not require a large amount of moisture to germinate it, but if the season inclines to be dry, the drills should not be kept long open, or needlessly exposed to the sun or drying winds before sowing and covering in. After the drills are closed, a light roller should go over, to help retain any moisture in the land. If only a small acreage is to be planted the sowing of seed may be done by hand, through the fingers, and with very

little practice a youth may sow, almost at his usual walking pace; or the seed may be mixed with dry earth or ashes, &c., and sown through an old teapot or other utensil.

Should this hand-sowing be found tedious, and machine-work be preferred, the seed may be sown quickly and well by using the "Planet Junior Seed Drill," a cheap and most effective machine, the work of which leaves almost nothing to be desired.

Care should be taken to let the seeds drop regularly in the drills, and for the plants to stand about three inches apart in the rows, should the land be in good heart. If, however, the land is inclined to be light, or poor, then less seed must be put in so that the plants may be further apart; otherwise they will not develop freely, and the heads will not attain the desired length and perfection which alone brings the highest price in the market.

Cultivation.

As soon as the drills or rows are discernible, the crop should be cleaned by running the scarifier or horse-hoe between them, and working close up to the plants. This will not merely kill all the weeds but will greatly stimulate the growth of the young plants. Then, should the plants stand too thickly, the weaker ones may be pulled or cut out with the hoe, leaving the strong ones to grow on. With a thick growth the heads are frequently stunted and

inferior.

When the young plants are six to nine inches high, they should be hilled, or earthed up, in the same manner as maize, potatoes, &c. Whether this is done at one operation or two, may be left to the discretion of the grower; but it is necessary that it be done early (earlier than is usual with maize), and before the surface roots extend between the rows, which they do very quickly. If possible, this should be done immediately after rain, or whilst the dew is on the crop in the early morning. The intervening space may be occasionally scarified to keep the ground clean, and the soil loose. This may be continued during all the time the crop is making its growth.

the

Beyond the foregoing, no special attention is required, until such time as crop is arriving at maturity, usually four to five months after sowing.

Harvesting and Curing.

In selecting the time for cutting this crop, the grower must exercise as much judgment as in determining what day he shall cut his wheat or hay. Presuming the crop is being grown for manufacturing purposes, it will reach its greatest perfection when the seed is properly formed and filling; but be fore the grain hardens or the seed stems colour. Should the seeds, either by negligence or accident, be allowed to fully ripen, as in the case where the crop is grown specially for the seed grain, the seed stems become pithy and brittle, and of little or no value for manufacturing purposes.

In the work of cutting, boys of fourteen or fifteen years may be employed, and are usually as good and quick as men. The heads are bent down by the cutter, and taken off with a strong knife, leaving about four to six inches of the stalk attached. A labourer follows and cuts down the stalks from which the heads have been removed, and they are left on the ground until ready for burning, or otherwise disposed of. The heads when cut are placed in small thin heaps, on some of the fallen stalks in preference to the ground, and allowed to dry in the open air for a couple of days, or if the weather

permits, until they attain a bright silvery colour. Field-curing may be facilitated by frequent turnings. The crop is then removed to a large shed and stacked until it is convenient to strip off the seed.

Should the weather not allow of the crop being cured in the field it must be carted to the shed and spread out on benches, or straddles, or the floor (say) about 6 inches deep, and then must be turned every day. When cured in this way-and some maintain that this is the proper one-the crop retains a light green tint, which is desired by some manufacturers, who will sometimes pay a higher price for it, according to his special trade or work. It is not usual, however, to adopt this plan, unless weather conditions compel it, because a very much larger shed is required for this purpose, and a great deal of extra labour is entailed. But whatever system of curing the grower may select, he must make every effort to give his product a fine colour, as it so largely influences its selling value.

Hackling or stripping the seed off the heads is the next operation. For this purpose a small machine is necessary, consisting of a rapidly-revolving roller or drum, studded with iron teeth, about 2 inches or 2 inches long. The heads are not put through the machine in the same manner as the cereal crops with the ordinary thresher, but are merely inserted to the depth requisite for cleaning off the seeds and then withdrawn, the work being effectively and expeditiously done, and the pins or stems remaining unbroken or otherwise injured.

The cost of this machine, or "hackler," is from 55s. to 70s. for handpower, and from £8 10s. to £10 for horse. The former is sufficient for a farmer growing only a few acres, and the work of hackling may be done at any time when most convenient, provided the heads are dry enough.

The heads being now ready for sale are tied in bundles or put into bales and pressed. The sizes of bales most liked are those weighing 400 lb. to 500 lb. each.

General Remarks.

The foregoing particulars contain the salient points connected with the cultivation of this easily-managed and profitable crop; but at the same time there are a few other matters deemed worthy of consideration by intending growers. The cultivation of millet for manufacturing purposes, simple as it appears, is like most other things-in the fact that if it is worth doing at all it is worth doing well; and the man who combines care in details with industry, is the one who will find it most profitable.

The following points should be watched as essential to success :-
The selection of a good strain of seed.

An early and favourable planting,

Constant attention in harvesting and curing.

Systematic baling, according to quality.

Seeds.

In dealing with the first it may perhaps be necessary to state that some varieties of millet are more suitable for our present object than others; and it will be in the interests of farmers to study the wants of buyers, and produce accordingly. When a farmer has got a good strain of seed, and one that suits his requirements, it is wise for him to pay some little attention to the production of seed for his own purposes at least. This may easily be