June 1950 School Magazine

June, 1950

June, 1959

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

Owing to frost which caused many plants to drop, much · grain was lost. Besides sorghum, sunfl owers were planted and many miles of yellow haze were to be seen. Oil was extracted from the seeds. After the work was completed in each paddock, cattle were turned onto the stubble, which has proved excellent fodder. When the harvest was completed the grain was railed to Port Alma from where the las t of it was shipped late in the year, and fed to pigs. The scheme was partly successful, a lthough much more money was lost than was admitted. The Corporation plans to enlarge the scheme and more properties are being procured whenever possible. Vegetables are now being set, a long with a larger amoun t of sorghum. Another good season was experienced, and the harvesting is now being done once more and will continue for a few months . Although it seems a g reat p ity that a ll the sheep have been taken away, we all hope that the Scheme will go on to do great things. -;- JUDITH A. WALKER, Form IV A.

SUGAR

In the north of Queensland there is a word that is on everyone's lips - Sugar. .. Upon this product depends the wealth of the district, and around sugar cane their entire lives revolve. Despite this, many people in the South are ignorant of the manner in which sugar is produced. A cane inspector travels from farm to farm examining and grading the different types of cane. The farmer sends two or three sticks of cane from each grade to the mill 's laboratory where each sample is tested to find its sugar content. Before the ripe cane is cut, fire is put through the field. This burns away the dead trash, thus making the work of the cane-cutter much easier. After being cut the cane is loaded on to cane trucks, which are taken to the mill by locomotives. Before entering the mill each truck of cane is weighed, a nd the weight is put down agains t the name of the farmer. Each truck then enters the mill where it is hooked with chains to a p latform. A handle is turned, the p latform tips, and the cane falls from the truck into the carrier, wh ich slowly carries it upwards. On this upward journey it passes through revolving knives and is cut into small p ieces. These pieces pass through huge rollers where as much juice as possible is extracted. These crushing processes go on until there is absolutely no juice left. The waste matter is known as megass and is used fo r fu el. The juice has meanwhile been conveyed to huge boilers where it goes through many boiling stages. Gradually the liquid becomes thicker and g rains of sugar appear. This substance is transferred in to cylinders which revolve a t a great speed. The molasses is whisked away leaving the raw or brown sugar. The sugar is then conveyed through a slowly, rolling, cylindrical drum. From this the sugar falls through a cone into bags, which are sewn at the top by a machine. Later, these bags of raw sugar will be taken to the harbour from where they will be s hipped to southern refineries . CECILY WEST, Form IV.C. 33

- R. MALLON, Ili.F .

32