Sheep, which totalled fewer than 31/2 millions in 1860, reached 71/4 millions in 1866, and 9 millions two years later. Thence till 1878 there was a series of fluctuations which brought the total in that year below 6 millions. But in 1882 the number had vaulted to over 12 millions, after which there was a descent to a little more than 91/4 millions at the close of the quarter-century. The year 1885 closed with a further decrease, but by 1887 the number had increased to nearly 13 millions. Three years later it reached 18 millions, and in 1892 it touched the record of nearly 213/4 millions. By 1900, which had been preceded by bad seasons, the number of sheep had dropped to 10-1/3 millions, and in the second year of the twentieth century the low-water mark of less than 71/4 millions was touched. Since then there has been a rapid increase, and the numbers in 1908 had recovered to 18,348,851, or within 3,359,459 of the record number of seventeen years ago. It must be mentioned that, while scanty rainfall on the Western pastures was accountable for much of the depletion in stock numbers, overstocking and absence of possible provision for bad seasons had much to do with the losses incurred. However, the second quarter-century will close with flocks in number almost equal to those of 1892, and with fleeces immensely more valuable than the pastures then carried, and the stock-carrying capacity of the country has also been much increased by fencing, water conservation, and artesian wells. Pigs are also becoming a valuable asset of the Queensland dairy farmer. In 1860 they numbered 7,147; at the close of the quarter-century, 51,796; and in December, 1908, 124,749. [Illustration: HAULING TIMBER, BARRON RIVER, NORTH QUEENSLAND] DAIRYING. The phenomenal growth of the dairying industry is shown by the table headed "Dairying." It shows that, whereas in 1860 10,400 lb. butter were imported and 450 lb. exported, in 1908 there were 23,838,357 lb. made, 13,752,118 lb. exported, and only 201,924 lb. imported. Even in 1896 Queensland could hardly be accounted a butter-exporting country, when the shipments were only 13,942 lb., the imports 1,003,680 lb., and the quantity made 6,164,240 lb., for in that year the excess of imports was 989,738 lb.; while in 1908 the excess of exports was 13,550,194 lb., or more than a moiety of the amount manufactured. Of cheese, in 1896 the quantity made was 1,921,404 lb., whereas in 1908 it had increased to 3,199,510 lb., and the amount exported was 732,090 lb., the excess of exports over imports being 685,629 lb. Twenty-five years ago the excess of imports over exports was 1,068,033 lb., which meant that there were practically no exports. Even in 1896 the cheese exported totalled only 8,505 lb. It is evident that the dairying industry in Queensland is yet only in its youth, and that in another quarter of a century the exports of both cheese and butter will have increased enormously. SUGAR PRODUCTION.