Rosewood History

From the Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Thursday 22 April 1869, page 3

AGRICULTURE IN WEST MORETON. WALLOON.

The first farms on the road to Walloon are at the Four-mile railway gate. On the right of the line are four Germans, who have altogether about 18 acres of cotton and corn promising very well. The caterpillar has done scarcely any damage in this neighbourhood.

Marsh, on the other side, has about 12 acres of cotton, Remelton 10, and Chaille about 6. These are all very free from insects, and promise a good return, although the wet has done them some damage. Weise, of Little Ipswich, has a patch of about 6 acres of corn and some flax growing on the roadside; both look very healthy.

Webb has about 18 acres under cotton and maize; the latter looks very well, but the cotton is of irregular and not very healthy growth. Morrow’s patch of about 8 acres, a little further on, is podding well, and a good many plants are still in flower; there is a little caterpillar in it, but nothing to do much damage.

Callaghan has about 6 of cotton and 1 of maize; it is tolerably free from caterpillar, and will, with fair weather, yield well.

The soil in the neighbourhood of Walloon is a light loam, and the cotton plants are of smaller growth than elsewhere, and afford very little shelter to insects, hence their scarcity in nearly all the farms.

John Hogan’s 6 acres are very good.

Schwartz, Horsmann, and Fogler, at the back of Callaghan, have 3, 4, and 2 acres respectively, clean and promising.

Further on, on the left of the road, is Rengelsten’s block of 12 acres of cotton, with a little maize interspersed; there are a few insects here, but the damage done is very slight; the farm is clean, and shows a good deal of care; a good crop is expected.

Wrenzel, in the same enclosure, has 4 acres remarkably fine, and showing signs of a first-rate return; this is also very clean.

Patrick and Michael Shea, on the slope of the next ridge, have about 12 acres each, about the average of the locality. The former has also 15 acres on the creek a short way off. This has been a good deal eaten by insects, and is not expected to yield more than half a bale to the acre.

Fitzgerald, next to Michael Shea, and close to the line, has about 8 of cotton and a little less of maize, both looking very well indeed. At the other side of the bridge over the creek Noonan’s two patches of about 12 or 13 acres are situated. These are fine looking plants, bearing well and giving promise of a good yield.

Guilfoyle has about 4 acres opposite; it is not looking so well.

After crossing the line at Walloon station Phelp’s farm is the first met with. Mr. Phelps has not been fortunate as a cotton-grower: his last crop was very poor, and this season does not promise well for him. Between the caterpillar and the wet he has lost a good deal, and does not expect more than half a bale to the acre. He has 7 acres pruned and 2 of new plants. His corn has also been eaten by the insects, but to what extent is not known.

Higher up the same road Patrick Toohey and James Dowden have 5 and 8 acres respectively, in about the same condition.

Mr. Bishop’s is the largest farm at Walloon. He has 33 acres of the cleanest and most promising cotton in the neighbour hood; he has spared no pains to keep it in good order; several bales have been picked. He is erecting a neat cottage on his adjoining land, and will soon add considerably to his cultivation.

Patrick Heffernan has 6 acres at the back of Bishop’s: it is also clean and bearing well.

Peters, a short way off, has 6 each of cotton and corn, likewise very good.

W. Baker has a solitary acre of very promising plants.

At the ten mile peg, on the railway line, Patrick Shea jun., has 8 acres of remarkably fine cotton, off which he had picked a good deal before the wet set in.

These are as far as we could ascertain the farms of this district. Preparations for cotton-growing are being made near the Rosewood gate, and probably there will be good deal more in next season. If the weather would become permanently fine the majority of the growers here would do well.