154 VEGETATION OF LORD HOWE ISLAND 



SOME MISCELLANEOUS INTRODUCED PLANTS 

 (CHIEFLY ECONOMIC). 



Coffee — There are two kinds, one from Norfolk Island and the 

 other from the Sydney Botanic G-ardens. The plant flourishes in 

 the sandy soil. 



Tea has failed, the island being too windy. . , 



Ginger has been grown by Mr. Edward King from rhizomes 

 brought from Fiji, but is now extinct. 



Capsicum frutescens, Linn. — " Bird's Eye Pepper, ' from Fiji, 

 also Chillies are grown. 



Tobacco grows like a weed, but is not utilised. 



Aleurites triloha, Forst. (Candle Nut,. — There is a young tree 

 of 8 or 10 feet in front of Mrs. T. Nicholls' house. Erroneously 

 called " Bread-fruit." 



Aloe sp. (Blue Aloe). — This Aloe is abundant. It was intro- 

 duced by Dr. Foulis for medicinal purposes, it is said. I brought 

 a plant over for cultivation in order to determine the species. 



jSLusa textills, Nees. (Fibre banana or Manilla hemp). — 

 Has been tried, but it grew too tall and the wind destroyed it. 



Cotton. — There is too much wind for this fibre-plant, the cotton 

 being blown out of the capsules. 



Sorghum is grown for pig-feed. Considerable quantities of 

 maize are grown; there are also patches of lucerne. 



Teosinte (JEuclilaena luxiirians). — I noticed a few plants of 

 this, but it has almost gone out of cultivation. The seed was 

 originally sent by Baron von Mueller. 



Dandelion (Taraxacum) was introduced by the late R. D. 

 Fitzgerald for the cattle. It has now spread over most of the 

 grass-land. It is, in fact, rapidly destroying the couch-grass in 

 places. 



Eucalyptus globulus, Labill. (Blue Gum of Victoria and Tas- 

 mania). — Inti'oduced by Mr. Nat Thompson about 14 years ago 

 as a shelter. The trees are 30 or 40 feet high. They cannot 

 stand the wind and are all dying back. 



Salix bahylonica, Linn. (Weeping Willow).— One plant only. 



