November i, 1884.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



sn 



Continent. In our own country the art of preserving timber 

 by subjecting the logs to the influence of salt water has 

 long been known, and is, in many sea-side districts, ex- 

 tensively practised even at the present time. There are 

 likewise exhibited models of rustic arbours and fences, a 

 collection of coins and seeds, specimens of dwarfing and 

 grafting, in which the Japanese are very accomplished, 

 and many other objects of interest which space will not 

 allow our dwelling on at present. — Gardeners' Chronicle. 



ECONOMIC PLANTS IN QUEENSLAND: BRISBANE 

 BOTANIC GARDENS. 



The annual report of Mr. Pink, the Head Gardener of 

 the Brisbane Botanical Gardens, which has recently been 

 published, contains many items of much interest. Ever 

 since the formation of the colony, these gardens have 

 played an important part in the fostering of agricultural 

 and horticultural pursuits. The amount and variety of the 

 plants which have been thence distributed to all parts 

 of the colony we are not in a position to state; that 

 they have been most extensive in quality and valuable in 

 their effects on our budding industry, is patent to all. 

 We notice that during last year between 4,000 and 5,000 

 economic plants have been distributed, including Coffea 

 Arabica, Coffea Liberica, Tliea boheu, Tlica Assamica, Vheo- 

 bvoma cacao, cinchona in several varieties, vanilla, Aleurites 

 vernicia, kc. Some 7,000 plants of various kinds, such as 

 trees, shrubs, and border plants, have also been supplied 

 for public institutions, such as Government offices, Queen's 

 parks and reserves, public recreation grounds, municipal 

 corporations, hospital grounds, State school grounds, and 

 the like. "We also note that the distribution of ornamental 

 pot plants have been almost entirely discontinued except 

 under special circumstances, as such plants can now be 

 obtained at trifling cost from any nurseryman. It is in 

 its vocation of distributing the various economic plants, 

 that these gardens have conferred the greatest benefit on 

 the colony ; and in that light we look on the facts con- 

 nected with these as of far more public importance than 

 on the work done in spreading merely ornamental trees 

 and shrubs. Mr. Pink gives us some very interesting facts 

 in reference to some of these matters which we lay before 

 our readers, without any apology, as being of almost 

 universal interest. 



Speaking of the distribution of economic plants, Mr. 

 Pink says: — "The distribution of economic plants has been 

 continued on a large scale, the demand for all kinds having 

 been unprecedented, especially for coffee. Economics being 

 made a speciality, no application for such plants is ever 

 refused, so far as they can be supplied ; and a stock of 

 coffee, tea, cocoa [Theobroma cacao), cinchona, vanilla, &c, 

 is always kept on hand ready for packing at a moment's 

 notice. A number of named grafted mangoes obtained 

 from India have been distributed amongst the most likely 

 growers in the North. Plants of the Brazilian nut (]l,ir!h<>!- 

 let'm excelsa) have been introduced, I believe for the first 

 time, but the demand for them was so great that not a 

 tithe of the applicants could be supplied. It is my intention 

 to apply for a further supply to the Royal Botanic Gardens 

 of Kov, to the authorities of which institution this colony 

 is greatly indebted for their prompt and liberal response 

 to all my applications for economic plants, many of which 

 it would be impossible to obtain from any other source." 

 Of the coffee in the Gardens he says:— "The coffee plants 

 in the Hardens here have again borne an excellent crop; 

 the present crop being estimated by several Ceylon and 

 Fijian planters who have visited the Gardens at' the rite 

 of 10 cwt. per acre. Coffee is being planted largely in 

 several districts, notably about Cairns and on the Blackall 

 Range. The latter district I intend visiting shortly to 

 collect ferns for foreign and intercolonial exchanges I 

 then hope to visit the coffee plantations there, to induce 

 the growers to plant cinchona, for which I think the dis- 

 trict should prove most, suitable." This brings us naturally 

 to the cinchona experiments, and on this head we learn 

 that cinchona still promises well. The plants put out 

 three years ago in the economic lie. Is are thriving admir- 

 ably. One plant of Cinchona officinalis is showing flower 

 freely; therefore we may hope for acclimatized seed. The 

 position of the cinchona planted in the Gardens being 

 rather luw, and being anxious to watch its development 



in a higher locality and under different conditions, I was 

 kindly permitted by Mr. A. J. W. Nightingale to plant 

 a plant in his garden on the high ridge of Breakfast 

 Creek. This plant (Cinchona succirubra) has made equally 

 good progress and is also showing flower, and these I 

 consider conclusive proofs that cinchona can be grown 

 almost anywhere in the neighbourhood of Brisbane— of 

 course the higher the elevation the better, and further 

 north I have no doubt it would become a great success. 

 Hitherto great difficulty has been experienced in raising 

 cinchona plants from seed. Cinchona seed of several varieties 

 has been imported and distributed throughout the colony, 

 but few have been successful in raising plants in any 

 quantity. In the Gardens here every known method as 

 carried out in Ceylon and South America, was tried for 

 some time without any uniform success; but we have 

 found the following plan successful with all varieties ; — 

 A flower-pot or seed-pan is filled with crocks or draining 

 material quite to the rim. On the top is placed dead 

 moss about an inch in thickness— sphagnum moss is best. 

 but any kind will answer. After the moss has been well 

 watered the seed is sown on the surface, sprinkled with 

 water, and the pot or pan placed in a warm position. Iu 

 about ten or fifteen days the seed commences to grow, 

 and when in rough leaf is pricked out, taking a little moss 

 with each plant. Then they require only ordinary care. 



Mr. Pink speaks quite as hopefully of the hop plant of 

 which he says :— " Experiments have also been made with 

 the hop plant (Bmmilits lumdus), with results far exceed- 

 ing my expectations. In the first season the produce has 

 been equal to 10 cwt. per acre. This is an extraordinary 

 production; in England 4 cwt. per acre the first year being 

 considered extremely good, and this confirms my opinion 

 that the hop might be cultivated in this colony with every 

 success, especially where irrigation can be resorted to." 



All these crops must be looked on, as yet, as largely 

 experimental. But the resources of the Botanic Garden 

 are not confined to economic plants while in this stage. 

 A great deal of most valuable work is being done iu the 

 way of distributing new and valuable varieties of sugar 

 cane, as many of our readers know. On this subject we 

 learn that over 100 tons were distributed last season. The 

 past season having been very dry, the cane has not made 

 its usual growth, but judging by comparison, it has done 

 exceedingly well. A large collection of about forty varieties 

 has been received from Mauritius. There being no ground 

 unoccupied at the nursery, the cane has been planted in 

 the Botanic Gardens until ground can be spared at t he- 

 nursery. Although all the varieties received from Mauritius 

 are uuder distinct names, it is quite possible some of them 

 may prove to be identical with kinds already cultivateo. 

 here under other names. 



Nor are economic and valuable timbers neglected. It 

 appears that at the Oxley Reserve, which, by the way is 

 quite occupied, there are now ready for transplanting about 

 :i0.00U trees of various kinds, including cedars, olives, silky 

 oak, English oak, English ash, poplars, and Moreton Bay 

 chestnut; also arrowroot-producing plants. 



All this is eminently encouraging. While this report 

 gives us some idea of the large and important work dis- 

 charged by the head gardener, it also indicates how wonder- 

 ful and varied are the agricultural resources of the colony 

 it is our good fortune to inhabit. Here we see efforts 

 being made, and that too with every prospect of success, 

 to introduce among our articles of staple produce crops 

 so far apart in original habitat as hops, coffee, cocoa and 

 cinchona. All of these are amongst the most valuable 

 and remunerative products of the soil, and all of them, 

 Mr. Pink's experiments prove to be adapted to our soil. 

 At least that much can now be said of the coffee, hop 

 and cinchona. 



While on this subject we note with much pleasure that 

 a long-felt want is about to be supplied. We are told 

 that "The Colonial Botanist (Mr. F. M. Bailey) has also pre- 

 pared a catalogue of all the plants growing "in the gardens, 

 which is now ready for printing. When published this 

 will be very serviceable to this establishment, especially iu 

 facilitating exchanges with other public gardens and corre- 

 spondents, and I would respectfully beg to recommend 

 that copies should be obtainable at as reasonable a cost as 

 possible, for the convenience and information of the public 

 and strangers visiting the gardens." 



