January i, 1885.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



5*r 



ROSELLA CULTIVATION. 



The cultivation of the rosella — hibiscussorbi folia — is adapted 

 for either large or small areas, and can be profitably grown 

 on an extensive scale. Two preservers are now advertising 

 that they are prepared to purchase this fruit in large 

 quantities, and seeing that it is so easily grown, the supply 

 in tlie coming season should be something like commensurate 

 with the demand. Now is the time to make a commence- 

 ment; the seed should be sown at once in abed for after 

 transplanting. Good seed that will germinate is hard to 

 grow in the South of Queensland, but it can be saved 

 plentifully in the North, and if ouly a few seeds germinate 

 the cuttings grow so readily that it is no difficult matter 

 to make a large plantation from a very few plants. Sow 

 seeds at once in a warm border where they can be easily 

 watered. Tread the seeds in firmly or roll them, and water 

 them at once, and in a week or ten days they will make 

 a start. When they are large enough to handle they may 

 be transplanted, always choosing moist weather for removal. 

 No very large number of plants i required for an acre, 

 for they should be planted 6 ft. apart, and almost any 

 description of worked soil will suit them. Over rich soil 

 is not good for them, as they grow too rank and straggling, 

 and are seldom in it sturdy and profitable. Moderately 

 rich soil suits them best, as deeply worked as possible to 

 give them a chance in a time of drought; for they will 

 not bear well if wanting moisture in fruiting time. The 

 time of bearing is May and June, anil whenever they may 

 be put in they invariably fruit about the same time. The 

 fruit when stripped of its pod and seeds is worth about 

 3d. per lb. retail, and preservers will give something like 

 that price, or 2s. to 2s. 6d. per lb. for the dried article. 

 Rosellas are easily dried, and iu that state can be kept 

 almost any length of time as good as when fresh gathered. 

 Eight pounds of the fresh fruit will dry into 1 lb., and 

 can be packed in a bale and brought in almost any distance 

 to pay. A bale of 1 cwt. of dried rosellas is worth about 

 £11. They can be dried on sheets of iron in the sun, or 

 in a cool stove oven. The rosella makes an excellent wine 

 for summer use, a very good syrup for flavouring summer 

 drinks, and can be preserved and made into jams and 

 jellies which will hold their own in competition with the 

 fruits of temperate climes. We believe there is money to 

 be made by growing the rosella, and recommend cultivators 

 who wish to turn their lands to account to plant an acrr 

 or so. The chief want is light labour to gather the fruit, 

 which should be done carefully with scissors, and then 

 the plants' may be kept in bearing for months. It is 

 indispensable that the rosella be grown in warm latitudes 

 to be productive aud lasting. — QueenslauJer. 



SANDY SOIL FOR AN ORCHARD. 



With a few modifications, the following, written by a 

 correspondent of the Country Gentleman, is quite applicable 

 to our Queensland climate: — 



I put sandy soil next to the best soil for fruit trees, 

 particularly fur an apple orchard. Only an alluvial loam 

 of the necessary depth and richness with perfect natural 

 drainage exceeds it, and this mainly on account of the fertility 

 it holds, being rich with ripe plant food . Hence a so ind 

 healthy growth results, both of wood and fruit. This healthy 

 condition, secured by drainage, is even more applicable to 

 sandy soil, which may be rendered fertile by proper treat- 

 ment. 



Next to drainage is depth of soil. Sandy soil allows the 

 roots to penetrate far beyond the reach of the frost and 

 drought, which so seriously affect shallow-rooting trees. At 

 this depth moisture never fails to be found, however dry 

 the surface may be, unless in very light soil. 



Such soil only needs manuring. There is no expense of 

 underdraining, and little in prepariug or cultivating. The 

 heiviest and longest-continued rains pass off readily, and 

 the manure they carry down is taken up by the roots, so 

 that little or no fertility is lost. I know of apple trees 

 in such soil that arc nearly a century old, with a reputation 

 of having been very productive, and that are still bearing 

 fruit. The grains and grasses, having comparatively short 

 roots, are readily affected by drought, particularly in our 

 dry, climate, ami hence unless the land is kept well manured 

 aud charged with vegetable matter there will be loss and I 

 (16 



sometimes total failure. The trees, under similar conditions, 

 sustain themselves, grow, and mature their crops. 



The most important thing with trees on sandy soil is 

 to get them started, as their roots are short like those 

 of the grains and grasses, and subjected to the sameinfluences, 

 the first year or two. With proper attention given to the 

 soil and trees during this time, the roots will make sufficient 

 depth to protect them against harm at the surface. Many trees 

 set in light soils perish. There is no need of this. Enrich the 

 soil with barnyard manure, and keep it well mulched with 

 green vegetable matter, which should be worked into the 

 soil when decayed, and a new mulch applied. In a severe 

 drought wrap the stems of the trees with hay, put some 

 hay among the branches, and apply water. In this way 

 the most severe drought may bo defied. 



Sandy soil as a soil for fruit trees has been under- 

 estimated. Like other soils, it has not only been neglected, 

 but the necessary enrichment withheld. Particularly has 

 the mode of application been wrong. The quantity should 

 by adjusted to the season's demand of the trees, thus leavinj 

 little to wash out during the winter and spring. The 

 application is to be made iu the spring, to supply the 

 small loss that may have occurred, and give the trees growth 

 when they most require it, and afterward sustain the fruit 

 growth. 



The healthiest of all soils is a sandy soil, growing the 

 healthiest wood and fruit, and adding" to the soundness 

 and flavour of the latter, secured, no doubt, by the more 

 ready admission of fresh rain water and air. — Queenslander 



BABUL BARK. 



TO THE EDITOR OF THE PIONEER. 



Sir, — A number of your correspondents have written 

 about halnil bark. One states that it would be expensive 

 to separate the seed from the pods. Might I ask how do 

 we separate bran from flour? The Bombay Forest Reports 

 put the cost of separation at R7 per ton. Another cor- 

 respondent declares that the Bombay tanners have to im- 

 port oak bark, therefore oak bark must be better than 

 babul or wattle bark. Why the tanners at home, who it 

 is presumed know their business, import acacia bark at 

 £16 per ton, and they will only pay £7 per ton for the 

 best English oak bark. Brown's Forester gives minute 

 directions for stripping bark. Cost at home with labour 

 at 2s. 6d. per day is put at £2 per ton; here cost with 

 labour at three annas should be at about R12 per ton for 

 an article worth about R120 in Bombay. If Major Stewart 

 would tell us a little of what he knows on this subject, 

 it would be a great help to those who propose speculating. 

 I habitually use shoes and slippers made of babul-tanned 

 leather, and they wear better than Mr. Waukenfast's at 

 any rate. Charles W. McMimr. 



MANGO CULTIVATION. 



TO THE EDITOR OF THE PIONEER. 



Sir, — The Englishman of September 13th contains a notice 

 of a proposal of Dr. Bouavia of Etawah regarding the 

 formation of an Imperial Mango Society. Your contem- 

 porary details what ought to be the aims of the Society. 

 As, doubtless, very many are interested in the cultivation 

 of mangoes, it will perhaps interest some of your readers 

 to know that many of the suggestions put forward by the 

 Calcutta paper have been taken in hand by Mr. Maries 

 of the Durbhanga Raj, who has been closely stud ing the 

 subject of mango culture, has pointed about 200 varieties, 

 and has, with the sanction of His Highness the Maharajah 

 of Durbhunga, commenced an extensive mango orchard or 

 garden which will contain careful selections of the very best 

 varieties of early and late mangoes. Mr. Maries expects 

 to be able by careful selection and cultivation to prolong 

 the mango season from May to October, and hopes to be 

 able to supply fruit even later. This orchard, though 

 planted for the use of His Highness the Maharajah, is in- 

 tended as a model for growers of this fine fruit. Mr. Maries 

 has, I believe, in hand a catalogue of the finest varieties 

 which he contemplates publishing for general reference, as 

 well as a manual for mango growers, which will contain 

 not only valuable information collected by Mr. Maries, 

 but the result of his own observations and the expeiiments 

 he has in view regarding improved cultivation, &c. As the 



