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THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST 



[March 2, 1885. 



this as that of the leading market gardeners in the different 

 things they cultivate, rot-plants, Grapes, and culinary 

 vegetables, in their hands, alike show what can be done 

 by the use of different manures. The extraordinary 

 growth and profusion of flowers present in plants grown 

 in pots small out of all proportion to the plants they hold - 

 such as may be seen in thousands in any of the leading 

 market gardens— and the astonishing weight of highly- 

 finished Grapes which Vines under their management 

 annually produce, are conclusive evidence of what can be 

 done by the use of different manures, each rich in some 

 or other of the various elements required to give the 

 highest results attainable with the plants and fruits in 

 question. It is scarcely necessary to point to the practice 

 named as being diametrically different to the course often 

 followed with vegetable crops in old gardens, where for 

 a generation or more nothing "has been done but the annual 

 application of stable manure, with possibly the occasional 

 addition of vegetable mould in some shape or other, and 

 with Vines that have had their roots for an indefinite 

 time in borders with nothing to assist them beyond a 

 repetition of the same manure, in which horse-droppings 

 are all but the sole ingredient. Not that there is room to 

 find fault with this well-proved fertiliser, that has the 

 further merit of being readily obtained and easily 

 applied, but it does not alone contain all the elements 

 required to reach the highest standard in the cultiv- 

 ation of the plants under notice, particularly in soil that 

 has been, with little change, long uuder the same kind 

 of crop. The highest residts attainable in the cultivation 

 of the various plants here noticed, and of most others, 

 can only be reached by providing them with mixed looil, 

 varied according to the requirements of the different things 

 to be grown, ami still further regulated by the nature of 

 the particular soil with which the cultivator'has to deal. 



This is a subject which young gardeners who feel an 

 interest in the advancement of the pursuit would do well 

 to direct their attention to. The great body of those en- 

 gaged in agriculture in this country have long been taunted 

 with groping their way, rather thau making acquaintance 

 with sound practice. But the schoolmaster, in the shape 

 of the experimental chemist, is now abroad in earnest, and 

 there is abundant evidence that the intelligent portion 

 of those who cultivate the broad acres have their eyes 

 wide open to receive the lessons taught and put them 

 in practice. Gardeners collectively would do well to 

 avail themselves of the teaching, which, taken in a 

 broader s-nse, is equally applicable to the crops they 

 • iiltivate. — T. B. — Gardeners' Chronijle. 



The Soil ok New South Y?ales.— The Colony contains 

 an abundance of soil of the richest description for the 

 support of a very large population, when the conditions 

 shall be more favourable for the pursuit of agriculture, 

 for which in most districts the climate is very suitable. 

 On the coast strip eastward of the dividing range there 

 is a large area of very rich land in the river valleys. 

 It has been extensively cleared, and in the southern 

 part of the Colony is mostly uuder Lucerne, Corn, and 

 Potatos. and yields immense crops. On the northern river- 

 fiats splendid crops of Sugar-cane are grown, as well as of 

 Corn. The Tobacco-plant flourishes on this strip of laud, as 

 well as almost all the cereals and fruits of temperate and 

 semi-tropical climates. Wheat crops formerly were grown 

 extensively here, but for many years past the area planted 

 with Wheat has been very much reduced, owing to the 

 extrme liability of the grain to rust when coming into ear. 

 It is this that, has doubtless rendered the production of Wheat 

 in the Colony so far behind the yield of the southern 

 Colonies. However, when we get on to the table-lands 

 we find a large area of soil of very rich quality among 

 the surrounding rucks and country of granite formation, 

 and this promises to be the future granary of the Colony. 

 At present the yield of the crops in some instances 

 amounts to as much^as HO and 10 bushels per acre from 

 the virgin soil of this part of the Colony. Here flourish 

 the English fruits -Gooseberries, Cherries, Currants, and 

 the like. As yon go further westward the climat ■ becomes 

 less and less favourable for agriculture, owing to the un- 

 certainty of the rainfall, and, as far as present appear- 

 ance indicate, the great sail -bush plains of the interior. 



unrivalled for fattening stock, will for generations to 

 come be chiefly devoted to that pursuit. With regularity 

 of seasons agriculture might be possible, but the rainfall 

 is very irregular in that part of the colony. Briefly 

 summed up, we may say that the coast climate and soil 

 favour the production of almost all kinds of vegetation 

 found in temperate and semi-tropical regions ; that the 

 table-lands, with a magnificent climate, will produce all the 

 cereals and fruits of the temperate zone; while away west- 

 ward are hundreds of thousands of square miles of the 

 finest stock-fattening country to be found in any pari 

 of the world. — Gardeners 1 Chronicle. 



Oranges Induced by Cultivation. — Interesting examples 



of the leaves of Sagittaria' montevidensis were exhibited 

 by Mr. W. T. Thiseltou Dyer before the Linnean Society, 

 on December 4. The small leares were from a plant raised 

 from seeds collected in Chili by Mr. John Ball, F.R.S., and 

 sent to Kew in 1883; these were grown in a pot half sub- 

 merged iu the Nyrophsea tank. The enormously large leaf 

 and spike were those of a plant raised from seeds ripened 

 J at Kew and sown in the spring of 1884. When strong 

 enough the plant was planted in a bed of muddy soil. 

 j kept staturated by means of a pipe running from the Led. 

 1 to the Nymphiea tank. The changes thus induced were 

 ] so great and remarkable as regards size and general facies, 

 ! that without exaggeration, anil if their history had not 

 been known, they might have been deemed plants of 

 I widely seperate genera. — Gardeners 1 Chronicle. 



Tea Planting in Assaji.— Some sound advice is given in 

 ' a book by Mr. Barker! -A Tea-planter's Life in Assam") : 

 | to any man, saj-s Mr. Barker, thinking of emigrating 

 ; to Assam on the speculative chance of finding something 

 i to do, with no situation to step into on arriving at his 

 I journey's end, '"my advice is. let him exhaust all his 

 available interests to obtain something to do at home, 

 even though it he put a poorly paid office." Compar- 

 atively large salaries are occasionally offered in Indian 

 advertisements for billets in Assam and other up-country 

 regions, equivalent to £150 per annum to begin with ; 

 but the author warns that this amount just enables a 

 man to live, and that is all ; and good living is an absolute 

 necessity to fight against the treacherous climate. The 

 life is much harder than that required by any regular 

 home profession or trade, the hours are severe and ir- 

 regular, the vaiiations of temperature very trying, and 

 there is an ever-present unquenchable thirst which re- 

 quires superhuman restraint, as to drink in the home 

 sence is to die. — Field. 



Japan Plum.— The Plum was exhibited before the Fruit 

 Commitee on October 14 last, by Mr. Bull. The fruits 

 attracted much attention, being much more like Nectarines 

 in colour than Plums, though, it is true, more elongated 

 in form. The flesh is firm, yellow, and of good flavour, 

 and as Mr. Bull received the fruit direct from California, 

 whence it arrived in good condition, nothing further need 

 be said as to its qualifications as a traveller. The tree was 

 introduced from Japan to California in 1871. According 

 to the Pacific Rural Press, the tree is very prolific, and 

 Messrs. Hammon & Co., of Oakland, who have propagated 

 it, claim for it these merits : — "1 . Its wonderful productive- 

 ness is unsurpassed by any other Plum, either native or 

 foreign. 2. It comes into bearing at the age of two to 

 three years, and continues with great regularity, blossoms 

 frequently appearing on yearling trees. It. The fruit is of 

 very large size, being from 7 to inches in circumference, and 

 specimens weighing dk oz. each, and it has a remarkably 

 small pit. 4. It is very attractive in appearance, being 

 of a rich yellow nearly overspread with a blight red, 

 with a lovely bloom. It is heart-shaped. It ripens from 

 first to last of September, at a most favourable time for 

 harvesting and marketing the crop, the larger part of the 

 Plum crop being gone. 5. It is of superb quality, melt- 

 ing, rich, and juicy ; in fact, to some tastes, at least, 

 lias a more satisfying flavour than any other Plum. For 

 cooking, jelly, or preserving inany manner it hasno equal. 

 Its large size renders the paring of the fruit as practic- 

 able as in the Peach, which is quite a novelty in the 

 line, ami excels all other canning Plums. As a dried 

 fruit it is destined to take the lead, equal to if not 

 surpassing the best dried Prunes or Peaches for drying 

 results." — GoJrdelws' Chronicle. 



