--,0 THE FLORA OF NORFOLK ISLAND, 



Fafsia papyri/era (Chinese rice-paper plant) grows wild in the 

 Mi->si.»n iiroimd. 



Mvrtle {Myrtns communis). 



Wwdodendron ponticum (a common sort). 



Ligfiiitnan Japonicum. 



Crotons. 



Jasminum Sambac. 



Franciscea. 



Xandina domestica. 



Hibhcus sinensis. 



Some other plants are referred to below in botanical sequence. 



Cereals and other Grasses. 



y\ii\7A\ — This is, uf course, one of the first crops ever grown on 

 the Tslantl. I was informed thai four sorts are principally 

 cultivated, viz. : — 



(1). Ninety-day. 



(2). Red (the sort commonly grown in the Island). 



(3). Wliite. 



(4). Red and white, with large flat grain. 



A little Sweet Corn and Pop Corn are also grown. 



T did not see a cob of any of the sorts, except No. 3, and, owing 

 to llie drought, which continued at the time of my visit, the maize 

 was in such a backward condition that I could form no opinion 

 as to the crops. I was informed that the Department of Agri- 

 culture had sent about 20 sorts of maize to the Island last year 

 for experiment, but all that I could ascertain from the people 

 was "Some did well and some did not." This little incident 

 tends to sliow that it is of little use conducting experiments 

 except under the auspices of some responsible official — say a 

 gardener in charge of a small experimental area. Maize is culti- 

 vated by most householders; it is used for fowl-feed, but very 

 rarely for horses. The horses are chiefly grass-fed, and most of 

 thcin do not know the taste of corn and will not eat it. 



A little pop corn is utilised, and some sweet corn is used as a 

 vegetable. The white corn, ground, mixed with a little flour and 

 milk into a "corn cake," is often used as an article of food. 



