86 INTRODUCTION OF ECONOMIC PLANTS 



FIBRES. 



Cotton (Gossypium spp.) 



Cotton was one of the earliest crops grown, for we 

 find that in the year 1827, thirty acres were under 

 cultivation at a branch joenal settlement at Strad- 

 broke Island. After this settlement was broken up, 

 a lapse of some years occurred before resumption. 

 In 1861, the following varieties were growinsr in the 

 Brisbane Botanic Gardens :— 



Sea Island (G. barbadense). Chester, New Orleans, 

 Honduras. Boyd's Prolific and Dean's. 

 Upland {G. hirsutvm). Patte's Gulf and Peruvian. 

 In 1862, samples grown in various localities from 

 Cleveland to Rockhampton were sent to the Inter- 

 national Exhibition, London. In 1869, 14,000 acres 

 were being cultivated. For several years prior to 

 1889. very little was grown, but the industry was 

 again revived in that yesiT. when the Department of 

 Agriculture imported and distributed a large quantity 

 of American seed to farmers in the West Moreton 

 District. In 1908, the xoroduction from 540 acres 

 was 17,5211bs. 



Jute (Corchorus capsularis and C. olitorius). 



Growing in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens in 1862. 

 During 1876 and 1877 the Acclimatisation Society 

 endeavoured to start this industry by distributing 

 about half-a-cwt. of seed to growers in localities from 

 Brisbane to Mackay. 



New Zealand Flax {Phormium tenax). 



Growing in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, and in 

 the garden of the Hon. Louis Hope, at Cleveland, in 

 1861. 



Manila Hemp {Musa textilis). 



Growing in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, and in the 

 gardens of Mr. Warner, Brisbane, and Hon. Louis 

 Hope at Cleveland, prior to 1862. 



Sunn Hemp {Crotalaria juncea). 



Introduced by the Brisbane Botanic Gardens in 1871. 



Screw Pine {Pandanus utilis). 



Growing in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens in 1871. 



Flax {Linum usitatissimum). 



Growing in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens in 1871. 



