114 AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



somewhat extensively, and sold to wholesale coffee dealers 

 at from 3 to 5 per ton. 



Cultivation. The seed may be sown in either 

 February or March for a winter crop, or in September for 

 a summer crop. It vegetates slowly, and the soil should 

 be perfectly clean to prevent weeds from choking the 

 young plants. lib. of seed gives plants for about a 

 quarter of an acre. When fit to handle they are set out 

 in rows two feet by about eighteen inches ; or the seed can 

 be drilled into rows two feet apart, and thinned out, like 

 turnips or beets, with the cultivation of which chicory 

 corresponds, when grown for roots. When for forage, the 

 seed can be sown broadcast at the rate of Gibs, to the acre, 

 and the tops can be either picked off or bladed, or cattle 

 may be turned in to graze them down. 



As a Feed Crop. Chicory is of more value to mow, 

 and consume in a stable or byre, than to graze. It might 

 also be used for ensilage. A small extent of chicory 

 ground fattens a large number of sheep. The best way is 

 to let the plant reach its full growth, the full succulence 

 being retained until the flower-buds appear, in which state 

 (not being permitted to flower) it has attained its greatest 

 perfection ; it may be then cut off near the ground, and 

 is eaten by all kinds of stock. 



The Chicory for Coffee. To prepare the chicory-root, 

 it is sliced, and dried in driers much the same as fruit. For 

 use, the dried chicory is heated in iron cylinders, which are 

 kept revolving as in the roasting of coffee. In England, 

 about two pounds of lard are added per cwt. of chicory 

 during the roasting process ; in France butter is used ; by 

 this a lustre resembling that of coffee is imparted to it. 

 When roasted, the chicory is ground to powder and mixed 

 with coffee. The analysis of chicory gives 25 parts 

 watery extractive, and three parts resin, besides sugar, 

 salammoniac, and woody fibre. 



GINGER. This is another of the roots found admirably 

 adapted to the warmer sections of Australia. Three 

 varieties are grown. 



Cultivation. The white and yellow are much alike in 

 habits ; the roots of both grow in clumps close to the 



