Now, the question arises — Can jute be cultivated in Victoria ? 

 In certain favoureil warm localities, where there is rich loose soil 

 that can be easily irrigated and drained, I am inclined to believe 

 it can, and in such places its cultivation, on a small scale, may be 

 worthy of trial ; but, speaking generally, J think it extremely 

 doubtful that it wonld ever become a profitable industry in this 

 colony. As regards the kind of climate and soil most suitable for 

 jute, and the mode of treating the crop in Bengal, I cannot do- 

 better than quote from Mr. D. A. Curr's interesting article, which, 

 appeared in the Bti.rij Times, Lancashire, in January last.* " Jute 

 is the most exteusivel}' cultivated of plants throughout the whole 

 delta of Bengal. It is generally grown during the rainy season, 

 on high land, and not, like rice land, subject to submersion, 

 ■which would utterly ruin the jute plant for textile uses. The 

 seeds are sown inf April or May, when there has been a sufficiency 

 of rain to moisten the ground, on land ploughed and rolled, and' 

 the seeds which had been sown broadcast are then harrowed over 

 to cover them. No plant is more grateful for kindly cultivation 

 than jute. It thrives best in a warm loamy soil, well manured. 

 A hot and moderately rainy season suits it best ; but excessive 

 rain injures it. In this respect it is a delicate plant. It also 

 requires to be carefully weeded when young, but it soon acquires 

 altitude and strength enough to suppress all intruders on its 

 territory. A good crop attains the height of from 10 to 12 feet ; 

 I have used some even longer. Heat and moistnre produce the 

 most luxuriant crop of jute. The land is irrigated according to 

 need ; where the soil is damp and cold, irrigation is not required. 

 In about 100 days the crop is ready for cutting. It is cut like 

 corn, but close to the roots ; no stubble is left. It is tied up in 

 bundles and laid in a shallow tank or ditch, and over the bundles 

 clods are laid to sink them overhead in the water until rotted, 

 that is to say, the bark rotted off, which requires about ten days' 

 immersion, or steep, as it is called. When the bark is easily 

 removed, and the fibrous substance soft, it is ready to be taken 

 out of the steep, and the water wrung out of it, as a washerwoman 

 does with her clothes, and hung up on lines to dry ; afterwards 

 cleaned from all bits of bark and other impurities, then bundled 

 up and sent to Calcutta to be sorted and made up in the bazaar, 

 where there are many wealthy merchants who deal in jute." 

 The same writer, speaking of the uses of jute, says — "The 

 clothes we wear are more or less composed of jute; what is called 

 canvas padding is made of jute ; the stuffing of women's stays is 

 jute; in fact, the increase and ubiquity of jute is truly marvel- 

 lous. The bags that contain our coal, the sacks that hold our 



» Kindly placed with otlier useful records at my disposal by Mr. J. Arbuckle-Eeid of this- 

 city. 

 t The month of October would be the best time to sow seed in most parts of Victoria. 



