HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



169 



HOVEN CATTLE. 



Cattle are liable to be injured by eating excessively 

 of young grass, and from other causes. As the disten- 

 tion of the beast is chiefly occasioned by carbonic acid 

 gas, any substance which will combine with that gas 

 will reduce it. Such a substance is readily found in 

 ammonia (hartshorn), a spoonful of which, in water, 

 forced down the animal's throat, completely removes 

 the distention. 



FIBRE PLANTS. 



With the rapid extension of agricultural operations 

 consequent upon a large and continuous influx of popu- 

 lation, it has been thought desirable to introduce to 

 public notice in a brief manner several plants suitable 

 to the climate, from which an article could be manu- 

 factured, by simple machinery, for which there would 

 be an unlimited demand. If all the farmers of a 

 certain district grow one or two articles of local con- 

 sumption, it is very probable that the competition will 

 soon reduce the price until the cultivation is unremu- 

 nerative. This is nearly the state in the Brisbane 

 district at present, and if any additional article of export 

 can be profitably grown, it will be a great relief to the 

 farming interest. 



CHINESE GRASS CLOTH. 

 (Bcehmeria Nivea, or " Ramie.") 



This hardy plant grows with the utmost luxuriance 

 in Queensland in any good soil, and, as it produces 

 abundance of suckers, and the smallest piece of root 



