January, 1912] 



\1 



Fibres. 



the market actually show less percent- 

 age of tannin than the cheaper varieties, 

 and they prove that the colour of the 

 fruits is no indication of their tannin 

 value. They also state that the hand- 

 picked samples are not only poorer in 

 tannin, but give darker solutions and 

 leather of a deeper colour than the 

 riper fruits. The writer has also noticed 

 the dark colour of the solutions made 

 from half ripe myrobalans. 



The hand-picked varieties are gener- 

 ally of a lighter colour and are appa- 

 rently taken from the trees before they 

 are quite ripe or they are sorted as being 

 of a lighter colour. 



The results given in this paper and the 

 conclusions arrived at by Parker and 

 Blochley go to show that the classific- 

 ation of myrobalans according to mer- 

 cantile practice is erroneous. The fruits 



that have remained longest on the tree, 

 i.e., those quite ripe, should be classed 

 as the richest in tannin, irrespective of 

 their colour. 



Terminalia Chebula grows in large 

 numbers in some parts of Ceylon, e-g., 

 about Nilgala. Trimen (Flora, II., 160) 

 says, " The fruits are called ' Ink-nuts ' 

 or 'Gall-nuts' by the English, and are 

 collected for sale to the Moormen by the 

 country people. In Uva the collection 

 is leased, and the sale in 1892 fetched 

 Its, 7.5U0. They are the ' Chebulic Myro- 

 balans ' of the old pharmacists, and are 

 here a valued medicine, both when 

 young and in a mature condition. The 

 flesh is very rich in tannin. When dried 

 they show five blunt obscure angles. 

 Wood heavy, very hard, dark brown 

 with a purplish tinge, close-grained, 

 durable." 



FIBRES. 



THE BROOM FIBRE INDUSTRY. 



By Tbmplb A. J. Smith, 

 Chief Field Officer. 



(From the Journal of the Department 

 oj Agriculture of Victoria, Vol. IX., 

 Part 11, November, 1911.) 



The growing of Broom Corn for the 

 purpose of providing material for the 

 manufacturing of what are known as 

 American House Brooms is an industry 

 capable of greater development in 

 Victoria, and it is one that should be of 

 value to holders of small blocks of land, 

 and particularly where no irrigation is 

 possible. Whilst it has been amply 

 proved that the fibre,of excellent quality, 

 and yielding a good profit, can be grown 

 in any part of Victoria, considerable 

 quantities are imported annually from 

 oversea, and also from the neighbouring 

 States of the Commonwealth. 



At the present time, the area under 

 cultivation is approximately 450 acres. 

 The bulk of the locally-grown fibre 

 comes from the Ovens and King River 

 Valleys, where it is grown on the 

 alluvial flats having a fair rainfall, or 

 where the land is irrigable. There are 

 many localities in other portions of the 

 State in whicn the crop could be grown 

 equally well, and I believe that, were 

 the knowledge necessary to produce the 

 crop more generally acquired , the in- 

 dustry would be largely increased and 

 widely distributed. 

 3 



Soils and Manures. 

 Broom corn will grow well wherever 

 maize will thrive. It is a hardier crop 

 than the latter, standing drought to a 

 greater extent, and making better 

 growth under adverse conditions. It 

 will not stand frost and is essentially a 

 summer crop. Sandy loams and rich 

 river flats are most suitable : stiff heavy 

 clays are very unsuitable. Rich choco- 

 late soils will also give good crops. 



In order to get the best results, the 

 following fertilizers should be applied 

 about four to six weeks before the seed 

 is sown : — 

 Superphosphate ... 100 lbs. 



Bonedust ... 100 ,, 



Sulphate of Ammonia ... 50 ,, 

 Sulphate of Potash ... 30 „ 

 ' The cost of the whole will be, approx- 

 imately, 20s. per acre. Farmyard manure, 

 at the rate of 10 tons per acre, is especi- 

 ally valuable. If obtainable, it should 

 be applied in the autumn, and worked 

 into the land. 



Sowing. 



The seed should not be planted until 

 the danger of frost is past— from October 

 to December. The land must also be 

 well drained and in a warm condition. 

 If sown in cold wet soils, it is liable to 

 rot and poor germination will result. 

 Seeding at the rate of 4 lbs. per acre i9 

 sufficient, if sown regularly ; the drills 

 should be 3 ft. apart and the plants 7 

 to 8 in. in the drills, If sown too thickly, 



