Feb. 1, 1900.] Supplement to the '^Tropical Agriculturist." 
of questions connected with the cultivation and' 
manufneture of Indian tea, the Committee of the 
Indiati Tea Association has recomnaended the 
engagement of an experienced Agricultural 
Chemist, recommended by Dr. Voelcker. 
The Director of Agricultural Education to the 
Gloucestershire County Council, Mr. Howman, has 
carried out a series of interesting experiments in 
the manuring of fields. Plots of J-acre each have 
been annually manured under five different 
systems. Basic slag was used alone and incom- 
bination with nitrate of soda. Bone meal was 
used with mineral superphosphate in a third case, 
while the two remaining plots were manured with 
kainit and gypsum. The quantities of each 
mar ure used are not given, but the following is 
the cost per acre : — For slag, 15s. 8d. ; for slag 
and nitrate, 26s. 8d. ; for bone meal and super- 
phosphate, 16s. 8d. ; for kainit, 7s. ; and for 
gypsum, 5s. 6d. The whole of the plots on two 
different fields were manured five years ago, and 
have not been manured since. In 1895 the 
plot receiving slap- alone returned an increased 
value per acre of 2s. 4d.; 1896 the field was 
grazed ; in 1897 the increased value was S^s. 4d. ; 
in 1898, 35s. 6d. ; and in 1899, 51s. 8d.; or in all 
£7 8s. lOd. for four years. Where slag and 
nitrate were employed, the increased value as 
compared with slag alone was slightly more in 
1895 and 1897, but less in 1898 and 1899; the 
total increased value for the four years being 
£6 4s. The bone meal and superphosphate gave 
a total increased value of 22s. 8d., the kainit of 
2s., and the gypsum of £1 18s. 8d., so that the; 
slag proved the most useful manures. 
Mr. A. N. Pearson, Government Agricultural 
Chemist, Victoria, writes: — Bones in country 
districts, where crushing mills are not available, 
may be reduced by means of caustic lye, 
quicklime, or freshly calcined wood ashes- 
A simple .plan is to pack the bones, layer by 
layer, with the calcined wood ashes taken fresh 
from the .Ire, in a barrel, cover the whole with a 
thick layer of soil, and keep the mixture moisten- 
ed for some months. Casks may be kept in 
constant use for this purpose on a farm, receiving 
every few days a fresh layer of bones and ashes, 
removing the layer of soil for the purpose, and 
freshly calcining any old ashes that may have ac- 
cumulated. A quicker method is to boil the bones 
in an iron or copper boiler with strong caustic lye. 
The proportions of bones and lye are not invariable, 
but may be taken as about 10 lb. canstic soda or 
14 lb. caustic potash, dissolved in 3 gallons of 
water, to 30 lb, or 40 lb. of bones. The bones 
boiled for two or three hours in this lye should 
be completely disintegrated. Even without boil- 
ing, the lye will, in a week or so, disintergate the 
bones. Another method of softening bones is to mix 
them in heaps with quickline and loam. A layer 
of bones 6 inches deep is made, and on this is 
placed a layer 3 inches thick of quicklime, and then 
a layer 4 inches deep of loam. The layers of 
bones, lime, and loam are repeated until the 
heap is of a convenient height, when it is finally 
covered with a thick layer of earth. Holes are 
then bored into the heap from the top, and water 
poured in to slake the lime. The mass becomes 
hot, and will remain so for two or three months, 
after which the bones should be very friable. 
The whole heap may then be mixed up, and used 
on the ground at rate of 10 cwt. to the acre. 
Watering is a question which perplexes many 
an amateur florist. How often shall I water my 
plants? How much shall I give at a time? Over 
and over these queries are made by correspondents. 
To which I can make but one reply : There is no 
hard and fast rule about watering plants. There 
can be none, because conditions under which 
plants are grown differ so widely that what 
would apply in one case would fail to do in 
another. But we have a general rule which is 
subject to such modifications as observation and 
intelligent study of one's plants seem to make 
necessary, and that rule is this : Wait until the 
surface of the soil in the pot looks dry, then 
apply water, and apply enough of it to thoroughly 
saturate all the soil in the pot. You can tell 
when this is done by the escape of some of it 
through the drainage hole in the bottom. Then 
wait again until the dry look comes on the surface 
before applying more. Of course Callas and 
other plants of a semi-aquatic nature will require 
more water than others like the Geranium and 
the Rose, and here is where study and observation 
must come in to enable you to care for your plantg 
properly. To be a really successful plant grower 
you must understand the nature and habit of 
every plant in your collection, and so vary your 
attention as to give each plant the particular care 
it requires. One of the chief charms of flowers 
growing consists in this study of plant life. We 
take it up at first because we want tc give our 
plants the attention they need in order to make a 
satisfactory development. In a little while we~ 
have become so interested in it that we continue 
it for the pleasure it affords us. It is a facinating 
study. It is a study in which there is always 
jomething more to learn. 
The Annual Eeport of the Department of Agri- 
culture says : — Rice being a crop more especially 
adapted to the North, did not come under the 
ban that was placed upon the grain crops that are 
grown in the South, and was favoured with a 
good season. This is becoming a staple grain 
crop in that part of Queensland, the area for 1898 
showing an increase of 418 acres over 1897, that 
for the former year being 863 acres, with a yield 
of 38,133 bushels, or an average of 44'19 bushels 
to the acre, as against 29*19 for 1897. Hitherto 
rice has been in the experimental stage, has been 
grown in many parts of the colony, and has 
fluctuated in area as success or non-success has 
been met with. It is, however, now settling down 
to be the property of the Northern district, and it 
is to that part that the future supply may be 
looked for, for it behoves the farmers to be careful 
to grow the variety to suit the market, for of all 
grains rice is most subject to prejudice and 
favouritism. It is the grain that in the largest 
quantities comes into the hands of the consumer 
in the form that is most nearly allied to the 
original state, and so is dependent upon the fancies 
of the consumer for the variety that shall command 
