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Althougli not used as food by Eiiropeans, surely an article 'vrlncli could 
be obtained in such qu^mtities as the Jew’s Ear Fungus {Hirneola 2 )olytricha) 
in Queensland is worthy the attention of settlers living near scrub land. 
The preparation for market is of the simplest kind, as it merely req^utres 
drying in the open air. Tlie only market for the article is China, and Dr. 
Cooke tells us tiiat from 1872 to 188:i the export from New Zealand of this 
article amounted in value to £79,752. I liave before drawn attention to the 
value of this fungus for export, but think the subject of sufficient importance 
to again refer to it. The plant is cultivated in China, but not in sufficient 
quantities to meet the demand. 
ESSENTIAL OILS. — Tnere is no reason why many such plants, as 
Lavender, Aniseed, Caraway, the Mints, &c,, as well as a number of the 
indigenous plants, should not be grown in this colony for the sake of their 
oils. Flower-farming is an industry in the neighbouring colonies, and from 
samples lately tested it is reported that 100 lb. of the Peppermint plant 
produced 4 oz. of oil, and 1 oz. of oil from 30 lb. of Spearmint ; 3 oz. of oil 
was also obtained from 20 lb. of tlio sten s and leaves of Lavendtifa vera. 
From 20 lb. of our Brisbane Pennyroyal (Mentha satiireioides) I have 
recently obtained 2§^ oz. of oil, equal to the best peppermint. Of our trees 
those which have yielded oil of the best quality, as well as the greatest 
quantity, are Eucattfptiis hoimastoma, E. mkrororya, E. macidafat var. 
citriodora^ E. StaiyerianO) Melaleuca hucadendron, M. linariifolia , and 
Baclch ousia cl tried ora . 
FERN TREES. — Many persons complain of the difficulty they find in 
successfully removing these plants from their native habitat to their homes 
for cultivating in bnsli-house or sheltered garden spots. Of course, if the 
whole stem of the fern is dc.sircd there always will be a difficulty, but for 
good pot plants let Lliern try the following mode : — Cut off all fronds, and 
then only bring home, sajq from (> in. to 2 ft. or so of the upper part of tlie 
trunk ; plant tliis in a pot or tub in a compost suitable for ferns ; place in 
a shady, damp, crol spot of the bush-house, and the result will be the 
possession of a handsome plant in a very shorl: time. 
FLAT CHINA PEACH. — This tree was introduced into England from 
-Java, and was propagat d by Mr. Kirke under tlie name of Java Peach.’* 
It was fruited by Mr. Braddick at Thames Ditton. and some of these were 
figured in the transactions of the Horticultural Society of London, vol. iv., 
1822, under the name of “ Flat Peach of China.” 
GINGER. — The average yield per acre is said to be about I.OOO 
to 1,500 lb., when dried, perfectly cured, and fit for market. As long 
as the ginger, wlien dry, is kept from the sun, it need not be peeled for 
two or three days. After peeling for the day, put them to soak in plenty of 
water over night. In the morning, wash, clean, and weigh. Put on mats, 
turn over carefully each piece at midday for six or eight days until cured. 
As sun goes down, take them in. Do not let them get wet or they will 
mildew. It takes 3 Ib. of green ginger to make 1 lb. of dry. — Geo, Douet^ 
Jamaica Bot. Bulletin, 1892. 
GRAFTING. — In horticullure, the operation of affixing one portion of 
a plant to another in such a manner as that a vital union may take place 
between them. It may be performed both with herbaceous and ligneous 
plants. A grafted plant consists of two parts : the stock or stem, and the 
5cion, which is a detached portion of another plant to be affixed to it. 
Success can only be looked for when the operation is performed upon allied 
plants. Grafting by approach, or inarching, is a mode of graftiug in which, 
to make sure of success, the scion is not separated from the parent plant till 
it has become united with the stock. 
GRAPE VINES, TO STOP BLEEDING OF.— When vines are 
pruned late in the season, or an old branch is broken or cut off during the 
growing season, the wound often bleeds copiously, and this flow of sap has 
