JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, r November 4, im. 
422 
heaps of manure scattered over the ground offer great attractions 
to the genu3 Geotrupes, and the beetles by burying portions of 
this, which the larvae subsequently divide, assist, we would think, 
in the fertilisation of the soil. Was it for this reason that the 
Egyptians worshipped the antique Scarabaeus, a near relative to 
these ? 
BRISBANE BOTANIC GARDENS, QUEENSLAND. 
The drought of 1877-8 was succeeded by twelve months during 
which the rainfall was about 9 inches above the average of the 
preceding twenty years, and there were several storms, two of which 
were of great force and caused much injury. Rain fell on 148 days, 
to the amount of G0‘28 inches. The last season was also more than 
usually wet, but there were no destructive storms. During the past 
twelve months 58’45 inches of rain fell on 146 days. 
The borders along the line of walks and the plots facing the aquaria 
were planted with Agave, Yucca, Bromelia, Sanssviera, and also 
Allamanda. Many of these shrubs which had grown too large for 
their station have been removed to more favourable situations, and 
in the summer and autumn months the many coloured varieties of 
Amaranthus, Coleus, &c., were planted in the vacant places, which 
added to the general effective appearance. Upon the same slopes 
are the Tea, Coffee, Cinnamon, and Cotton plants ; the compartment 
containing the Macrozamia, Cycas, Bowenia, Stangeria,Catakidozamia, 
and Encephalartos. The beds and clumps are filled with Cocos, 
Sabal, Oreodoxa, Latania, Pandanus, &c., and to the north of the Tea 
plantation is the collection of Palms much noticed by writers who 
have visited us from the southern colonies and other countries. To 
these latter have been added Calyptronoma Swartzii(the Long-thatch 
Palm of Jamaica), Sagus amicarum (the Vegetable Ivory Nut of the 
Solomon Islands), Brahea dulcis (the Sugar Palm of Mexico). They 
are all thriving exceedingly well. The plots, borders, &c., have lately 
been dug over, and have received a good supply of manure. 
The rosery has undergone a thoroughly deep digging and dressing 
with a strong loamy soil from the site where the new building for 
the Port Master’s Department is being erected. Forty-eight new 
varieties of Roses have been added to the collection, principally of 
the Tea and Noisette sorts, which I find are best suited to this climate. 
From present appearances they promise a good supply of flowers. 
The following interesting plants have flowered and fruited during 
the past season :—Spathodea campanulata, Chrysophyllum imperiale, 
Toxicophlsea spectabilis, Poinciana regia var. lutea, Ptycosperma 
Hilli, Kentia minor, Quercus suber, Vanda Batemani, Saccolabium 
Hendersoni, Saccolabium giganteum, Dendrobium Bensoni, Dendro- 
bium Falconeri, Phalsenopsis grandiflora var. lutea, Cypripedium 
Stonei, Cypripedium Parishi, and Grevillea Palmeri. 
Amongst the fruit-bearing trees the most interesting is the Black 
Peach introduced from Japan in 1878. The fruit is about the size of 
a duck’s egg, the flesh of a dark reddish colour, juicy and of good 
flavour, and free from all disease. Grafts or buds of this valuable 
tree can be had on application. 
Several well-managed nurseries are now to be found in Brisbane 
and elsewhere in Queensland. The time appears to have arrived 
when it would no longer be fair to the enterprising proprietors of 
those establishments for an institution supported by the public 
revenue to distribute gratuitously seeds and plants that can be 
purchased at a reasonable cost within the colony. This does not 
refer, of course, to useful imported plants that are not to be bought 
here, or to others which the Government may consider advisable to 
be given away in order to aid in the establishment of new industries. 
The International Exhibitions of Philadelphia and Paris received 
large and valuable collections of timbers, fibres, cereals, arrowroot, 
sugars, essential oils, specimens of indigenous grasses, none of which 
were returned here, and nothing whatever received in the way of 
exchange. Whatever advantages may have otherwise been derived, 
this establishment has not reaped any of the benefit that was antici¬ 
pated. Our whole resources were strained, and the routine work 
very much interfered with, and not as much as a single specimen for 
the herbarium or museum was got in return. Of the collection since 
contributed to the Sydney International Exhibition, many things 
were either retained there or sent back in a useless condition. There 
were 234 economic plants forwarded, one-half of which, and several 
manufactured products, were applied for and given to the Director of 
the Sydney Botanic Garden, upon the condition that he would send 
back an equivalent collection in exchange. Not only has he failed to 
do so without affording any explanation, but has also “taken charge,” 
as I am informed, of the other half of the economic plants and of 
several exhibits belonging to this establishment which it was very 
important should be returned. A list of these has been forwarded to 
the Department of Public Lands. Under these circumstances I have 
had to begin getting together a fresh general collection for the ap¬ 
proaching Melbourne Exhibition. It was my intention to have made 
it a display of the vegetable resources of Queensland on a larger scale 
than ever yet been seen, but the result must now be expected to fall 
short of my original idea. I mention the above facts in order that 
an allowance may be made for the difficulties with which I have had 
to contend .—[Extracts from. Report by the Director , Walter IIill.) 
Potatoes. — I desire to thank Mr. W. Roberts for his kindness 
in ascertaining for me the origin of the Ashleaf Kidney Potato. 
It was no idle curiosity that induced me to ask you to insert my 
queries in your valuable Journal, but I am endeavouring to obtain 
a few facts bearing upon Potato culture for a special purpose; 
hence I am anxious to know from good authority when Rivers’ 
Royal Ashleaf, Lapstone, and Fox's Seedling were first raised. 
The last-named I have cultivated for years, and think it by far the 
best early Potato.— A. Fitch. 
3 
WORK,foiithe WEEK,. 
VAriKr 
TSjMj ( 
iJr 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Peas .—A first sowing of Peas may now be made upon a south 
border, sowing them in drills about 3 feet apart, the seeds being 
damped and well coated with red lead before sowing them to prevent 
the attacks of mice. Cover the seeds lightly with soil, and then with 
sifted ashes about an inch deep, bringing them out to the extent of 
about 6 inches on the sides of the row. William I. and First and 
Best are most suitable for this sowing. For growing at the foot of 
walls Blue Peter, Little Gem, and Premium Gem are suitable varieties. 
Light warm soils are most suitable for early Peas. If Broad Beans 
are required very early and a warm border is available, a sowing may 
be made of Beck’s Gem or Early Mazagan in rows about 2 feet 
apart, treating them in other respects the same as the Peas. 
Late-sown Turnips should now be looked over, and those fit for 
use taken up and stored in damp sand in the root house; this will 
benefit the remainder of the crop, which may stand for later use. 
Remove the haulm of Asparagus, and after clearing the plantation 
of weeds give a good dressing of thoroughly decomposed manure 
2 or 3 inches thick, and cover it with a little earth from the spaces 
between the rows or beds. Remove the decayed leaves from*Seakale, 
and take up any roots that are to be forced inside, and lay them in 
in a sheltered position so as to be readily obtained when required* 
That intended to be forced or blanched outdoors should be covered 
with ashes or cocoa-nut fibre refuse as a protection for the crowns. 
Globe Artichokes may be cleared of the exhausted stems and 
decayed leaves, the soil taken out around the crowns 3 or 4 inches 
deep, a sprinkling of quicklime being given, which will speedily 
destroy slugs, and the spaces made by the removal of the soil filled 
with sifted ashes. This is a good protection from slugs and frost. 
Forcing Department .—A succession of French Beans should be 
sown, keeping those previously sown as near to the glass as prac¬ 
ticable ; earth-up as required, and supply w r eak liquid manure after 
the flowers appear, affording a temperature of 60° to 65° at night and 
70° to 75° by day; 5° less all round may be allowed when external 
conditions are unfavourable. A few roots of Rhubarb of some early 
variety—Johnson’s St. Martin’s is the best—should be placed in the 
Mushroom house or other position, with a temperature artificially of 
55° to 60°. Seakale may also be planted in rich light soil, and the soil 
being moist no water need be given until the crowns are moving, then 
supplying weak liquid manure as necessary. To secure the blanching 
of the Seakale means must be employed to exclude light. Dung and 
leaves, two parts of the latter to one of the former, being prepared by 
throwing them into a heap, turned over once or twice, and damped if 
necessary. A first bed of Asparagus may be planted, but unless the 
demand is urgent and continuous and the means adequate little 
advantage is gained by starting very early. Preparation should, 
however, be made of the fermenting materials for making up a bed at 
the end of the month, so as to secure a supply of this most esteemed 
of forced vegetables by Christmas. Where Potatoes are required 
early sets of medium size should be placed in boxes and covered with 
about 2 inches of old tan or leaf soil in a house with gentle heat 
where the sets will soon have made growth about 4 inches long, when 
they can be planted in frames or pits with beds of prepared fer¬ 
menting materials under 6 inches of light rich soil. The Potatoes 
should be planted, when the soil is warmed, 1 foot asunder in rows 
15 inches apart, placing the sets about 4 inches deep. The most 
suitable varieties for forcing are Early Bird and Yeitch’s Ashleaf. 
