405 
On the Use of Bone Manure . 
have not come up As I was particularly anxious to preserve 
the plant, I invariably looked around it for seedlings whenever 
I entered the garden, and a few days since discovered two just 
breaking the ground. I then found that this curious plant has 
three (!) cotyledons, which are awl-shaped, and perfectly equal 
in size and appearance. As I never recollect to have heard of 
a plant with three cotyledons before, I thought it worth men¬ 
tioning, in order to compare it, if possible, with Schoepfia , 
Gaiadendron , Aucuba , &c., the other terrestrial genera of (so 
called) Loranthacece . 
ON THE USE OF BONE MANURE IN TASMANIAN 
AGRICULTURE. 
(From the Hobart Toum Advertiser , 7th June, 1842.) 
One of the principal complaints made by the graziers of 
this country is, that, from the limited nature of the pastures, 
they are unable to fatten off their superabundant stock of old 
ewes and wethers, and thus themselves to supply the markets 
with sheep and cattle in prime condition. The consequence is the 
introduction of foreign meat in large quantities from Port 
Phillip and Portland Bay, where the extensive pastures allow 
unlimited feed, and, consequently, a constant supply of meat in 
the best condition, which is thus able to compete with ours in 
our own markets. This competition obliges the inferior sheep 
to be kept still on our own pastures, and thus the evil continues 
increasing every season. There being no vent for the surplus 
stock, even at the lowest prices, it must be retained, and thus 
the feed is limited for that part which ought to produce a profit. 
Nor is this evil felt merely as affects the meat market. By 
thus stinting the flocks, one of our great staples (w r ool) is 
equally deteriorated. Nothing conduces more to this than a 
break in the wool, which is certainly consequent on the variation 
in condition of the animals. The most careless observer must 
perceive that there are four intervals in the condition of our 
pastures. In the spring, grass is abundant and succulent, 
which, with the genial effects of warm weather, quickly gets 
the sheep into good condition. Then comes the summer, which, 
drying up the moisture, stops the growth, and makes the fields 
mere reserves of dry hay; this for a considerable period having 
no increase, becomes speedily exhausted if overstocked, and 
hence a speedy check is given to condition. By some un¬ 
ascertained cause, the pastures of the Island are endued with an 
almost preternatural nutritious quality, which renders them 
fattening even in this state, if sufficient for the stock, and when 
nothing but dry bents, as they would be called in England, are 
to be seen, the stock keeps in perfect condition if not too 
