1 Jay., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, 51 
as you would tip a dray, and down goes Mrs. Blue-bottle head first, her 
wings jammed close against the pillar between the two flanges, and her back 
just touching the edge of the pollen-cap, a front view of which may be seen 
to the right of the illustration near the top. 
Then begins a struggle. If she is a small weak fly, as many here are, 
she never escapes at all, but perishes miserably, and is quickly devoured by 
the small ants, and the wings sticking against the concave sticky face of the 
pillar show that many such tragedies have occurred, 48 is also shown by the 
presence of the dead flies. 
But this is not what the orchid wants. It has no use for dead blue- 
bottles. It wants them as slaves, but not as provender. But, see, here comes 
a large strong fly; she alights on the platform, walks up to the*balance, and is 
tipped down the cavity. But she will not perish without a fight. Step by step 
she works back, forcing herself against the pillar, and wriggling furiously. 
She catches the edge of the pollen-cap, forces it off; in : moment the pollen- 
masses, fresh and sticky, are fastened to her back; one supreme effort, and she 
is free and off with a glad buzz. 
But, sad to reflect, she has learnt nothing from the deception and narrow 
escape. In a moment she is back again, gingerly mounting another balance, 
which as surely tips up and jams the pollen-masses against the stigmatic surface 
of the flower, where they remain. The most skilfui hybridiser with his camel- 
hair brush could not have done it better. Then the strugele begins all over 
again, and the fly takes away another load of pollen, but leaves that which she 
brought from the former flower. 
It will be noticed on looking at the drawing that one flower-leaf stands 
above the balance, as we have called it; and on looking at the lower flowers, it 
will be seen that this leaf is closed down in some of them, like a lid. This lid 
is always closed before the pollen is ripe enough to be carried away; and when 
the pollen-masses have been deposited on the stigmatic surface, the lid again 
closes down, and remains so closed until the seed-vessel is formed and the 
flower withers: the presence of insects is no longer desired. 
We spoke of the intolerable odour of the living flower. Strange to 
say, the withered flower has a delicate perfume, exactly like that of new- 
mown hay. 
Tropical Industries. 
SUGAR-CANE. 
Tx order to attain a luxurious growth, sugar-cane must be cultivated in a moist, 
warm climate, with short intervals of hot, dry weather, tempered by refreshing 
galt-breezes. Long periods of dry weather, and even passing spells of cold, are 
hindrances to successful growth. 
The soil should be calcareous, rich in humus, and somewhat loamy. 
Medium, easily worked soils are preferable to heavy, clay soils, and also to_ 
light, dry, sandy soils. A deep soil, with ready facilities for irrigation, is 
desirable. 
Sour soils, containing too much humus, may produce a vigorous growth of 
cane, the juice of which, however, contains but little sugar, and is difficult to 
convert. An examination of the soil is, therefore, of the utmost importance ; 
it should include the determination not only of the most essential plant-food 
ingredients contained, but also of the injurious constituents. When certain 
salts, occurring in sea-water, are present in small quantities, they promote the 
growth of cane, without, however, exercising any beneficial influence upon the 
formation of sugar; when present in large quantities, these salts may prevent 
growth entirely. 
