1 Aua., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 167 
is known as the Poinsettia, or Flor de Pasqua, and hails from Mexico. It 
zrows up to about 2 feet high. The gaudy leaves are not the flowers. They 
are signals extended to attract the attention of insects. If you look closely at 
the flower you will see that there is a little cup on one side, and this contains, 
when the flower is in its perfection, a drop of very sweet honey. You will see, 
too, a little thrice-divided organ, turned back something like the feathers 
which are worn in the bonnet of a Highland soldicr. The insect is attracted 
by the fiery signal. He knows of old that there is a store of nectar there, but 
he cannot sip without straddling and tumbling over the thrice-divided style. 
He has just left another flower of the same species, and the pollen-grains 
thereof are adhering to him. Some must be lett on the style. That is all 
the flower requires. No more honey is distilled. No more insects visit that 
flower. The style grows upward, and soon, beneath it, is produced a little 
receptacle of seeds, and the whole mystery of germination and plant life begins 
all over again. 
This plant is most easily propagated. It is simply necessary to put in 
cuttings of the ripe wood when the plant has ceased flowering. ‘They may be 
put in where they are intended to flower. These brilliant plants are within the 
reach of everyone. 
Tropical Industries. 
COFFEE IN QUEENSLAND AND OTHER PARTS. 
By JOHN DANSEY, 
Manager, Mackay Coffee Estate Co., Ltd. 
No. 2. 
As soon as possible after each bed has been sown, a temporary wooden frame 
should be erected over the beds, at a height of from 18 inches to 2 feet, over 
which should be spread a covering of hessian or palm leaves. This is specially 
advisable in the very early stages of germination, otherwise the heat of the 
sun will cause the germs to get baked, and the seed will be rendered useless. 
Numbers of cases of failure have been brought to my notice through the 
non-observance of providing suitable shade as the seed is about to germinate. 
These frames should be so constructed as to allow the covering to be removed 
every night, and replaced in position as early as possible after sunrise. 
In Ceylon and other coffee-growing countries it is not generally found 
necessary to provide shade over the seed beds, the rainfall in such countries 
being generally sufficient to keep the ground in a state of moisture, whilst 
the sun docs not appear to have the same baking influence as ib has,in 
Queensland. 
