1 Ocr., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 291 
The tuberose requires a fair amount of moisture and much the same treat- 
ment as other bulbous plants, but will not stand frost. The bulbs are generally 
planted from 9 to 12 inches apart, with a space of 2 feet between each row. 
In suitable soil and climate a plantation will generally last about eight years. 
An acre will produce about 9 ewt. of flowers. 
In the south of France the annual production of tuberose flowers reaches 
the extraordinary weight of about 220,000 Lb. 
Verzena (Aloysia citriodora).—From the lemon-scented verbena a very 
fine oil is procured by distillation with water, which, however, has not the 
refined and delicate perfume of the fresh leaves of the plant. 
Lemon verbena is cultivated to some extent at Valencia, in Spain, where 
the plant grows to great perfection. 
The plant yields a quantity of oil worth from 22s. to 24s. per lb., and is 
easily propagated from cuttings. 
Tf well pruned, the bushes will throw out numerous shoots, making the 
reaping an easy matter. Plauted not less than 3 feet by 5 feet would allow 
of horse cultivation. 
A few concluding remarks for and against scent-farming may be of some 
slight use to intending growers. 
There appear to be two great objections to scent-farming in Queensland 
at present: One, the lack of cheap labour for the picking of flowers in localities 
best suited to their growth; the other, the tendency of perfumed fats to 
become rancid. The former may be overcome in time by increased settlement, 
and the latter by combining olive-oil production with perfume-farming, and 
macerating the fresh flowers in the oil instead of prepared fat. 
Until these difficulties disappear, intending growers might turn their 
attention to the raising and distilling of suck crops as can be treated in a 
wholesale manner, where the whole plant is reaped and distilled—as, for 
instance, peppermint, patchouli, lavender, rosemary, geranium, mint, sage, 
marjoram, thyme, tansy, rue, and lemon-scented verbena. 
There is no doubt that in certain favoured localities, where soil and climate 
_ are suitable, scent-farming will pay well and enable settlers to make comfort- 
ave homes on land that the ordinary corn and potato man could not exist on 
or a year. 
There is always a demand for essential oils and perfumed fats in the south 
of France, so exporters of those products, if treated by the English dealer in 
an unfair manuer, could very soon put matters on a satisfactory footing by 
shipping produce to some of the French dealers in Marseilles. 
GROWING ROSES ON BARREN SOIL, 
By H. W. GORRIE, 
Government Horticulturist. 
Many lovers of flowers would like to grow a few roses to beautify their homes, 
but are prevented from attempting to do so by reason of the poverty and 
barrenness of the soil available. Now, almost any kind of soil can be made to 
grow roses, and good roses, by taking some pains and preparing it properly 
before planting. : 
Roses like a somewhat stiff soil with a little clay in it, and the very 
poorest of soil can be made good enough for these beautiful flowers by the 
method described below. 
he soil should be trenched to a depth of two feet, and in the bottom of 
each trench six inches of good coarse stockyard or stable manure should be 
placed. ‘Then fill in six inches of soil, and on top of this another layer of 
manure six inches deep. 
