| ULay, 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 371 
The Orchard. 
THE CULTIVATION AND USES OF THE ROSELLA. 
By DANIEL JONES, 
Department of Agriculture. 
a Rosella (Hibiscus Sabdariff:) is one of our most valuable fruits, and, 
dy mthe standpoint of the thrifty housekeeper, few edibles in the range of 
Mestic cookery lend themselves more usefully to the stocking of a housewife’s 
nfpoard. In dealing with this fruit, I shall, as briefly as possible, refer to the 
tiation of the plant as well as indicate a few methods of preparing the 
"tt for domestic needs. 
SEED. 
_ hy The most important matter to attend to, in the first instance, is to procure 
ie fertile seed. Seed grown in the Northern part of the colony 1s usually 
hea to use than that grown in our Southern districts, it bemg on the whole 
ter developed and more likely to be fertile. The Northern-yrowers having 
th er maturing season, owing to the absence of frost, a fuller germination 
bce 8 better quality of seed is produced by them. Nevertheless, in 
ut Seasons in our Moreton districts, it is possible to save seed fully equal 
t grown in more tropical parts, as I have experienced ; yet it is by no 
“ns certain that the season may prove propitious, and the local seed may 
Nout barren, although, to the inexperienced eye, it may appear otherwise. 
SOLL. 
Any moderately good soil will grow rosellas well. Land with a clay subsoil, 
© latter be near the surface, had better be avoided if cultivating on a large 
i ®; but for an allotment garden, where only a few trees are grown, the 
|e With an average amount of attention, can be cultivated well enough to 
S returns sufficient to fill the cupboard for family needs, though perhaps not 
|’ 0 lavish a scale as if grown under more favourable conditions. 
The shrub being hardy and, as a rule, fairly ornamental, given fair treat- 
I pare es to adorn and prove useful in the kitchen garden no less than 
j eld. 
ti 
SOWING. 
My practice was to fix upon small patches of clean soil for a seed bed. 
ie tiguous to the area proposed to be set out. For instance, when plenune 
el acres, I found, by my method of setting, I could treat a much larger 
“With less labour, and do it more efficiently, by drawing from the nearest 
‘i eds as the transplanting proceeded. or the ordinary kitchen garden it 
Wa] lice to mark out a plot a few feet square and lightly cover the seeds, 
Yop oreting them and keeping the plot free of weeds until the plants are 
‘oct € inches high, and then set them out in rows about 6 feet apart. If the 
Yer is not disposed to start his seed from beds, the latter can be sown where 
shes are to remain, and thus the trouble of transplanting is saved; but 
enon must be taken to have a few spare plants to meet the contingency 
Ying some destroyed by grubs or other causes, so that the vacant spaces 
ete. filled up. The best time to establish seed beds is during the month of 
Ober, Bar y sowing is recommended in the Southern parts of the colony, 
‘1 the event of early frosts coming on, the maturing of the fruit will be 
“Usly affected. 
