1 Ave., 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 83 
bushels, producing 1,187 lb. of starch; whilst an acre of cassava, producing only 6 tons 
of roots, would give a yield of 2,400 lb. of starch. 
The yield of tapioca and starch does not exhaust the good qualities of the cassava 
plant, as its usefulness in producing an article of food for cattle must be taken into 
consideration. It is found in Florida to be the cheapest known food for cattle. From 
experiments made, comparing the fattening qualities of cassava and corn, it was found 
that the profit on cassava was 48°42 per cent., whilst corn was 14°96 per cent. 
Phere are other products of the cassava, such as glucose and dextrine, which can 
be utilised. 
____To quote the words of the Manager of the Experimental Station at Florida: 
“With ail the facts procurable, and with the experience of not only myself but of 
many practical farmers to support the opinion, 1 have reached the conclusion that 
cassava comes nearer furnishing the Florida farmer with a more universally profitable 
crop than any other he can grow on equally large areas; it can be utilised in more 
ways, can be sold in more different forms, can be converted into staple and finished 
crops, and can be produced for a smaller part of its selling price than any other crop.” 
hy should we not grow cassava in Queensland P 
JUTE.* 
Jute is the material from which nearly all bags, bales, and woolpacks are made, 
and is the fibre obtained mainly from Corchorus capsularis found in the Kast from 
ndia to Japan. It is an annual, attaining a height of about 12 fect, and when closely 
grown is almost branchless. It is propagated from seed. It can be grown anywhere 
Where cotton and rice will ripen, even in localities comparatively cold in the winter, 
provided the summer is sufficiently long. ‘The crop is ripe when the flowers turn into 
capsules. The fibre is separated by steeping the full-grown plant in water for from 
five to eight days. Jute should be grown on good land well ploughed; it requires no 
irrigation, although it likes humidity. As a crop, it likes a damp situation, and should 
just the thing for growing on the lower lands on the Isis, where sugar does not 
thrive. The crop is harvested in from three to five months, according to the season. 
Under favourable conditions from 2,000 to 7,000 Ib. per acre are obtainable. It is 
est grown on flooded lands, as otherwise it is an exhaustive crop. 
Under present conditions the fibre would have to seek a market in the old 
country or the United States, but if the policy of the Commonwealth is to be that of 
eee then it would be possible, with the help of a duty on bags and bales for 
ueensland, to Supply all the jute required to manufacture all the gunny-bags, corn- 
sacks, flourbags, and woolpacks which are imported, reaching, in 1900, the value of 
half-a-million of money. Surely an industry of this dimension is worth capturing. 
may mention that there are one or two varieties of Corchorus native to Queensland, 
but [am not aware if they have been tried for their fibre. 
CAMPHOR. 
The camphor of commerce is obtained from our common camphor laurel or, 
botanically, Cinnamomum camphora. his fact has, of course, been known for many 
Years, but it was only when Mr. Peter Barr, a well-known London nurseryman, paid 
a visit to Queensland after visiting China and Japan, and so strongly insisted that it 
might become a large industry in Queensland, that I looked up the subject, and I was 
fortunate in finding a mass of‘information in the Kew Bulletin, than which a higher 
authority cannot be found. 
The tree is so common in our State that it is not necessary to enter into any 
description of it. That it will grow along the entire seaboard in suitable soil is 
known to all, and probably it grows in the more Southern districts as well as anywhere 
in the world and as rapidly. There should be not less than 50 inches of rainfall in 
the year to grow it to perfection, and that is our average —a year like the present would 
Not do any material damage to an established tree. 
The camphor is obtained by the distillation of the trunk of the tree or of its roots, 
and from the twigs and leaves. In Formosa the trunk and limbs and roots are cut 
nto chips by hand labour, and are then placed in a wooden tub about 40 inches high 
and 20 inches in diameter at the base. The perforated bottom of the tub fits over 
4n iron pan of water on a furnace of masonry; a bamboo tube extends from near the 
top of the tub to the condenser. ‘This consists of two tubs, the larger one right side 
Up and filled with water from a continuous stream which runs out of a hole in the side ; 
€ smaller one is inverted, with its edges below the water forming an air-tight 
Chamber; this chamber is kept cool by water running over it. The upper part of the 
* Jute has been grown at Oxley, many years ago, 10 feet in height to the first lateral branch, 
