The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-16 00:00:00

MILITIA.

The Northumberland Artillery Militia Regiment
is ordered to be embodied for permanent duty on
Monday, April 4, at the depot, Fort Clifford.

PRODUCTION OF SUGAR IN
A USTRALIA.

Some agricultural experiments which have very
recently been made in South Australia will afford -
additional evidence of the almost lavish manner in
which the gifts of nature have been bestowed upon
the Australian colonies. The climate and soil of Aus-
tralia are suited, in one or other of the colonies, to the
production of nearly every description of vegetable
and cereal produce. The reputation of the grain
of Tasmania and South Australia was fully este- •
blished at the Great Exhibition of 1851, and every
year that has elapsed since that period has tended.
to confirm the good opinion then formed of Austra-
lian wheat. Moreton Bay, it has been demonstrat,ed,
will produce cotton of excellent quality, andlnany •
other tropical and semi-tropical fruits. We now
learn that in South Australia one of the species of
sugar-producing plants has been cultivated with
considerable success. The agriculturist who has
turned his attention to this plant may hereafter bo
regarded as one of the best friends of the colony.
It is said that a negro slave of Cortes was the first
who cultivated wheat in the Spanish colonies of
South America ; he sowed three seeds which he
found in some rice brought from Spain for the use
of the troops. At Quito the earthen vesselin which
the first wheat was sown by a Franciscan monk, a
native of Ghent, is preserved as one of the most.
prized of relics. The introduction of wheat
into Spanish America was not more beneficial to
that continent than the sugar plant may prove to,be
in Australia. We do not expect that in itspresent
state, or for some years to come, Australia will ever
be regarded as an extensive sugarproducing colony,
able to compete with the West India islands, or a
part of the southern States of America. The
scarcity and high price of labour constitute a
difficulty which will not be readily overcome ;
but the fact having been clearly demonstrated of
the suitableness of the soil and climate of the
country for the growth of sugar is-, nevertheless,
one of considerable importance to the future of thew"
colonies. We learn from one of our contemporaries
at Adelaide that Mr. Duncan, who has had the
advantage of a West Indian experience:as a segue-
planter, is of opinion that the plant will not at
present pay for the purpose of sugar manufac-
turing, in consequence of the high price of labour:
The " holcus" is not, however, merely useful as A
plant from which to extract sugar,but it is of great
value as a food for cattle and horses. Cattle aro
extremely fond of it, and they will oat plant, Stalk,
leaves, and flower without any preparation, and, the
plant is exceedingly nutritious and fattening to
stock of all kinds. The result of the experiments
which have been made show that the plant is about
twice as productive as a haycrop, that it grows
without much trouble on a soil of tnoderatelygood
little seed
be
edis required ; the grain
from
quality,fo a
ra and v
e ade
sr
said to sufficient to sow an
acre of land. The climate of Australia, which is, at
certain seasons of the year hot and dry, is not well
suited to the production of heavy grass crops, or of
those rich pasturages which are to be met with. ih
many parts of this country. This peculiarity
of
the climate does not, howeverf appear to
exercise
any injurious effect upon the holcus, or sugar plant.
—Australian and New Zealand Gazette.

PRECEPT BUT NOT EXAMPLE.--A Spanish priept,
once exhorting the soldiers to fight like lions, added, intie
ardour of enthusiasm :—" Reflect, my -brethren, that who-
soever falls to-day in battle, sups to-night in Paradise."'
Thunders of applause followed the sentiment The nett
began, the ranks wavered, the priest took to his heels, when
a soldier, stopping him, reproachfully referred ,to the pro-
mised supper in Paradise. "True, my son, true," said th,,
priest, "but I never eat supper.": .

ONDON & NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.
L —NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That all articles
found in the Company's carriages, or which may have been
left at any of the Stations on the line, between the Ist January
and the 31st December, 1857 ; and also all parcels and articles
received forconveyance by Passenger train between the above-
mentioned dates, the consignee of which have either not been
found, or have refused them, will be sold by Public Auction,
if not claimed within one month from this date.
By order
CHAS. E. STEWART, Secretary.

March 14th, 1859.

p OVAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT
AA GARDEN. under the sole Management of Miss Louisa
evne and Mr. W. Harrisoa
THIS EVENING will be presented an entirely new and
tomantio Opera, by Mr. W. Balfe, entitled SATANELLA ;
ur, THE POWER OF LOVE.
Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon.
And a new ballet of action, ROBERT AND BERTRAND.
Messrs. Payne, Miss Morgan, Mdlles. Morlachi and Pasquale.
Commence at Seven,

THEATRE-ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
Lessee—Mr. E. T. Smith.
'PHIS EVENING, will be performed the original English
Ballad Opera, entitled WILLIAM AND SUSAN. William
Mr. Haigh ; Susan, Miss Lucette.
fo conclude with the new pantomime, ROBIN HOOD ;
es. Harlequin Friar Tuck and the Merry Men of Sherwood
Forest.

_ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean.
1111 S EVENING will be performed the play of LOUIS XI.
Louis (King of France), by Mr. C. Kean.
After which, a new grand Christmas Pantomime, entitled
THE KING OF THE CASTLE; or, Harlequin Prince
Diamond and Princess Brighteyes.