The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-06-05
ALarms Of .Plant Dlssess.

WlHcS llOul WHuOOfCi -OtaAfs@ atAkllllg
in the colony.
Harms Of Plant DiSeaSs
The year has been somewhat re-
nlarkable for the number Of alarms
raised OF new diseases in plants upon
which depends the livelihoodofa large
number of colonisis. Investigation
has fortunately proved in each in
stance that the appearances has been
caused by some temporary influence
of atmosphere, soil, or weather; and
no new enemy to success ID the oc-
cupation of tilling the soil has Ii fact
found a footing in Queensland In
these investigations the society has
not been without its influence.
Li6eam Coffee Cooperation Of
-4aahorities at Xep
The introduction of Libelian coffee
is fairly accomplished; this p~onlis-
ing plant having been successfully
brought to the colony by more than
one importer 1t was not probable
that this society would omis4o do its
part in the endeavor to test the eli
mate of Queensland for a species. OF
coffee suited for cuItivationat tile sea
level; and after repeated efforts,
principally through the assistance Of
the authorities at Kew, this so0ieN
is now in possession of sonRheall
plants of Liberian coffee, wIiDA u Il,
be suitably distributed in the spfiBg
of the present year. The conncn are.
under obligation to Sir .Josenba Ioeks
er for u number of other plants which
have reached the colony for the first
time during the year 1877
Failure to Induce CttltiUotios Ut 9stt6
The efforts made by the COINED dur
ing the year 1876 and 1877 q induce
the farmers to take up jlite..s a suie
able crop, have not been after d with
the success deserved. Lar sspanti-
ties of seed were imported Asndia
and Offered ser aras -Sb
while information was promulgated
upon the growth and preparation Of
this staple product AS further
means of bringing thg subject under
notice; prize of fiveFguineas was Of
fered for the best 10 ID. weight of
fibre grown and prepared in the col
ony. For this prize there was only
one competitor, and, so far as is
known, no Thought Or sustained effort
has been made in aIsingle instance to
fairly test jute as crop. Much of
the seed imported is on hand, al
though freely offered by public ad-
vertisement, and the council fear that
their anxious efforts to benefit the
agriculturists Of the colony, by plac-
ing within their reach new crop
simple of culture, and for which there
is q constant market, must so far be
regarded as failure. This is owing,
it is believed, entirely to the unac-
countable prejudice of the farmers
against any crop that is new to them,
and experiment with which involves
patience and the least outlay; and it
is probable that, as i'll the case of
sugar, the establishment of jute as
regular crop will not be accomplished
except by the aid of some enter
prising pioneer, who will take upon
himself the entire risk Of proving its
suitableness for this climate, and the
ease with which it is prepared for the
market.
Prichly CoDyfey Still on Trial.
Prickly comfery, being more orless
an old friend to our tillers of the soil.
has been received with much more
favor, and is being tested by hum
dreds of farmers under all sorts of
conditions of soil and climate. BY
means of roots imported by Mr.. A.
I'll. Palmer, and presented to the
council, and subsequently by impor-
tation of their own, they have largely
assisted in the distribution of this
plant; and have also tested it at
Bowen Park. Owing to the continu-
Gus drought it would be manifestly
unfair to come to an adverse conclu-
sion from the results of the first
season. The plant, moreover. before
it becomes profitable, requires to be
we'll established by months Of growth
in . deep and well drained soil and
under these conditions it will prob
ably be found to perfectly resist pro-
longed drought, and after rain TO