The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-02-02

planted in every garden on the coast.
Indian Timber Trees.-Some of the
best of the Indian timber trees are to
be seen growing vigorously in many
places; an interesting fact in view of
the time which will inevitably come,
unless the subject of forests conser-
vancy receive timely attention from
the Legislature, when large tracts of
country, perhaps in the next genera.
ton, will have to be re.planted with
quick growing trees. The Teak
promises to attain very large dimen.
sions on this coast
Liberian Coffee.-Liberian coffee
gives every promise of success on
Herbert. The plants imported dl.
rect by Mr.. H. A. Wickham from
the Royal Gardens, Kew, are grow
ing vigorously, and already showing
signs of flower, while the Society's
distributions are also looking well.
Authorities concur in the expectation
that where this species of coffee will
thrive it will afford remunerative
industry. Considerable stocks are in
hand at Rowen Park, and no pains
will be spared to promote so promis-
ing an enterprise.
The Date Palm.-The Date Palm
fruits admirably in many places; in
deed, at Bowen l saw one specimen,
which could not be more than twelve
years old, with ali enormous crop Of
nearly ripe fruit, and many others in
the same district truiting freely.
Hitherto the dates planted have been
seedlings, without reference to
species or sex and in this way time
and space have been wasted. Per>
sons desirous of planting under more
favorable conditions, will find valu.
able information upon the cultivation
and propagaslon. Of the Date Palm in
the translation which appeared in the
D0rIi,eg Doao7s's Gazette June and
July, 1879 Of pamphlet on the sub.
| ject by Mr.. Belohevalerie, chief gar
dener to the Khedive of Egypt.
The Bsnana.-The magnifcence
with which the Banana grows on
our Northern Coast Lands, the
weight of the lunches, and the size
of the fruit, all tend to put an early
limit TO the market of this produce
in a fresh state. For the dried fruit,
however, or banana fig, there would
probably be large demand in the
townships and districts Of the inter.
ior, where aridity OF climate or liabil-
ity to frost prevents the successful
cultivation of the plant itself. l
made this suggestion to various per-
son interested, and steps are being
taken to determine the best mode Of
preparing the fruit in this way, when
it may be expected that experiments
will be made on large scale. 1t
was interesting to find some of the
species imported from Singapore by
the Society, which would not fruit in
the Brisbane District, producing
abundantly on the Herbert and
Endeayour.
The Cocoa,nnt Palm.-Among the
transactions of the Society in the year
1869 (25 November) will be found %
paper which [ prepared in order to
draw attention to the suitability OF
the cocoa nut to the climate and soil
of much of the coast of Northern
Queensland. The opinion expressed
that this tree was capable OF forming
the basis of new industry for the
colony was challenged by His Excel
lency Colonel Blackall, the chairman
on the occasion referred to, who
stated that in his travels in Queens
land he had seen no land which he
would advise anybody to turn into a
cocoa-nut plantation. How far, it at all,
the paper in question was instrumen-
tai in promoting the cultivation of
the cocoa-nut, it is impossible to say;
but this tree, one of the most valuable
in creation, is now to be seen either
singly, in dozens, or in hundreds,
wherever there is settlement on the
coast; and the opinions l expressed
are fully borne out by the vigor OF
their growth and their fertility. Con-
siderable numbers are planted every
year, and there can be no doubt but
that involved in the consideration Of
labor, that the cocoa nut can be made
source Of profit TO the grower and
of wealth to the colony. Steps are