ECONOMIC PLANTS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2186, 26 February 1881, Page 3

ECONOMIC PLANTS.

[From " The Leader."] In consequence of the inquiries that are constantly being made as to the kind of plants that may be cultivated with profit on small plots of ground, or what is commonly, though often erroneously, termed waste ground, we furnish the following list, which, though confessedly incomplete, may suffice for those, such na teachers and others, who, having a few hours of leisure occasionally, and desirous of spending their time in the open air, or those who have children too young for manual labor, but who also have hours of leisure when they might be educated in gardening or similar pursuits to the advantage of their bodies and minds, to choose for themselves such subjeots as may be considered to best suit the peculiar circumstances of each. That this branch of rural economy has not yet attained to greater importance in the colony could be easily explained by the peculiar conditions through which we have been passing during a course of years. It is, however, a matter for wonder to many that in a climate where nearly all the valuable extra-tropical plants to be found on the earth can be cultivated, and a large majority brought to a high degree of perfection, so little has been done in this direction. But the cultivation of various plants, other than grain, roots, &c, required as aliment for man and other animals, is surely, if slowly progressing; and strangers, or the general public, should not be left under the impression that the subject has been altogether disregarded in Victoria. Many years ago some sorts of essential oils were distilled at Nunawading by some of the settlers, especially Mr Slater and Mr Watts, besides others elsewhere. While in the Exhibition of 1862 several scented volatile oils, distilled by Mr Bosisto and Mr Johnson, at the instance of Baron Yon Mueller, were displayed, among them that of Pittosporum as a new one ; and again in 1867 the Baron (then Dr. Mueller) had numerous samples from his own laboratory, including many scent plants, among which were the Bose-Pelargonium, the Murraya, Lemon-grass, the Lemon scented Eucalyptus, G-elsemium nitidum, Cedronella, various Jasmines, Patchouli, Styrax, and others. The whole of these and other scent plants are incorporated in the Select Plants, and an index of about fifty genera (some of them, as tho Rose, with several species) is given in the last edition. And had not the laboratory and apparatus been ruthlessly harried from the Department of Botany, many more experiments would have been tried, and d'sooveries made to the lasting benefit of the colony. What we particularly want for the development of industries of this character are persons of capital who will undertake tuch enterprises, after the preliminary experiments have been made, and then to give them commercial dimensions, as Mr Bosisto has done in regard to the Eucalyptus oil. In the meantime, there is sufficient inducement for persons of small means to enter upon the culture of economic plants, many of which can be profitably grown on quite a moderate scale. The modes of culturo of nearly all the following subjects can be obtained from the weekly press of the colony, the "Select Plants" of Mueller and various other publications, at a small outlay ; while the various processes of extracting scents from flowers by etflourage, &c, are clearly detailed in the last edition—--1879—0f the work on Perfumery by Dr. Septimus Piosse. Among scent plants are several species of Andropogon, including the Lemon grass, A. Schoonathus, some of which would probably thrive in favourable situations. Boronia megestigma, now pretty well known, the fliwers of which furnish a powerful and pleasant scent. Calamintha Nepeta and other species are easily grown and furnish a powerful scent. Cedronella cordata is an easily cultivated fragrant perennial herb, from North America. Oitrus, the orange, well known for the fragrance of its blossoms, which yield one of the most valuable scents. Heliotrope yields by distillation a finely scented oil. Jasmine and Lavender both yield valuable perfumery. Melissa, the Balm, Monarda, Ocymum, Basil, Origanum vulgare, Marjoram, and other species are all scent-yielding and easily grown. Mignonette might be grown by the acre, both for its scent and as honey-yielding, Polianthes—tuborose—yields an exceedingly valuable perfume, and attains great perfection in this climate. The Rose hardly needs to be mentioned, so well known is it for its valuable products ; and we see no reason why it should not be made to yield them in this climate as well as in any other. Rosemary produces an oil that ia extensively ÜBed in perfumery ; and no shrub is more vigorous or better adapted to the climate than it is. The common Thyme also yields a perfumed oil, and is equally amenable to cultivation. Violets produce one of the most valuable of scents, and in a climate where they succeed so well —producing a succession of bloom for many months—tbey could hardly fail to be profitable. Passing on to other economic subjects, we have Arachis hypogoca —the Earth-nut—of which large quantities are annually imported, and might be grown here in favorable situations, tho gathering of the nuts forming employment for little hands. Atropa Belladonna, a most important perennial medicinal herb, would grow like a weed. Carthamuß tinctoria—the SafHower—is a free growing annual, producing dye from the flowers and oil from the seeds. Capparis spinosa—the, Caper—will grow on the poorest and rockiest soil, and afford profitable employment for children, and even worn™, in picking the buds, which are prepared for commerce in a very simple manner. Carum Carui —the Caraway—an important article of commerce which could be profitably grown for its seeds. The Coriander—Coriandrum sativum—is similar in many respeots to the preceding. Helianthus the Sunflower—ought to be largely grown, cropping heavily, and every part of the plant of value, the nuts forming excellent food for fowls, and likewise produco valuable oil; tho stalks yield o good textile fibre and the blossoms a dye. Lavender flourishes well here ; it produces by distillation tho oil of Lavender. Mentha—the Mints—well known for their qualities, M. piperita furnishing a valuable essential oil. Ricinus, the Castor oil tree, could hardly be overdone, the value of castor oil imported into Victoria annually being about £21,000. The extraction of the oil is a Hmplo process, merely strong pressure being required, while the plants will grow anywhere and on any kind of soil, though, of course, the richer the soil the greater the yield. Tho Opium Poppy also may be grown on either a large or small scale, and afford employment during one or two hours every morning in the season for gathering the juice.