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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 85

W. R. Guilfoyle further examined

W. R. Guilfoyle further examined.

1572. The Witness.—I noticed in Havter the other day

W. R. Guilfoyle, 13th April 1886.

that the value of fibre imported in 1883-4 was £70,310. This—[producing a sample]—is the sheep-bush of the Cape that was spoken of the other day by Mr. Abbott as a fodder plant, and here is a tea plantgrown in the Gardens—[handing in the same].

1573. By the Commission.—Is that Chinese tea?—That is Chinese tea.

1574. Does that, grow vigorously here?—Very vigorously. It is a vigorous growing plant, but I fect certain it would never produce a crop page 68

W. R. Guilfoyle, continued, 13th April 1886.

large enough to pay. We have not the climate for it. Tea will never pay here.

1575. And we have not the labour for it?—We have not the labour for it. The sheep plant will only grow in hard clayey soil. It is a composite plant : every shoot that drops upon the ground takes root, and if left to itself would he hard to eradicate.

1576. Would there not be danger of its running over the whole country?—The cattle would he very glad to pet at it whenever they could. The reason they have to paddock it at the Cape for cultivation is, that the cattle and sheep would very soon root it out of existence if they could pet at it, they are so fond of it; but I think we should have a better chance of growing it here successfully than they could in Tasmania; it suits our climate better.

1577. Is it suitable to a dry climate?—It will not grow in a wet one. It must have a dry clay soil. 1 have watched the tea plants very care-fully in the Gardens, and sent specimen plants to people in the country to try, and they have never been able to make much of them. We have made tea from the plants grown in the Gardens.

1578. Has anything else occurred to you since your last examination that you would like to say to us?—Not at present. I have a paper to read on various vegetable products which I would like to read at some future time. I have something to say ou oil-producing plants.

1579. Mr. Miller, in giving evidence about Russian and Italian hemp, spoke of the difference between them; what is the difference. Is it a different plant, or a difference in soil that produces the difference?—I really do not know. I forgot to ask him what was meant by Russian hemp; it maybe just a local name; but the Italian hemp, of course, is a species of linum.

1580. Does it require a very rich soil?—It must have a certain amount of manure to keep it going, and it must have moisture; it will not grow without it.

1581. Is it adapted for the warmer or the cooler districts of Victoria?.—The cooler districts seem to suit it better than the very warm ones.

The witness withdrew.