Australia, New Zealand Encyclopedia 16. (töredék) [antikvár]

rhododendronsRhododendrons are flowering shrubs of the Ericaceae family. Papua New Guinea has more than 150 species of native rhododendrons. Only one species, Rhododendron lochae, is native to Austraha.The largest flowering rhododendron, R. leucogigas, is found only in PNG. About half of New Guinea's rhododendrons are epiphytes. Most rhododendron species in NG are found only in restricted areas but several, such as R. konori and R. macgregoriae, are widespread. Some NG species have been crossed with domestic varieties and are now grown in gardens throughout the world.Australia's only native rhododendron grows on Mount Bellenden-Ker, near Cairns in N Queensland.RHYMING SLANGRhyming slang,. or calhng something by another term that rhymes with the original word, is often associated with Austrahan language patterns. Australian rhyming slang is beUeved to be of cockney origin. Its early popularity was due in part to the poems of C.J. Dennis (1876-1938).Examples of rhyming slang are: 'eau-de-cologne' for 'telephone', 'meatpies' for 'eyes', 'ducks and geese' for 'poUce', 'Joe Blake' for 'snake', and 'Captain Cook' for 'look'. Many rhyming terms are shortened, as is common in Australian speech. Thus 'rubbedy dub', for 'pub', can be referred to as 'rubbedy'.RICERice is the staple food of most people in Asia, and more than 90 per cent of the world's output is produced there. Rice is grown in Austraha and in Papua New Guinea.NSW and Queensland ricegrowingIn Austraha, most rice is grown in the Mur-rumbidgee Irrigation Area (mia) of New South Wales. Rice has been grown commercially there since 1924-25. Due to tariff protection and high average yields, the area has been able to provide for most domestic needs with a small export surplus. Most of the rice grown in NSW is a medium-grain type although more long-grain varieties are now being cultivated.Mudmen represent evil spirits to the Asaro people near Gorcka in Papua New Guinea.v r:/. .The Rtiododendron macgregoriae. which is native to New Guinea and distributed throughout the island.In Australia in 1925-26 there were 62ha cultivated to rice. Production was 1164 tonnes valued at $24,060. By 1971-72 there were 40,525ha under rice and the production of 242,140 tonnes was valued at almost $12.8 million.Since 1968 rice has been produced commercially in the Burdekin River and Ingham areas of Queensland. It seems hkely that it will also become a significant crop in that State.Production of long-grained rice has been particularly successful in Queensland. It has now largely replaced the United States as the supplier of long-grained rice for the Australian market. Unlike NSW the Queensland fields can produce two crops a year. In 1971-72 more than 11,000 tonnes of rice was produced in Queensland.Nearly three quarters of all Australian rice is exported. The main buyers in 1971-72 were Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and Chile. Australia's rice-milling industry has flourished as exports have increased. The mills remove the husks, and polish and glaze the white rice. NSW and Queensland rice is marketed by the Rice Marketing Boards of each State.Rice growing experimentsSmall amounts of rice are grown experimentally on the ord river scheme in Western Austraha and in parts of the Northem Territory. An attempt to grow rice commercially at Humpty Doo in NT was'unsuccessful.Rice growing in PNGRice is a significant food in parts of PNG. At present only five per cent of rice consumed is produced locally but rice growing is encouraged with the aim to make PNG self-sufficient in the grain.1261