,,fruits ,,of ,,queensland      ,,by    
,,albert ,h4 ,,benson1 ,m4,r4,a4,c41    
,late ,instructor in ,fruit ,culture1   
,queensland ,government2      now       
,director of ,agriculture1 ,hobart1     
,tasmania4        ,,brisbane3      ,,by 
,,authority3 ,,anthony ,j4 ,,cumming1   
,,government ,,printer4      #aiad4     
,illustration3 ,fruit of ,mangosteen4   
,,contents4                             
,,page4      ,preface                   
#e      ,introduction                   
#g      ,queensland ,fruit-growing      
#ag      ,climate                       
#ah       #ast4--,soils of ,eastern     
,seaboard1 and land adjacent to it1     
suitable to the growth of ,tropical and 
,semi-tropical ,fruit       #ba         
#bnd4--,soils of the ,coastal           
,tablelands1 suitable for the           
growth of ,deciduous ,fruit             
#bc       #crd4--,soils of the ,central 
,tablelands1 suitable for the           
growth of ,grapes1 ,dates1 ,citrus      
,fruits1 c4                      #bd    

,the ,banana                            
#bd      ,the ,pineapple                
#ca      ,the ,mango                    
#da      ,mangosteen                    
#de      ,the ,papaw                    
#dg      ,the ,cocoa-nut                
#di      ,the ,granadilla               
#ea      ,the ,passion ,fruit           
#ea      ,custard ,apples               
#ec      ,citrus ,fruit                 
#eg      ,the ,persimmon                
#ga      ,the ,loquat                   
#gc      ,the ,date ,palm               
#ge      ,the ,pecan ,nut               
#ge      ,japanese ,plums               
#gg      ,chickasaw ,plums              
#gg      ,chinese ,peaches              
#gg      ,figs                          
#gi      ,the ,mulberry                 
#gi      ,the ,strawberry               
#gi      ,cape ,gooseberry              
#hb      ,the ,olive                    
#hc      ,the ,apple                    
#he      ,the ,peach                    
#hg      ,the ,plum                     

#hi      ,the ,apricot                  
#hi      ,the ,cherry                   
#ij      ,the ,pear                     
#ia      ,the ,almond                   
#ia      ,grape ,culture                
#ic      ,list of ,fruits and           
,vegetables ,grown in ,queensland       
#ajb     ,illustration3 ,map of         
,queensland     ,,preface4   ,in the    
more thickly populated portions of the  
,old and ,new ,world1 and1 to a certain 
extent1 in the large cities of          
,australia1 the question of how to make 
a living has became one of vital        
importance to a large portion of the    
population1 and is the cause of         
considerable anxiety to fathers of      
families who are endeavouring to find   
employment for their sons4  ,this       
difficulty of obtaining employment is a 
very serious question1 and one demanding
 the most earnest consideration4 ,it is 
probably the result of many different   
causes1 but1 in the writer's opinion1 it
 is due mainly to the fact that for     

years past the trend of population has  
been from the country districts to the  
towns1 with the result that many of the 
great centres of population are now very
 badly congested1 and profitable        
employment of any kind is often         
extremely difficult to obtain4 ,the     
congested towns offer no possible outlet
 for surplus labour1 hence it is        
necessary that such labour must find an 
outlet in the less thickly populated    
parts of the world where there is still 
plenty of room for development and      
population is badly needed4 ,queensland 
is a country possessing these           
qualifications2 but is1 unfortunately1 a
 country that is little known to the    
general mass of home-seekers1 and1      
further1 what little is known of it is  
usually so inaccurate that a very       
erroneous opinion of the capabilities of
 this really fine country exists4 ,the  
great flow of emigration is naturally to
 those countries that are nearest to the
 ,old ,world--viz41 the ,united ,states 

of ,america and ,canada--and little     
attention is given to ,australia1       
although we have many advantages not    
possessed by either the ,united ,states 
or ,canada1 and are not subject to the  
disadvantage of an intensely cold winter
 such as that experienced throughout the
 greater portion of those countries for 
several months yearly4  ,to those       
looking for homes the following pages   
are addressed1 so that before deciding  
to what part of the world they will go  
they may know what sort of a country    
,queensland really is1 what one of its  
industries is like1 the kind of life    
they may look forward to spending here1 
and the possibility of their making a   
comfortable home amongst us4 ,the life  
of a fruit-grower is by no means a hard 
one in ,queensland1 the climate of the  
fruit-growing districts is a healthy and
 by no means a trying one1 and is       
thoroughly adapted to the successful    
cultivation of many fruits2 and1        
finally1 a living can be made under     

conditions that are much more conducive 
to the well-being of our race than those
 existing in the overcrowded centres of 
population4 ,the writer has no wish to  
infer that there are big profits to be  
made by growing fruit1 but1 at the same 
time1 he has no hesitation in saying    
that where the industry is conducted in 
an up-to-date manner1 on business lines1
 a good living can be made1 and that    
there is a good opening for many who are
 now badly in want of employment4 ,the  
illustrations represent various phases  
of the industry1 and have been specially
 prepared by ,h4 ,w4 ,mobsby1 the       
,artist of the ,intelligence and        
,tourist ,bureau4 ,most of the          
,illustrations have been taken at an    
exceptionally dry time1 and at the close
 of one of the coldest winters on       
record1 so that they do not show the    
crops or trees at their best2 at the    
same time1 they give a fair idea of some
 of our fruits1 orchards1 and fruit     
lands4        ,,albert ,h4 ,,benson4    

,brisbane1 ,queensland1 ,january1 #aijf4
     ,,introduction4   ,queensland's    
greatest want to-day is population3 ,men
 and women to develop our great natural 
resources1 to go out into our country   
districts as farmers1 dairymen1 or      
fruit-growers--not to stick in our      
towns1 but to become primary producers1 
workers1 home-builders--not the         
scourings of big cities1 the            
dissatisfied1 the loafer1 but the honest
 worker whose wish is to make a home for
 himself and his family4 ,there are many
 such in the overcrowded cities of older
 countries1 striving in vain to make a  
living--existing1 it can hardly be      
called living1 under conditions that are
 by no means conducive to their         
well-being--often poorly fed and poorly 
clad--who would better themselves by    
coming to ,queensland1 and by whom      
,queensland would be benefited4         
,queensland has room for many such      
annually3 men and women who come here   
for the express intention of settling   

amongst us and building homes for       
themselves2 who come here prepared to   
work1 and1 if needs be1 to work hard2   
who do not expect to become rich        
suddenly1 but will be contented with a  
comfortable home1 a healthy life1 and a 
moderate return for their               
labour--results that are within the     
reach of all1 and which compare more    
than favourably with the conditions     
under which they are at present         
existing4  ,queensland's most valuable  
asset is her soil1 and this requires    
population to develop it3 soil that1 in 
the different districts and climates    
best adapted for their growth1 is       
capable of producing most of the        
cultivated crops of the world1 and1 with
 very few exceptions1 all the fruits of 
commercial value1 many of them to a very
 high degree of perfection4 ,this       
pamphlet is practically confined to the 
fruit-growing possibilities of          
,queensland1 and an endeavour is made to
 show that there is a good opening for  

intending settlers in this branch of    
agriculture1 but the general remarks    
respecting the climate1 rainfall1 soils1
 c41 will be of equal interest to any   
who wish to take up any other branch1   
such as general farming1 dairying1 c4   
,the ,queensland ,department of         
,agriculture has received a number of   
inquiries from time to time1 and from   
various parts of the world1 respecting  
the possibilities of profitable         
commercial fruit-growing in this ,state1
 and this pamphlet is intended in part  
to be an answer to such inquiries2 but1 
at the same time1 it is hoped that it   
will have a wider scope1 and give a     
general idea of one of our staple       
industries to many who are now on the   
look-out for a country in which to      
settle and an occupation to take up when
 they arrive there4  ,illustration3     
,woombye1 ,north ,coast ,railway4 ,the  
centre of a large fruit growing         
district4  ,no branch of agriculture has
 made a greater advance during the past 

quarter-century than that of            
fruit-growing1 and none has become more 
popular4 ,the demand for fruit of all   
kinds1 whether fresh or preserved1 has  
increased enormously throughout the     
world1 and it is now generally looked   
upon more as a necessity than a luxury4 
,hence there are continually recurring  
inquiries as to the best place to start 
fruit-growing with a reasonable prospect
 of success4 ,it is not only the        
increased demand for fruit that causes  
these inquiries1 but fruit-growing has a
 strong attraction for many would-be    
agriculturists as compared with general 
farming1 dairying1 or stock-raising1 and
 this attraction is probably due to a   
certain fascination it possesses that   
only those who have been intimately     
acquainted with the industry for years  
can fully appreciate4 ,in addition to   
the fact that living under one's own    
vine and fig-tree is in itself a very   
pleasant ideal to look forward to1 there
 is no branch of agronomy that calls for

 a keener appreciation of the laws of   
,nature1 that brings man into closer    
touch with ,nature1 that makes a greater
 demand on a man's patience1 skill1 and 
energy1 or in which science and practice
 are more closely related1 than in that 
of fruit-growing4 ,to all those who are 
considering the advantages of taking up 
fruit-growing as an occupation1 and to  
those who feel the attraction ,i have   
just described1 these few words on      
fruit-growing in ,queensland are        
addressed1 as the writer wishes them to 
learn something of the fruit-growing    
capabilities of this ,state1 so that    
before deciding on the country in which 
they will make a start they may not be  
in complete ignorance of a land that is 
especially adapted for the growth of a  
larger number of distinct varieties of  
fruit than any other similar area of    
land with which he is acquainted either 
in the ,old or ,new ,world4  ,queensland
 is a country whose capabilities are at 
present comparatively unknown even to   

those living in the ,southern ,states of
 ,australia1 and1 naturally1 very much  
less so to the rest of the world1 hence 
a little general information respecting 
our country and one of its industries   
may be of some help to those who are    
looking for an opening in this          
particular branch of agriculture4       
,illustration3 ,a ,tropical ,orchard1   
,port ,douglas4  ,illustration3 ,coochin
 ,york ,mangosteen1 ,port ,douglas      
,district4  ,queensland is a country    
having a population of a little over    
half a million1 and an area of          
#dbi1abj1jjj acres2 the population of a 
city of the second magnitude1 and an    
area of some seven and one-half times   
greater than that of ,great ,britain1 or
 two and one-half times greater than the
 ,state of ,texas1 ,united ,states of   
,america4  ,a country embracing #ah     
degrees of latitude1 from the #aath to  
the #bith degrees of south latitude1 and
 extending from a humid eastern seaboard
 to an extremely dry interior1 some #ae 

degrees of longitude west4 ,a country1  
therefore1 of many climates and varied  
rainfall4 ,a country possessing a great 
diversity of soils1 many of which are of
 surprising richness4 ,a country more or
 less heavily timbered with either scrub
 or forest growth1 or consisting of wide
 open plains that are practically       
treeless4 ,a country of infinite        
resources1 that is capable of producing 
within its own borders all that man     
requires1 from the extreme tropical to  
temperate products4 ,a country that1    
once its possibilities are realised and 
turned to a profitable account1 is      
destined to become one of the most      
fruitful in the globe1 to support a     
large and thriving population of our own
 people2 and last1 but not least1 a     
country that1 from a fruit-grower's     
point of view1 cannot be excelled       
elsewhere4 ,we have a healthy climate1  
not by any means an extreme climate as  
is often represented--extreme cold is   
unknown1 frost being unusual on any     

portion of the seaboard1 but common     
during the winter months on our         
tablelands4 ,but even where there are   
frosts the days are pleasantly warm4    
,summer is undoubtedly warm1 but it is  
usually a bearable heat1 and sudden     
changes are extremely rare1 so that     
though trying in the humid tropical     
seaboard1 it is not unbearable1 and     
compares favourably with the tropical   
heat met with elsewhere4 ,this is       
clearly shown by the stamina of the     
white race1 particularly those living in
 the country districts1 where both men  
and women compare favourably with those 
of any other part of the ,empire4       
,except in very isolated places1        
communication with the outside world and
 between the different centres of       
population is regular and frequent2 in  
fact1 in all the coastal and coastal    
tableland districts of the ,state one is
 kept daily in touch with all the       
important matters that are taking place 
in the world4 ,in the home life there is

 a freedom not met with in older        
countries2 there is an almost entire    
absence of artificiality--people are    
natural1 and are interested in each     
other's welfare4 ,they are certainly    
fond of pleasure1 but at the same time  
are extremely generous and hospitable4  
,the writer can speak of this from a    
large practical experience1 as for some 
years past he has annually travelled    
many thousands of miles amongst         
fruit-growers and others who are settled
 on the land1 and1 without exception1 he
 has everywhere been met with the       
greatest kindness from rich and poor    
alike--in short1 a hearty welcome--and  
the best that the house affords is the  
rule1 without exception4 ,in brief1     
should any of my readers decide on      
coming to ,queensland1 the only         
difference that they will find as       
compared with the older countries is1   
that our climate is somewhat warmer in  
summer1 but to compensate for this we   
have no severe cold in winter4 ,there is

 more freedom and less conventionality1 
life to all who will work is much       
easier1 and there is not the same       
necessity for expensive clothing or     
houses as exists in more rigorous       
climates4 ,the people they will meet are
 of their own colour and race1 no doubt 
fond of sport and pleasure1 perhaps     
inclined to be a little                 
self-opinionated1 but solid grit at the 
bottom4 ,as previously stated1          
,queensland offers exceptional          
advantages to the intending             
fruit-grower1 and the following may be  
quoted as examples4 ,the ease with which
 fruit can be produced1 when grown under
 conditions suitable to its proper      
development1 is often remarkable1 and is
 a constant source of wonder to all who 
have been accustomed to the             
comparatively slow growth of many of our
 commoner varieties of fruits when grown
 in less favoured climes1 and to the    
care that is there necessary to produce 
profitable returns4 ,here all kinds of  

tree life is rapid1 and fruit trees come
 into bearing much sooner than they do  
in colder climates4 ,in addition to     
their arriving at early maturity1 they  
are also1 as a rule1 heavy bearers1     
their fault1 if anything1 being towards 
over-bearing4 ,fruits of many kinds are 
so thoroughly acclimatised that it is by
 no means uncommon to find them growing 
wild1 and holding their own in the midst
 of rank indigenous vegetation1 without 
receiving the slightest care or         
attention4 ,in some cases where         
cultivated fruits have been allowed to  
become wild1 they have become somewhat  
of a pest1 and have kept down all other 
growths1 so much so that it has been    
actually necessary to take steps to     
prevent them from becoming a nuisance1  
so readily do they grow1 and so rapidly 
do they increase4 ,the very ease with   
which fruit can be grown when planted   
under conditions of soil and climate    
favourable to its development has had a 
tendency to make growers somewhat       

careless as compared with those of other
 countries who have to grow fruit under 
conditions demanding the most careful   
attention in order to be made           
profitable4 ,this is enough to show that
 ,queensland is adapted for             
fruit-growing1 and the illustrations    
accompanying the description of our     
chief commercial fruits will show them  
more forcibly than any words of mine    
that my contention is a correct one4    
,latterly1 however1 there has been a    
considerable improvement in the working 
of our orchards1 growers finding that it
 does not pay to grow second-quality    
fruit1 and1 therefore1 they are giving  
much more attention to the selection of 
varieties1 cultivation of the land1     
pruning the trees1 and the keeping in   
check of fruit pests2 as1 like other    
parts of the world1 we have our pests to
 deal with4 ,this improvement in the    
care and management of our orchards is  
resulting in a corresponding improvement
 in the quantity and quality of our     

output1 so that now our commercial      
fruits--that is to say1 the fruits grown
 in commercial quantities--compare      
favourably with the best types of       
similar fruits produced elsewhere4 ,the 
writer has no wish to convey the        
impression that all that is required in 
order to grow fruit in ,queensland is to
 secure suitable land1 plant the trees1 
let ,nature do the rest1 and when they  
come into bearing simply gather and     
market the fruit4 ,this has been done in
 the past1 and may be done again under  
favourable conditions1 but it is not the
 usual method adopted1 nor is it to be  
recommended4 ,here1 as elsewhere1 the   
progressive fruit-growing of to-day has 
become practically a science1 as the    
fruit-grower who wishes to keep abreast 
of the times depends largely on the     
practical application of scientific     
knowledge for the successful carrying on
 of his business4 ,there is no branch of
 agronomy in which science and practice 
are more closely connected than in that 

of fruit-growing4 ,every operation of   
the fruit-grower is1 or should be1      
carried out on scientific lines and by  
the best methods of                     
propagation--pruning1 cultivation1      
manuring1 treatment of diseases1 and    
preservation of fruit when grown are    
all1 directly or indirectly1 the result 
of scientific research4 ,to be a        
successful fruit-grower in ,queensland  
one must therefore use one's brains as  
well as one's hands2 the right tree must
 be grown in the right kind of soil and 
under the right conditions2 it must be  
properly attended to1 and the fruit1    
when grown1 must be marketed in the best
 possible condition1 whether same be as 
fresh fruit or dried1 canned1 or        
otherwise preserved1 and whether same be
 destined for our local1 ,australian1 or
 oversea markets4 ,fruit-growing on     
these lines is a success in ,queensland 
to-day1 and it is capable of            
considerable extension1 so that1 in the 
writer's opinion1 it offers a good field

 for the intending settler4 ,carried out
 in the manner indicated1 he has no     
hesitation in saying that ,queensland is
 a good place in which to start         
fruit-growing1 that the advantages it   
possesses cannot be surpassed or even   
equalled elsewhere1 and1 further1 that  
as our seasons are the opposite of those
 in countries situated on the north of  
the equator1 our fruits ripen in the    
off-seasons of similar fruit grown in   
those countries1 and1 with our          
facilities for cold storage and rapid   
transit1 can be placed on their markets 
at a time that they are bare of such    
fruits1 thus securing top prices4       
,illustration3 ,bunch of ,fruit of the  
,coochin ,york ,mangosteen4  ,queensland
 has practically an unlimited area of   
land suitable for fruit culture1 much of
 which is at present in its virgin      
state1 and is obtainable on easy terms  
and at a low rate4 ,government land is  
worth on an average ,l#a per acre1 and  
privately-owned land suitable for       

fruit-growing can be purchased at from  
#ajs4 to ,l#e per acre1 according to its
 quality and its distance from railway  
or water carriage4 ,we have plenty of   
land1 what we lack is population to work
 it2 and there is no fear of            
over-crowding for many years to come4   
,we have not only large areas of good   
fruit land at reasonable rates1 but the 
,government of ,queensland1 through its 
,department of ,agriculture1 is always  
ready to give full information to       
intending settlers1 to assist them in   
their selection of suitable land1 to    
advise them as to the kinds of fruit to 
plant1 to give practical advice in the  
cultivation1 pruning1 manuring1 and     
general management of the orchard as    
well as in the disposal or utilisation  
of the fruit when grown2 in short1 to   
help the beginner to start on the right 
lines1 so that he will be successful4   
,illustration3 ,tamarind                
,fruits--,kamerunga ,state ,nursery1    
,cairns4  ,there is also little if any  

fear of over-extending the fruit-growing
 industry1 as1 if it is conducted on the
 right lines and on sound business      
principles1 we can raise fruit of the   
highest quality at a price that will    
enable us to compete in the markets of  
the world especially now that we have   
direct and rapid communication at       
frequent intervals with ,canada1 the    
,united ,states of ,america1 the ,east  
7,japan1 ,manilla1 c471 ,europe1 and the
 ,united ,kingdom4     ,,queensland     
,,fruit ,,growing4   ,very few persons  
have any idea of the magnitude or the   
resources of this ,state of ,queensland1
 and in no branch of agricultural       
industry are they more clearly shown    
than in that of fruit-growing4 ,here1   
unlike the colder parts of the world or 
the extreme tropics1 we are not confined
 to the growing of particular varieties 
of fruits1 but1 owing to our great      
extent of country1 and its geographical 
distribution1 we are able to produce    
practically all the cultivated fruits of

 the world1 many of them to great       
perfection4 ,there are1 however1 one or 
two tropical fruits that are exceptions1
 such as the durien and mangosteen1     
whose range is extremely small1 and one 
or two of the berry fruits of cold      
countries1 which require a colder winter
 than that experienced in any part of   
this ,state4 ,it will1 however1 be seen 
at once that a country that can produce 
such fruits as the mango1 pineapple1    
banana1 papaw1 granadilla1 guava1       
custard apple1 litchi1 sour sop1 cocoa  
nut1 bread fruit1 jack fruit1 monstera1 
alligator pear1 and others of a purely  
tropical character2 the date1 citrus    
fruits of all kinds1 passion fruit1     
persimmon1 olive1 pecan nut1 cape       
gooseberry1 loquat1 and other fruits of 
a semi-tropical character1 as well as   
the fruits of the more temperate        
regions1 such as the apple1 pear1 plum1 
peach1 apricot1 quince1 almond1 cherry1 
fig1 walnut1 strawberry1 mulberry1 and  
others of minor importance1 in addition 

to grapes of all kinds1 both for wine   
and table1 and of both ,european and    
,american origin1 offers a very wide    
choice of fruits indeed to the          
prospective grower4 ,of course1 it must 
not be thought for a moment that all the
 fruits mentioned can be grown to       
perfection at any one place in the      
,state1 as that would be an             
impossibility1 but they can be grown in 
some part of the ,state profitably and  
to great perfection4  ,the law of       
successful fruit culture is the same    
here as in all other fruit-producing    
countries--viz41 to grow in your        
district only those fruits which are    
particularly adapted to your soil and   
climate1 and to let others grow those   
fruits which you cannot grow1 but which 
their conditions allow them to produce  
to perfection4 ,the intending grower    
must1 therefore1 first decide on what   
fruits he wishes to grow1 and when he   
has done so1 select the district best   
suited to their growth4 ,the small map  

of the ,state shows the districts in    
which certain fruits may be grown       
profitably1 or1 rather1 the districts in
 which they are at present being so     
grown2 but there are many other         
districts in which fruit-growing has not
 been attempted in commercial quantities
 or for other than purely home          
consumption that1 once the ,state begins
 to fill up with population1 are equal1 
if not superior1 to the older           
fruit-growing districts1 and are capable
 of maintaining a large population4     
,illustration3 ,typical ,clean ,orchard4
     ,,climate4   ,as previously stated1
 the successful culture of fruit depends
 mainly on the right kinds of fruit     
being grown in the right soil and       
climate4 ,this naturally brings us to   
the question of climate1 and here one   
again gets an idea of the extent of our 
country1 as we have not one but many    
climates4 ,climate is a matter of such  
vital importance to fruit-growers1 and  
there is such a general lack of         

knowledge respecting the climate of     
,queensland1 that a little information  
on this point is desirable4 ,i am afraid
 that there is a very general impression
 that ,queensland has a climate that is 
only suitable for a coloured race2 that 
it is either in the condition of a      
burnt-up desert or is being flooded out4
 ,that it is a country of droughts and  
floods1 a country of extremes--in fact1 
a very desirable place to live out of4  
,no more erroneous idea was ever given  
credence to1 and1 as an ,englishman     
born1 who has had many years' practical 
experience on the land in ,england1     
,scotland1 the ,united ,states of       
,america1 and the various ,australian   
,states1 ,i have no hesitation in saying
 that1 as far as my experience goes--and
 it is an experience gained by visiting 
nearly every part of the ,state that is 
suited for agricultural pursuits--taken 
as a whole1 it is difficult to find a   
better or healthier climate in any other
 country of equal area4 ,our climate has

 its disadvantages1 no doubt1           
particularly our dry spells1 but show me
 the country that has a perfect climate4
 ,we have disadvantages1 but1 at the    
same time1 we have great advantages2    
advantages that1 in my opinion1 outweigh
 our disadvantages4  ,our eastern       
seaboard1 extending from the ,new ,south
 ,wales border in the south1 a few miles
 to the south of the #bhth degree of    
south latitude1 to ,cape ,york1 some #bj
 miles north of the #aath degree of     
south latitude1 contains our best       
districts for the growth of tropical and
 semi-tropical fruits4 ,the coastal     
climate1 however1 varies considerably1  
and is governed by the proximity or     
otherwise of the coast ranges4 ,when    
they approach the coast there is always 
more rainfall1 and as they recede the   
rainfall decreases4 ,with one or two    
exceptions1 where the coastal range is a
 considerable distance inland1 the      
eastern coastal districts have a        
sufficient rainfall for the successful  

culture of most fruits1 though they are 
subject to a dry spell during winter and
 spring4 ,during this period of the     
year1 the weather is extremely          
enjoyable2 in fact1 it is hard to better
 it1 even in our extreme ,north4 ,but as
 summer approaches1 thunderstorms become
 prevalent1 and are accompanied by more 
or less humid conditions1 which1 though 
good for fruit-development1 are not     
quite so enjoyable as the drier months4 
,summer is our rainy season1 and the    
rainfalls are occasionally very heavy4  
,the weather is warm and oppressive1    
particularly in the more tropical       
districts2 but these very conditions are
 those that are best suited to the      
production of tropical fruits4 ,the     
climate of those districts having the   
heaviest summer rainfall is somewhat    
trying to ,europeans1 particularly      
women1 but it is by no means unhealthy1 
and in the hottest parts1 having the    
coast range nearly on the coast1 there  
is1 within a few miles1 a tableland of  

from #b1jjj to #d1jjj feet elevation1   
where the climate is cool and bracing1  
and where the jaded man or woman can    
soon throw off the feeling of lassitude 
brought about by the heat and humidity  
of the seaboard4 ,in autumn the weather 
soon cools off1 drier conditions        
supervene1 and living again becomes a   
pleasure in one of the best and         
healthiest climates to be met with      
anywhere4 ,practically all the district 
under review has a sufficient rainfall  
for the growth of all fruits suitable to
 the climate1 though there are          
occasionally dry spells during spring1  
when a judicious watering would be a    
great advantage4 ,this does not imply a 
regular system of irrigation1 but simply
 the conserving of surplus moisture in  
times of plenty by means of dams across 
small natural watercourses or gullies1  
by tanks where such do not occur1 or    
from wells where an available supply of 
underground water may be obtained4 ,the 
water so conserved will only be needed  

occasionally1 but it is an insurance    
against any possible loss or damage that
 might accrue to the trees during a dry 
spell of extra length4 ,so far1 little  
has been done in coastal districts in   
conserving water for fruit-growing1 the 
natural rainfall being considered by    
many to be ample2 but1 in the writer's  
opinion1 it will be found to be a good  
investment1 as it will be the means of  
securing regular crops instead of an    
occasional partial failure1 due to lack 
of sufficient moisture during a critical
 period of the tree's growth4 ,the      
average yearly rainfall in the eastern  
seaboard varies from #adi inches at     
,geraldton to #da inches at ,bowen1 the 
mean average being about #ij inches to  
the north and #di inches to the south of
 ,townsville4 ,were this fall evenly    
distributed throughout the year1 it     
would be ample for all requirements4    
,unfortunately1 however1 it is not      
evenly distributed1 the heavy falls     
taking place during the summer months1  

so that there is often a dry spell of   
greater or less extent during the winter
 and spring1 during which a judicious   
watering has a very beneficial effect on
 fruit trees1 and secures a good crop   
for the coming season4 ,the rainfall    
shows that there is no fear of a        
shortage of water at any time1 the only 
question is to conserve the surplus for 
use during a prolonged dry spell4 ,these
 conditions are extremely favourable for
 the growth of all tropical and         
semi-tropical fruits1 as during our     
period of greater heat1 when these      
fruits make their greatest call for     
moisture1 there is an abundance of rain1
 and during the other portions of the   
year1 when the call is not so heavy1 it 
is usually an inexpensive matter to     
conserve or obtain a sufficient supply  
to keep the trees in the best of order4 
,throughout the southern half of this   
seaboard frosts are not unknown on      
low-lying ground1 but are extremely rare
 on the actual coast1 or at an elevation

 of #cjj to #djj feet above the sea1 so 
much so that no precautions are         
necessary to prevent damage from frost4 
,we have1 unlike ,florida and other     
parts of the ,united ,states of         
,america--great fruit-growing           
districts--no killing frosts1 and now1  
at the close of one of the coldest      
winters on record1 and one of the       
driest1 nowhere have our                
pineapples--fruit nor plants--been      
injured1 except on low-lying ground1    
over in the ,southern part of the       
,state1 and mangoes1 bananas1 c41 are   
uninjured4  ,illustration3 ,burning-off 
for fruit growing1 ,mapleton1 ,blackall 
,range4  ,illustration3 ,same land one  
year later4 ,fruit-grower's family      
gathering strawberries4  ,in the more   
tropical ,north frosts are unknown on   
the coast1 and there is no danger to    
even the most delicate plants from cold4
  ,running parallel with the coast we   
have a series of ranges of low          
mountains1 running from #b1jjj feet to  

nearly #f1jjj feet1 the general height  
being from #b1jjj to #c1jjj feet1 and at
 the back of these ranges more or less  
level tablelands1 sloping generally to  
the west4 ,on and adjacent to these     
ranges in the ,southern part of the     
,state1 there are fairly sharp frosts in
 winter1 but the days are warm and      
bright4 ,this is the district best      
adapted for the growth of deciduous     
fruits and vines1 table varieties doing 
particularly well4 ,it is a district    
well adapted for mixed farming and      
dairying1 as well as fruit-growing2 the 
climate is even and healthy1 and is     
neither severe in summer nor winter4    
,the average rainfall is some #cj       
inches1 and is usually sufficient1      
though there are dry periods1 when a    
judicious watering1 as recommended for  
the coast districts1 would be of great  
value to fruit and vegetable growers4   
,the more northern end of this tableland
 country has a much better              
rainfall--some #dj inches per annum--and

 frosts1 though they occur at times1 are
 not common4 ,here the climate is very  
healthy1 there are no extremes of heat  
and cold1 and1 lying as it does inland  
from the most trying portion of our     
tropical seaboard1 it forms a natural   
sanatorium to this part of our ,state4  
,further west the rainfall decreases1   
the summers are hot--a dry heat1 as     
distinct from the more humid heat of the
 coast1 and much more bearable4 ,there  
are frequent frosts in winter1          
particularly in the ,southern part of   
the ,state4 ,fruit-growing is only      
carried on to a slight extent at        
present1 and then only with the help of 
water1 but when the latter is           
obtainable1 very good results are       
obtained4 ,grapes do well1 both wine and
 table1 and for raisin-making4 ,citrus  
fruits are remarkably fine1 the lemons  
especially1 being the best grown in the 
,state4 ,the trees are less liable to   
the attack of many pests1 the dryness of
 the air retarding their development1 if

 not altogether preventing their        
occurrence4 ,the date palm is quite at  
home here1 and when planted in deep     
sandy land1 and supplied with sufficient
 water1 it is a rapid grower and heavy  
bearer4 ,as an offset to the smallness  
of the rainfall1 there is a good supply 
of artesian water1 distributed over a   
wide range of country1 that can be      
obtained at a reasonable rate1 and that 
is suitable for irrigation purposes4    
,all bore water is not suitable for     
irrigation1 however1 as some of it is   
too highly mineralised1 but there are   
large areas of country possessing an    
artesian supply of excellent quality for
 this purpose4 ,it will thus be seen    
that we have in ,queensland1 roughly1   
three distinct belts of fruit-growing   
country--       #ast4--,the ,eastern    
,seaboard1 and the land adjacent to it1 
suitable      for the growing of        
tropical and semi-tropical fruit2       
#bnd4--,the ,coastal ,tablelands1       
suitable for the growth of deciduous    

fruits1 vines1 olives1 and citrus fruits
 in parts2       #crd4--,the ,central   
,tablelands1 suitable for the growth of 
grapes1      for table and drying1      
dates1 citrus fruits1 c41 but requiring 
water for irrigation to produce         
profitably4  ,so far1 ,i have confined  
my remarks mainly to the climatic side  
of fruit-growing1 and1 before dealing   
with the growing of the different kinds 
of fruit1 ,i will say a few words about 
our fruit soils1 and will deal with them
 in districts1 as ,i have endeavoured to
 do in the case of climate4             
#ast4--,soils of ,eastern ,seaboard1 and
 ,land adjacent to it1 suitable to the  
,growth of ,tropical and ,semi-,tropical
 ,fruit4  ,several distinct types of    
soil are found that are well adapted for
 fruit-growing1 but they all have one   
general characteristic which is a sine  
qua non of success--viz41 they must     
possess good natural drainage1 so that  
there is no danger of their becoming    
waterlogged or soured during periods of 

continued or heavy rainfall1 as these   
conditions are fatal to fruit culture   
under tropical and semi-tropical        
conditions4 ,of such soils1 the first to
 be considered are those of basaltic    
origin4 ,they are usually of a chocolate
 or rich red colour1 are of great depth1
 in parts more or less covered with     
basaltic boulders1 in others entirely   
free from stones4 ,the surface soil is  
friable and easily worked1 and the      
subsoil1 which is usually of a rich red 
colour1 is easily penetrated by the     
roots of trees and plants grown thereon4
 ,occasionally the subsoil is more      
compact1 in which case it is not so good
 for fruit-tree growth1 but is better   
adapted for that of sugar-cane1 corn1   
grass1 c4 ,these basaltic soils are     
usually rich1 and are covered in their  
virgin condition with what is termed    
scrub--a dense mass of vegetation       
closely resembling an ,indian jungle4   
,the scrub growth is totally distinct   
from forest growth1 which will be       

described later1 in that the bulk of the
 timber growing in it1 much of which is 
of large size1 is of a soft nature1 and 
once cut down soon rots away4 ,imagine a
 dense wall of vegetation1 consisting of
 large trees running up to #ajj or #aej 
feet in height1 with trunks ranging from
 #b to #h feet1 or even more1 in        
diameter1 and between these trunks an   
impenetrable mass of smaller growths1   
all of the most vivid green colours1    
together with innumerable vines and     
creepers that are suspended from the    
branches of the trees1 hanging in       
festoons1 creeping palms and bamboos1   
ferns and orchids of many kinds1 both on
 the ground and growing on the tree     
trunks1 as well as many beautiful       
foliage plants only found in hothouses  
in ,england1 and you will have a faint  
idea of what a virgin scrub in coastal  
,queensland is like4 ,much of the timber
 of the coastal scrubs is of            
considerable commercial value for       
building purposes and furniture making1 

and is1 or should be1 so utilised prior 
to felling and burning off4  ,true scrub
 lands are not by any means the most    
difficult to clear1 though to a new chum
 the work will appear at first of a     
,herculean character4 ,brushing the     
dense undergrowth and then felling the  
timber at a face costs from ,l#a #ajs4  
to ,l#b per acre1 according to density1 
size of timber1 and proportion of       
hardwood trees contained in it1 and once
 this is done the fallen mass is allowed
 to become thoroughly dry1 when it is   
burnt off4 ,a good fire is half the     
battle1 as the subsequent work of       
burning off the heavy timber left from  
the first burn is comparatively light4  
,no stumps are taken out1 as the bulk   
are found to rot out in a few years1 and
 their presence in the soil is no       
detriment to the planting of such crops 
as bananas or even citrus fruit trees4  
,no special preparation of the land1    
such as breaking up1 c41 is necessary   
prior to planting4 ,holes are dug1 trees

 or bananas are planted1 and the whole  
cultivation for the first few years     
consists in keeping down weed growths   
with the chipping hoe4 ,once the stumps 
have rotted out the plough and other    
implements of culture take the place of 
the hoe4 ,these soils are especially    
adapted for the growth of oranges1      
limes1 mandarins1 mangoes1 bananas1     
pineapples1 papaws1 custard apples1     
strawberries1 and cape gooseberries in  
the ,south2 in fact1 for nearly every   
kind of tropical and semi-tropical      
fruit4  ,some basaltic soils are        
occasionally covered with forest in the 
place of scrub1 or a mixture1 part scrub
 and part forest4 ,forest country1 as   
distinct from scrub1 is open-timbered   
country1 with little undergrowth1 and no
 vines or other creepers4 ,the timbers  
are also1 as a rule1 very hard1 and the 
stumps will not rot out4 ,such land1    
when at all heavily timbered1 is much   
harder to clear and get ready for       
fruit-growing than true scrub1 as all   

timber must be felled and burnt off1 and
 all stumps and roots taken out1 so that
 the land can be thoroughly broken up   
and brought into a good state of tilth  
prior to planting4 ,these soils are     
suitable to the growth of similar fruits
 to the true scrubs1 but1 as a rule1    
they are not as rich4 ,the second class 
of soils suitable to fruit-growing are  
of alluvial origin1 and are of a sandy1 
loamy nature1 of fair depth4 ,they are  
usually met with along our creeks and   
rivers1 or in the deltas of our rivers4 
,in their virgin state they are either  
covered with scrub or forest1 or a      
mixture of both1 but the growth is      
seldom as strong as on the red volcanic 
soils4 ,heavy alluvial soils are not    
suitable for fruit culture1 and are much
 more valuable for the growth of farm   
crops1 but the light sandy loams and    
free loams of medium character suit all 
kinds of fruit to perfection4 ,these    
soils usually are easy to work4 ,they   
retain moisture well when well worked1  

and frequently they are capable of being
 irrigated1 either from adjacent creeks 
or rivers1 or by water from wells4      
,these soils are some of our best for   
citrus fruits1 and are well adapted for 
the growth of pineapples and bananas1 as
 well as most other tropical fruits1    
when free from frosts4 ,the third class 
of soils are free sandy loams1 either   
scrub or forest4 ,they are of various   
colours1 and range in texture from light
 sandy loams to medium loams2 they      
possess excellent drainage1 and though1 
when covered with forest1 they are not  
naturally rich1 they make excellent     
fruit soils1 and respond rapidly to     
systematic cultivation and manuring4    
,they are usually of sandstone or       
granitic origin1 and1 when covered with 
scrub in the first place1 grow good     
crops for the first few years1 when they
 become more or less exhausted in one or
 more available plant foods1 and require
 manuring4 ,these soils1 like the sandy 
alluvial loams1 are easy to work1 retain

 moisture well when kept in a state of  
perfect tilth1 and respond readily to   
manuring4 ,they will grow all kinds of  
fruits when free from frost4 ,there are 
other soils on which fruit can be grown1
 but those mentioned represent those    
most suitable4 ,the land on which these 
soils occur is often much broken1       
particularly in rich scrub country2 it  
is fairly level when of alluvial origin1
 and more or less rolling1 as a rule1   
when of a sandy loamy nature4 ,high1    
ridgy1 free1 loamy country is usually   
the most free from frost1 and alluvial  
flats the most liable to it4            
#bnd4--,soils of the ,coastal           
,tablelands1 suitable for the ,growth of
 ,deciduous ,fruit4  ,starting from the 
,southern part of the ,state1 adjoining 
the ,new ,south ,wales border1 the fruit
 soils are all of granitic origin4 ,the 
country is much broken1 but between the 
ridges and along the creek flats there  
is a considerable area possessing soils 
varying from a coarse1 granitic1 gritty 

soil to a fine granitic soil2 that on   
the creeks of an alluvial nature1 but   
still granitic4 ,these soils vary       
considerably in quality1 but are1 as a  
rule1 easy to work and retain moisture  
well4 ,they are covered with open forest
 and are particularly adapted to the    
growth of apples1 plums1 peaches1 and   
grapes1 though other deciduous fruits   
are grown but not to the same excellence
 as those mentioned4 ,proceeding north  
the fruit soils are either sandy loams  
or loams of a brownish colour of        
volcanic origin4 ,the former are        
suitable for almonds and wine grapes1   
and the latter for peaches1 apricots1   
pears1 apples1 and especially olives4   
,further north a few of these fruits may
 be grown on loamy soils1 together with 
citrus fruits1 but1 commercially1       
deciduous fruits are confined to the    
southern end of this district1 the      
winter temperature being too high for   
their successful growth further north1  
as the trees get no winter rest1 hence  

do not mature their fruit-bearing wood  
properly4   #crd4--,soils of the        
,central ,tablelands1 suitable to the   
,growth of ,grapes1 ,dates1 ,citrus     
,fruits1 ,etc4  ,at the ,southern end of
 the ,state the fruit soils are all of a
 sandy nature4 ,nothing else is used in 
any quantity1 as sandy soils alone will 
retain sufficient moisture for the      
growth of grapes and fruit trees during 
dry spells1 and even then only when kept
 well and deeply worked4 ,further north1
 where suitable artesian water is       
available1 the best fruit soils are also
 free loams of a sandy nature1 either   
alluvial or open forest soils1 but deep1
 and possessing perfect drainage1 as    
irrigation on land without good natural 
drainage is fatal to fruit culture4     
,these sandy loams are also easy to     
work2 though by no means rich1 they1 on 
account of their depth1 grow good crops 
of fruit by means of irrigation1 and the
 fruit1 such as dates1 oranges1 lemons1 
grapes1 c41 is of very fine quality4    

,the fruit soils of this district are   
covered either with open forest--the    
trees being of comparatively small      
size--or with a scrubby undergrowth     
through which a few larger trees are    
scattered4 ,nearly all the timber of    
this district is extremely hard1 is more
 or less stunted1 and burns readily1    
hence clearing is not a very expensive  
item4  ,having now given a very brief   
description of our climate and the      
fruit-soils in our principal            
fruit-producing centres1 we will next   
consider the culture of those fruits    
which are grown in commercial quantities
 in the different parts of the ,state1  
as well as that of a few less well-known
 fruits which show especial promise4 ,we
 will first deal with our tropical      
fruits1 of which the first to be        
considered is the banana1 as its        
production greatly exceeds that of any  
other tropical fruit1 and1 as far as    
,australia is concerned1 this is the    
only ,state in which it is grown in     

commercial quantities4 ,from tropical   
fruits we will go on to semi-tropical   
fruits1 then to temperate fruits and    
vines4     ,,the ,,banana4  ,under the  
heading of ,banana1 all kinds of        
plantains will also be included1 as they
 belong to one and the same family4 ,the
 members of this family of plants are   
all tropical1 and produce the most      
typical and best known tropical fruits4 
,illustration3 ,cavendish ,bananas on   
scrub land1 ,buderim ,mountain4         
,illustration3 ,cavendish ,bananas at   
,woombye on newly cleared land4  ,the   
rank luxuriance of the growth of this   
class of fruits1 their handsome foliage1
 their productiveness1 their high       
economic value as food1 and their       
universal distribution throughout the   
tropics1 all combine to place them in a 
premier position4 ,as a food it is      
unequalled amongst fruits1 as no matter 
whether it is used green as a vegetable1
 ripe as a fruit1 dried and ground into 
flour1 or preserved in any other way1 it

 is one of the most wholesome and       
nutritious of foods for human           
consumption4 ,it is a staple article of 
diet in all tropical countries1 and the 
stems of several varieties make an      
excellent food for all kinds of stock4  
,illustration3 ,twenty-dozen ,bunch1    
,buderim ,mountain4  ,in ,queensland1   
the culture of bananas is confined to   
the frostless belts of the eastern      
seaboard1 as it is a plant that is      
extremely susceptible to cold1 and is   
injured by the lightest frosts4 ,it is  
grown in favourable locations in the    
,south1 where it produces excellent     
fruit1 but its cultivation is much      
greater in the ,north1 where the        
rainfall is heavier and the average     
annual temperature greater4 ,in the     
,southern part of the ,state its        
cultivation is entirely in the hands of 
white growers1 who have been growing it 
on suitable soil in suitable localities 
for the past fifty years or even more4  
,i recently saw an old plantation that  

was set out over twenty years ago1 and  
the present plants are still strong and 
healthy1 and bearing good bunches of    
well-filled fruit1 so that there is no  
question as to the suitability of the   
soil or climate4 ,bananas do best on    
rich scrub land1 and it is no detriment 
to their growth if it is more or less   
covered with stones as long as there is 
sufficient soil to set the young plants4
 ,shelter from heavy or cold winds is an
 advantage1 and the plants thrive better
 under these conditions than when       
planted in more exposed positions4      
,bananas are frequently the first crop  
planted in newly burnt off scrub land1  
as they do not require any special      
preparation of such land1 and the large 
amount of ash and partially burnt and   
decomposed vegetable mould provide an   
ample supply of food for the plants'    
use4 ,bananas are rank feeders1 so that 
this abundance of available plant food  
causes a rapid growth1 fine plants1 and 
correspondingly large bunches of fruit4 

,though newly burnt off scrub land is   
the best for this fruit1 it can be grown
 successfully in land that has been     
under cultivation for many years1       
provided that the land is rich enough   
naturally1 or its fertility is          
maintained by judicious green and other 
manuring4 ,in newly burnt off scrub land
 all that is necessary is1 to dig holes 
#ae to #ah inches in diameter1 and about
 #b feet deep1 set the young plants in  
it1 and partly fill in the hole with    
good top soil4 ,the young plant1 which  
consists of a sucker taken from an older
 plant1 will soon take root and grow    
rapidly under favourable conditions1    
producing its first bunch in from ten to
 twelve months after planting4 ,at the  
same time that it is producing its first
 bunch it will send up two or more      
suckers at the base of the parent plant1
 and these in turn will bear fruit1 and 
so on4 ,after bearing1 the stalk that   
has produced the bunch of fruit is cut  
down2 if this is not done it will die   

down1 as its work has been completed1   
and other suckers take its place4 ,too  
many suckers should not be allowed to   
grow or the plants will become too      
crowded1 and be consequently stunted and
 produce small bunches4 ,all the        
cultivation that is necessary is the    
keeping down of weed growth1 and this1  
once the plants occupy the whole of the 
land1 is not a hard matter4 ,a          
plantation is at its best when about    
three years old1 but remains profitable 
for six years or longer2 in fact1 there 
are many plantations still bearing good 
fruit that have been planted from twelve
 to twenty years4 ,small-growing or     
dwarf kinds1 such as the ,cavendish     
variety1 are planted at from #ab to #af 
feet apart each way1 but large-growing  
bananas1 such as the ,sugar and ,lady's 
,finger1 require from #bj to #be feet   
apart each way1 as do the               
stronger-growing varieties of plantain4 
,plantains are not grown to any extent  
in ,queensland1 and our principal       

varieties are those already mentioned1  
the ,cavendish variety greatly          
predominating4 ,in the ,north1 the      
cultivation of this latter variety is   
carried out on an extensive scale1      
principally by ,chinese gardeners1 who  
send the bulk of their produce to the   
,southern ,states of the ,commonwealth4 
,the industry supports a large number of
 persons other than the actual producers
 of the fruit1 and forms one of our     
principal articles of export from the   
,north4 ,as many as #bj1jjj or more     
large bunches of bananas frequently     
leave by a single steamer for the       
,south1 and the bringing of this        
quantity to the port of shipment gives  
employment to a number of men on tram   
lines and small coastal steamers4 ,the  
shipment of a heavy cargo of bananas    
presents a very busy scene that is not  
soon forgotten1 the thousands of bunches
 of fruit that are either piled up on   
the wharf or that are being unloaded    
from railway trucks1 small steamers or  

sometimes ,chinese junks1 forming such a
 mass of fruit that one often wonders   
how it is possible to consume it all    
before it becomes over-ripe4 ,still1 it 
is consumed1 or1 at any rate1 the       
greater portion of it is1 as it is the  
universal fruit of the less wealthy     
portion of the community1 the price at  
which it can be sold being so low that  
it is within the reach of everyone4 ,a  
banana garden in full bearing is a very 
pretty sight1 the thousands of plants1  
each with their one or more bunches of  
fruit1 as1 where there are several stems
 it is not at all uncommon to find two  
or more bunches of fruit in different   
states of development on the same plant1
 forming a mass of vegetation that must 
be seen to be appreciated4 ,this is the 
case even with dwarf-growing kinds1 but 
with strong-growing varieties1 such as  
the ,lady's ,finger1 the growth is so   
excessive that the wonder is1 how the   
soil can support it4  ,illustration3    
,bananas for shipment at ,innisfail4    

,bananas do remarkably well in          
,queensland1 and there is practically an
 unlimited area of country suitable for 
their culture1 much of which is at      
present in a state of ,nature4 ,only the
 more easily accessible lands have been 
worked and of these only the richest4   
,manuring is unknown in most parts1 and 
as soon as the plantation shows signs of
 deterioration it is abandoned1 and a   
fresh one planted out in new land1 the  
land previously under crop with bananas 
being either planted in sugar-cane or   
allowed to run to grass4 ,this is       
certainly a very wasteful method of     
utilising our land1 and the time will   
come1 sooner or later1 when greater care
 will have to be given to it1 and that  
once land has become impoverished by    
banana culture1 it will have to be put  
under a suitable rotation of crops1 so  
as to fit it for being again planted to 
bananas4 ,the trouble is1 as ,i have    
already stated1 we have too much land   
and too few people to work it1 hence1 so

 far1 we are unable to use it to        
anything like the best advantage4       
,during the year #aijd the production of
 bananas in ,queensland was some        
#b1jjj1jjj bunches1 and when it is      
considered that each bunch will average 
about #ab dozen fruit1 it will be seen  
that already we are producing a very    
large quantity4 ,there is1 however1     
plenty of room for extension1 and any   
quantity of available country1 but      
before this extension can be profitable1
 steps will have to be taken to utilise 
the fruit in a manner other than its    
consumption as fresh fruit1 and this in 
itself will mean the opening up of new  
industries and the employment of a      
considerable amount of labour4 ,i have  
mentioned #ab dozen as being the average
 quantity of fruit per bunch1 but it is 
frequently much more than this1 and ,i  
have often seen bunches of #be to #cj   
dozen fine fruit grown on strong young  
plants on rich new land4 ,although the  
industry in the ,north is now almost    

entirely in the hands of ,chinese       
gardeners1 there is no reason whatever  
why it should not be run by white       
growers1 as is done in the ,south1 and  
there is no question that our           
white-grown bananas in the ,south       
compare more than favourably with the   
,northern ,chinese-grown article1       
despite the fact that the latter has    
every advantage in climate and an       
abundance of virgin soil4 ,most of the  
photos of bananas are1 ,i am sorry to   
say1 not by any means typical of this   
industry1 as they have been taken during
 the off-season1 when the plants look   
ragged and are showing little new       
growth1 and the bunches also are much   
smaller than usual4 ,still1 ,i hope that
 the illustrations will give some idea  
of the growing and handling of this     
crop1 and will show what a banana plant 
and its bunch are like4     ,,the       
,,pineapple4   ,if there is one fruit   
that ,queensland can grow to perfection1
 it is undoubtedly the pineapple4 ,this 

is not merely my own personal opinion1  
but is the universal admission of all   
who are qualified to judge4 ,on many    
occasions ,i have taken men thoroughly  
conversant with pineapple-growing1 and  
who knew what a good fruit really is1   
through some of our plantations1 where  
,i have given them fruit to test1 and1  
without exception1 they have had no     
hesitation in saying that they have     
never tasted better fruit4 ,our fruit   
has a firmness1 freedom from fibre1 and 
a flavour that is hard to beat4 ,it is  
an excellent canning fruit1 superior in 
this respect to the ,singapore article1 
which it surpasses in flavour4 ,this is 
admitted by ,english and ,european      
buyers1 and its superiority is bound    
eventually to result in a great increase
 in canning and the establishment of    
large works run on thoroughly up-to-date
 lines4  ,illustration3 ,picking ,pines 
for market--,woombye ,district4         
,illustration3 ,pineapple               
,plantation--showing plants of different

 ages--,woombye1 ,north ,coast ,line4   
,like the banana1 the pineapple is a    
tropical fruit1 and is very sensitive to
 cold1 hence its culture is confined to 
frostless districts4 ,it is grown all   
along our eastern seaboard1 where1 when 
planted in suitable soils and under     
suitable conditions1 it is1 undoubtedly1
 our hardiest fruit1 and is practically 
immune from any serious disease4 ,its   
culture is entirely in the open1 no     
shelter whatever being given1 so that we
 are not put to the great expense that  
growers of this fruit in ,florida and   
some other pineapple-producing countries
 must incur if they wish to secure a    
crop4 ,here we have no severe           
freeze-outs1 and1 though dry spells     
retard the growth at times1 we have     
never suffered any serious injury from  
this cause4 ,in the ,southern part of   
the ,state1 the coolness of the winter  
retards growth somewhat1 and            
occasionally the tops of the leaves and 
young fruit are slightly injured1       

particularly in low-lying land1 or where
 the plants are growing on land having a
 cold subsoil4 ,when grown under more   
favourable conditions1 however1 they    
sustain no injury1 and produce fruit1   
more or less1 all the year round4 ,pines
 are always in season1 though there are 
times when they are comparatively       
scarce4 ,there are usually two main     
crops a year--viz41 a summer and a      
winter crop4 ,the former is the heavier 
of the two1 and the fruit is decidedly  
the best1 as its sugar contents are much
 higher4 ,the main summer crop ripens in
 the ,north from the beginning of       
,november1 and in the ,south from       
,january to as late as ,march in some   
seasons4 ,the main winter crop is       
usually at its best in ,july and        
,august1 but there is always more or    
less fruit during the other months of   
the year4 ,the pineapple likes a warm1  
free1 well-drained soil1 that is free   
from frost in winter1 and that will not 
become soured by heavy rain during      

summer4 ,sandy loams are1 therefore1 our
 best pineapple soils1 though it does   
well on free loams of basaltic or       
alluvial origin4 ,unlike the banana1 the
 pineapple does not do too well in newly
 burnt off scrub land1 owing to the     
difficulty in working the ground and    
keeping it clean4 ,it requires a        
thorough preparation of the soil prior  
to planting in order to be grown to     
perfection4 ,in the case of new land of 
suitable texture1 the timber should all 
be burnt off1 and all stumps and roots  
taken out of the soil1 which should then
 be carefully broken up and reduced to a
 fine tilth1 all weed or grass growth   
being destroyed4 ,it should then be     
again ploughed1 and1 if possible1       
subsoiled1 so as to permit of the roots 
penetrating the ground to a fair depth  
instead of their merely depending on the
 few top inches of surface soil4        
,careful preparation of the land and    
deep stirring prior to planting will be 
found to pay well1 and turn out far the 

cheapest in the end4 ,given suitable    
soil1 well prepared1 the growing of     
pineapples is not at all difficult1 as  
the plants soon take root1 and once they
 became established1 they prove         
themselves to be extremely hardy4 ,pines
 will grow and thrive on comparatively  
poor soil1 provided it is of suitable   
texture1 but in such soils it is        
necessary to supplement the plant food  
in the soil by the addition of manures1 
if large fruit and heavy crops are to be
 obtained4 ,pineapples are propagated by
 means of suckers coming from the base  
of fruit-bearing plants1 or from smaller
 suckers1 or1 as they are termed1       
robbers or gill sprouts that start from 
the fruiting stem just at the base of   
the fruit4 ,they are also sometimes     
propagated by means of the crown1 but   
this method is usually considered too   
slow4 ,well-developed suckers are       
usually preferred1 as these come into   
bearing earliest1 but equally good1 if  
not better1 returns are obtained by     

planting gill sprouts4 ,the latter have 
the advantage in that they always       
develop a good root system before       
showing signs of fruit1 hence their     
first crop is always a good one1 and the
 fruit is of the best1 whereas suckers  
sometimes start flowering as soon as    
they are planted1 before they are       
properly established1 with the result   
that the first fruit is small and       
inferior1 and the plants have to throw  
out fresh suckers before a good crop is 
produced4 ,gill sprouts are slower in   
coming into bearing than suckers1 but   
the results are usually more            
satisfactory4 ,like the banana1 once a  
pineapple plant has borne fruit the     
fruiting stalk dies down1 and its place 
is taken by one or more suckers1 which  
in their turn bear fruit and die4       
,pineapples are planted in ,queensland  
in several ways1 but by far the most    
common method is to set the suckers out 
in single or double rows1 from #h to #i 
feet apart1 with the plants at from #a  

to #b feet apart in the row4 ,the rows  
soon increase in width by the growth of 
suckers1 and the throwing up of         
ratoons--surface roots thrown off from  
the original plant1 which send up plants
 from below the ground as distinct from 
suckers1 which come from the base or    
even higher up the stem of a fruiting   
plant4 ,it is not at all an uncommon    
thing to see the rows grown together1 so
 that the plantation appears to be a    
solid mass of plants1 but pathways have 
to be kept between the rows to permit of
 gathering the fruit1 manuring1 c4      
,pineapples have been grown in the      
,brisbane district for the past sixty   
years1 and ,i have been shown beds of   
plants that have not been replanted for 
over forty years that are still         
producing good fruit4 ,this shows how   
well at home this fruit is with us2 but1
 in my opinion1 it is not desirable to  
keep the plants so long in the same     
ground1 as the finest fruit is always   
obtained from comparatively young       

plantations1 the older ones producing   
too large a proportion of small fruit4  
,from the ,brisbane district this fruit 
has spread all over the eastern coast1  
and its production is increasing rapidly
 in several districts4 ,once the pine is
 planted1 its cultivation is            
comparatively simple4 ,if in single or  
double rows1 all weed growth is kept    
down between the plants1 and the ground 
between the rows is kept in a state of  
good cultivation by means of ploughing  
or cultivating1 the soil being worked   
towards the rows so as to encourage the 
formation of suckers low down on the    
fruiting plants4 ,manure is given when  
necessary1 the manure being worked in on
 either side of the rows4               
,illustration3 ,smooth-leaved ,cayenne  
,pines in fruit1 planted #ae months1    
,woombye ,district4  ,the pineapple     
comes into bearing early1 and1 except   
where suckers throw fruit as soon as    
planted1 bear their first crop in from  
twelve to twenty months1 according to   

the type of suckers planted and the time
 of year at which they are set4         
,practically every sucker will produce a
 fruit at the first fruiting1 and these 
will be followed by succeeding crops1   
borne on the successive crops of        
suckers1 so that when the whole of the  
ground is occupied by plants1 the       
returns are very heavy4 ,one thousand   
dozen marketable fruits is by no means  
an unusual crop for ,queen pines in a   
plantation in full bearing1 and1 taking 
these at an average of #b-a_/b lb4 each1
 you get a return of #cj1jjj lb41 or #ae
 tons ,american per acre4 ,the          
illustrations herewith give a good      
general idea of the usual method of     
growing pines1 and the method of        
handling and marketing1 as well as of   
the nature of the country on which they 
are grown4 ,the illustrations are mostly
 of smooth-leaved pines1 which bear a   
fruit averaging from #f to #h lb4 each1 
but occasionally running up to as much  
as #ad to #af lb41 though the latter is 

an extreme weight4 ,the single pine     
shown is just under #ab lb4 ,several    
kinds of pines are grown1 which are     
generally classified into roughs and    
smooths4 ,the rough1 or rough-leaved    
pines1 such as the ,common ,queen and   
,ripley ,queen1 and local seedlings     
raised from them1 are very prolific1 and
 though not equal in size and appearance
 to the smooth-leaved ,cayenne1 our     
principal smooth-leaved kind1 are       
usually considered to be of superior    
flavour1 and to be better for canning or
 preserving4 ,rough pines run up to as  
much as #f lb4 weight each1 but this is 
uncommon1 the best average ,i have met  
with being about #d lb4 per pine1 and   
they were exceptionally good4 ,the price
 at which this fruit sells here seems   
absurd to those living in cold          
countries1 who are accustomed to look   
upon it as a luxury only found on the   
tables of the wealthy1 as good          
rough-leaved pines are worth about #as4 
per dozen during the summer season1 and 

smooth-leaved pines from #as4 #f;d4 to  
#bs4 #f;d4 a dozen4 ,prices are         
certainly higher during the off-season1 
but growers would be well satisfied to  
get #as4 per dozen for rough pines all  
the year round4 ,i have no hesitation in
 saying that pines can be grown at a    
profit at from ,l#c to ,l#d per ton1 so 
that the cost of growing is so low that 
there is nothing to prevent us from     
canning the fruit and selling it at a   
price that will defy competition4       
,illustration3 ,pineapple               
,plantation--,pines packed for market1  
and showing fruit-grower's home1        
,woombye ,district4  ,pineapple-growing 
has been a very profitable industry1    
particularly in the older plantations of
 the ,brisbane district1 and still      
continues to be so in many places       
despite the fact that prices are much   
lower now than they were some years     
since4 ,the plantations from which the  
illustrations are taken are             
comparatively new ones1 the land having 

been in its virgin state from six to    
eight years ago1 and1 as shown1 some is 
only now being cleared4 ,the owners of  
the plantations started without capital1
 and1 by dint of hard work and          
perseverance1 are now reaping an        
excellent return of some ,l#ej per acre 
net profit4 ,this is by no means an     
isolated example1 but is one that is    
typical of what can be done1 and has    
therefore been chosen4 ,there is a great
 opening for the culture of this fruit  
in ,queensland1 and its cultivation is  
capable of being extended to a          
practically unlimited extent4 ,we have a
 large amount of land suitable for the  
growth of this fruit that is available  
in different parts of the ,state1 much  
of it at very reasonable rates1 so that 
there is no difficulty in this direction
 for anyone wishing to make a start4 ,it
 is an industry from which returns are  
quickly obtained1 and is a branch of    
fruit-growing that holds out strong     
inducements and every prospect of       

success to intending growers4 ,at       
present our production is about         
sufficient for our presently existing   
markets1 but there is nothing to prevent
 these markets being widely extended4   
,our present means of utilising our     
surplus fruits1 by canning or otherwise 
preserving same1 are by no means as     
complete or up to date as they should   
be1 and before they can become so1 it is
 necessary to greatly increase our      
output4 ,small works cost too much to   
run as compared with large canning      
establishments1 hence we are not yet in 
a position to make the most of our      
fruit4 ,with increased production we    
will have an increase in the facilities 
for utilising the fruit4 ,this requires 
labour1 and there is right here an      
opening for many industrious workers1 a 
business that ,i have no doubt will pay 
from the start1 a business of which we  
have the ,australian monopoly1 and in   
which there is no reason that ,i can see
 in which we should not compete         

satisfactorily in the markets of the    
world4  ,illustration3 ,pineapple       
,plantation--,showing method of growing 
the fruit1 ,woombye ,district4          
,queensland possesses many advantages   
respecting the growth of this fruit as  
compared with other countries in which  
it is grown commercially1 which may be  
briefly enumerated as follows3--        
#ast4--,freedom from loss by            
freeze-outs2       #bnd4--,the ease with
 which the fruit can be grown1 and its  
freedom      from disease2              
#crd4--,the large area of land suitable 
to its culture1 and the low      price  
at which suitable land can be obtained2 
#dth4--,the fine quality of the fruit2  
#eth4--,the superiority of our fruit for
 canning purposes2       #fth4--,the low
 price at which it can be produced1 and 
the heavy      crops that can be grown4 
,these are enough reasons to show that  
in the pineapple we have a fruit well   
suited to our soil and climate1 a fruit 
in the cultivation of which there is    

room for great extension1 and which will
 provide a living for many industrious  
settlers4  ,illustration3 ,rough-leaved 
,pines1 ,redland ,bay ,district4        
,illustration3 ,pineapple               
,plantation--,on virgin soil1 showing   
scrub land at back being cleared for    
fruit growing1 ,woombye ,district4      
,,the ,,mango4   ,this magnificent      
fruit1 which is practically unknown     
outside of the tropics1 has become as   
hardy as a forest tree throughout our   
eastern seaboard1 wherever it is planted
 out of frost4 ,it has been named1 and  
well named too1 the apple of            
,queensland1 as it stands as much       
neglect1 and can be grown with as little
 care and attention as1 or even less1   
than that given to the apple-trees in   
many of the ,somerset or ,devonshire    
orchards4 ,it will not1 however1 stand  
frost4 ,droughts and floods have little 
effect on it2 it will grow in any soil1 
from a sand to a heavy loam1 amongst    
rocks1 or on a gravelly or shaley land4 

,naturally1 it does best in good land1  
but there are hundreds of cases where   
trees are doing well and bearing heavily
 on land that is by no means fruit land4
 ,the mango is one of our handsomest    
fruit trees2 the symmetry of its growth1
 its large glossy leaves1 the delicate  
colouring of its young growth1 which is 
of different shades in different        
varieties1 the abundance of fruit that  
it produces1 varying in colour from     
dull-green to yellow1 red1 or even      
purplish tints1 all render it           
conspicuous4 ,as well as being one of   
our handsomest1 it is also one of our   
most widely distributed fruits1 being   
found growing luxuriantly the whole     
length of our eastern seaboard4 ,a few  
trees are also to be met with inland in 
districts that are free from frosts1 so 
that it stands both the dry heat of the 
interior and the humid heat of the      
coast4 ,as a tropical fruit it naturally
 reaches its greatest perfection under  
our most tropical conditions1 the trees 

there growing practically wild1         
requiring little if any attention1      
making a rapid growth1 coming into      
bearing early1 and producing heavy crops
 of fruit4 ,further south the growth is 
somewhat slower1 though the trees grow  
to a large size and bear heavily4 ,it is
 one of the easiest of trees to grow1 as
 it is readily propagated by means of   
seed4 ,in many plantations thousands of 
young seedlings may often be seen       
growing under the old trees1 the seeds  
having taken root without even having   
been planted4 ,in most cases it is      
propagated from seed1 the stones of     
fruit showing especial merit being      
planted either in a nursery1 or1 better1
 still1 where the tree is to remain     
permanently1 as it usually does better  
when so planted than when grown in a    
nursery and thence transplanted to its  
permanent location4 ,the land should be 
well worked prior to planting1 and the  
young trees require to be kept free from
 weeds and undergrowth till such time as

 they occupy the whole of the ground1   
when they are able to look after        
themselves1 and require no further      
attention1 at any rate in the warmer    
parts4 ,it is not at all uncommon to    
come across a mango-tree1 in full       
bearing1 in vigorous health1 that is    
growing wild1 the result of a stone that
 has been thrown away by someone who has
 eaten the fruit4 ,the young tree has   
not only been able to hold its own      
against all kinds of indigenous growths1
 but has developed into a vigorous1     
healthy tree1 thus showing that it is   
perfectly at home1 and that the soil and
 climate of ,queensland suit it to      
perfection4 ,the fact that by far the   
greater portion of our mango-trees have 
been grown from seed has resulted in the
 production of innumerable varieties1   
many of which are of decidedly inferior 
quality1 as one never knows when        
planting the seed what the resultant    
fruit is going to be like4 ,one is more 
likely to get good fruit by planting the

 seeds from selected fruit of the       
highest quality1 but is by no means     
certain to do so1 as a number of seeds  
always revert to inferior types4 ,this  
has had a bad effect on our mango       
industry1 and has been apt to give the  
fruit as a class a bad name1 so much so 
that we find it difficult to get our    
,southern neighbours to take to it at   
all readily4 ,i can quite understand    
anyone1 whose first experience of a     
mango is that of an inferior fruit1 full
 of fibre1 and having a distinctly      
disagreeable flavour1 condemning the    
particular fruit1 but because there are 
inferior fruits one should not condemn  
the whole without knowing what a really 
good mango is like4  ,illustration3     
,mango ,trees1 ,port ,douglas4  ,we have
 many good mangoes in ,queensland1 but  
only a few that are really first-class1 
and of the latter ,i have yet to meet   
the man or woman1 who is a fruit-eater1 
who does not appreciate their exquisite 
flavour1 and who does not consider them 

worthy to rank with any of the finest   
fruits4 ,by many a really fine mango is 
considered to be the king of fruits1 and
 ,i am not at all certain that they are 
not right1 but1 at the same time1 a     
really bad mango is indescribably bad4  
,the mango grows to a large size here1  
even when comparatively young4 ,i know  
trees over #ej feet in height1 having a 
spread of the branches of more than #fj 
feet1 a main trunk nearly #c feet in    
diameter1 that are under thirty years   
old1 and that have borne from #a to #b  
tons of fruit for a single crop4        
,hundreds of tons of fruit go to waste  
annually for want of a market1 or are   
consumed by farm animals1 as the        
consumption of the fruit is practically 
confined to this ,state1 and the        
production is greater than we can       
consume1 despite the fact that mangoes  
are in season from the end of ,september
 to ,march1 and that they are a         
favourite fruit with all who have       
acquired a liking for them4 ,in addition

 to the consumption of the fruit in its 
fresh state1 a quantity is converted    
into chutney1 but this is so small that 
it has no appreciable effect on the crop
 as a whole4 ,the unripe fruit makes an 
excellent substitute for apples1 and is 
used stewed or for pies or tarts1 and   
when sliced and dried it may be stored  
and used in a similar manner to dried   
apples4  ,illustration3 ,mango ,tree    
near ,brisbane4  ,in addition to its    
value as a fruit1 the mango forms a     
handsome ornamental tree1 and one that  
provides a good shade for stock4 ,it is 
very free from disease1 as with the     
exception of one or two species of scale
 insects1 which do not cause any very   
serious damage1 it has few serious      
pests4 ,it is a fruit that is bound     
sooner or later to come into more       
general favour1 particularly when the   
qualities of the finer varieties are    
better known4 ,until quite recently it  
was considered to be one of the most    
difficult trees to propagate by means of

 grafting or budding1 hence its         
propagation has been practically        
confined to raising it from seed1 but   
now we have found out how to work it by 
means of plate-budding1 and are able to 
perpetuate our best sorts true to kind4 
,this is sure to lead to a general      
improvement of our existing varieties1  
as old trees can be worked over by this 
means1 or young trees of approved kinds 
can be grown in a nursery and           
distributed4  ,the fruit is very        
wholesome1 is much appreciated by all   
who have acquired a taste for it1 can be
 used fresh or dry1 ripe or unripe1 and 
cans well4 ,it is a great addition to   
our list of purely tropical fruits1 and 
finds a place in all orchards or gardens
 where it is capable of being grown4    
,,the ,,mangosteen4   ,many attempts    
have been made during past years to     
introduce this delicious fruit into     
,queensland1 but these always resulted  
in failure4 ,true1 a certain variety of 
mangosteen has been successfully grown  

at ,port ,douglas1 also on the ,lower   
,burdekin1 and rumours of the existence 
of the true ,java mangosteen 7,garcinia 
mangostana7 have been received1 but1 in 
nearly every case1 they have1 on        
investigation1 proved to be ,garcinia   
xanthochymus1 or some other species4 ,at
 the ,kamerunga ,state ,nursery1        
however1 trees of undoubted parentage   
were successfully raised4 ,it is said   
that a thriving young plant1 which is   
unquestionably ,g4 mangostana1 is owned 
by ,mr4 ,banfield1 of ,dunk ,island4    
,the records of the ,kamerunga ,nursery 
show that in ,october1 #ahia1 a         
quantity--about #ajj--of ripe mangosteen
 fruit was received from the ,batavian  
agency by the then manager1 ,mr4        
,ebenezer ,cowley1 from which some #fjj 
seeds were obtained4 ,of these1 only a  
few germinated4 ,the next mention is of 
the distribution1 in ,february1 #ahib1  
of six plants to an applicant on the    
,mossman1 and of two more in ,may of    
that year4 ,since then several young    

trees have been raised at the nursery1  
and one of them1 in ,january1 #aiac1    
fruited for the first time for          
twenty-two years1 and is the first to   
have done so in this ,state4 ,some of   
the fruit was sent to the ,department of
 ,agriculture and ,stock1 and proved to 
be fully equal to those of ,java4 ,a    
full history of the mangosteen and of   
its introduction into ,queensland is    
given in ,the ,queensland ,agricultural 
,journal 7vol4 xxx41 ,june and ,july1   
#aiac74 ,the photographs were taken from
 the original fruit4  ,illustration3    
,fruit of ,mangosteen4     ,,the        
,,papaw4   ,continuing our list of      
tropical fruits1 we now come to the     
papaw1 one of our most wholesome and    
useful fruits4 ,it is grown all along   
our eastern seaboard in situations that 
are free from frost4 ,it comes into     
bearing early1 and is a heavy cropper4  
,like the other tropical fruits already 
described1 it does best in our warmer   
parts1 coming to maturity earlier1 and  

producing better fruit4 ,in many of the 
,northern coastal scrubs it is often met
 with growing wild1 and producing fruit 
in abundance1 the seeds from which the  
trees have been produced having been    
dropped by birds or distributed by other
 natural agencies4 ,the papaw fruit     
resembles a rock melon somewhat in shape
 and flavour1 the fruit being produced  
in the axil of the leaves all along the 
main stem1 where they are clustered     
thickly together4 ,the tree does best on
 well-drained soils1 and is very        
sensitive to the presence of clay or    
stagnant water at the roots1 hence it   
usually does best on scrub land or land 
well supplied with humus4 ,it is        
propagated entirely from seed1 which    
grows readily in such soils1 and under  
favourable conditions will bear its     
first fruit when about ten to twelve    
months old1 and continue to bear for    
three or four years or even longer4     
,when the trees becomes old1 however1   
the fruit decreases in size and         

deteriorates in quality1 so that it is  
necessary to plant a number yearly in   
order to keep up a regular supply4 ,it  
is a very handsome tree1 with large     
spreading leaves on long stems1 beneath 
which is its cluster of fruit--as many  
as #ajj fruits being sometimes found in 
different stages of development on the  
one plant4 ,the fruit ranges in size    
from #b lb4 to some #f lb4 in weight1   
and when ripe it is of a greenish-yellow
 or sometimes orange colour4 ,the flesh 
is yellow1 and when quite ripe it is    
moderately juicy1 and of a flavour that 
it not always appreciated at first1 but 
which one soon becomes very partial to4 
,it more nearly resembles the flavour of
 a rock melon than that of any other    
fruit1 and the seeds1 which are found   
clustered in the centre of the fruit1   
have a flavour that closely resembles   
that of seeds of the nasturtium4 ,both  
the seeds and the fruit contain an      
active principle called papain1 which is
 really a vegetable pepsin1 that has the

 effect of greatly assisting in the     
assimilation of all food with which it  
is eaten1 hence it is a valuable remedy 
in the case of dyspepsia1 and persons   
who take the fruit regularly are never  
subject to this exceedingly troublesome 
disease4 ,the fruit can be used both as 
a vegetable and as a fruit1 the former  
in its green state1 when it is boiled   
and served with melted butter1 resembles
 a vegetable marrow or squash1 but is   
superior to either of these vegetables4 
,as a fruit it is either used by itself1
 or in conjunction with other fruits it 
forms the basis of a fruit salad4 ,it is
 largely used in the ,north1 and its    
cultivation is steadily spreading       
,south1 as its valuable properties are  
becoming better known4 ,its cultivation 
is very simple4 ,the seeds are either   
planted where the tree is to remain1 or 
are raised in a bed and transplanted to 
their permanent position in the orchard 
when strong enough to stand shifting1   
care being taken to select a dull moist 

day4 ,the young plants are protected    
from the sun for a few days till they   
have become established1 after which all
 that is necessary is to keep down weeds
 and to work the soil round them1 taking
 care not to injure the roots4 ,a good  
mulch of decomposed vegetable matter    
round the plants is an advantage1 but   
they are usually so easily grown that   
little extra care is given to them4 ,the
 papaw bears male and female flowers1   
which may be on the same trees1 but are 
usually on different trees1 so that it  
is usual to speak of male and female    
trees4 ,this is1 however1 a mistake1 as 
according to ,bailey the plant is       
polygamous--that is to say1 male1       
female1 or hermaphrodite flowers may be 
found on the same or on distinct plants4
 ,the male flowers are usually on long  
scantily-branched auxiliary panicles1   
whereas the female flowers are mostly in
 the axils of the leaves close to the   
stem4 ,the two trees are not            
distinguishable from each other till    

they come into flower1 hence it is      
advisable to set the young plants fairly
 close together--say1 #f feet apart--and
 thin out the male trees when same can  
be distinguished by their blossoms4     
,besides its use as a fruit and         
vegetable1 the papaw makes a fair       
conserve and an excellent sauce1 and its
 medicinal principle1 papain1 is an     
article of commerce4  ,illustration3    
,papaw in fruit1 near ,brisbane4        
,,the ,,cocoa-,,nut4   ,although this   
palm can be grown for ornamental        
purposes as far south as ,brisbane1 its 
cultivation on commercial lines will be 
confined to the coast district north of 
,townsville1 and to the islands off the 
coast1 as1 in order to develop its fruit
 to perfection1 it requires a tropical  
climate4 ,where the climate is suitable 
it does well1 it makes a rapid growth1  
and bears heavy crops of nuts4 ,old     
palms on the beach at ,cairns compare   
favourably with any growing in the      
,south ,seas1 and ,i am of opinion that 

its culture in commercial quantities on 
suitable land will be found profitable4 
,the cocoa-nut palm does best right on  
or adjacent to the seashore1 in         
comparatively poor sandy soil--soil that
 is usually of little value for general 
crops1 though it will grow mangoes well4
 ,so far1 it is not grown in any large  
numbers1 and although there is a ready  
sale for the ripe nuts1 there is no     
attempt to make copra or to utilise the 
coir4 ,copra is the dried flesh of the  
nut1 from which oil is extracted1 and is
 largely used in the manufacture of     
soap1 candles1 c41 the refuse left after
 the oil has been extracted being used  
for cattle feed4 ,coir is the fibre     
surrounding the nut1 and is used for the
 manufacture of matting1 door mats1 c4  
,there is a considerable area of land   
suitable to the culture of this fruit on
 our ,northern coast1 which is at       
present lying idle1 that1 in my opinion1
 can be turned to a profitable use by   
planting it in cocoa-nuts as1 in        

addition to utilising land otherwise of 
little value1 we would be building up a 
new industry4 ,the trees come into      
bearing in about eight years after      
planting the seed1 and will continue to 
produce crops for many years without any
 attention4 ,care will have to be given 
for the first few years1 whilst the     
plants are small1 to keep down          
undergrowth and to prevent fires from   
running through the plantation1 but1    
once fairly established1 the plants will
 look after themselves4 ,a cocoa-nut    
plantation gives a distinctly tropical  
look to the district in which it is     
grown1 and the palms1 particularly when 
young1 are very ornamental2 when old the
 long bare stems detract somewhat from  
the beauty of the top4 ,it is a palm    
that ,i believe has a good future before
 it in the ,north1 and for that reason  
,i have included it amongst our tropical
 fruits1 though it is cultivated at     
present more as an ornamental plant than
 as an article of commerce4             

,illustration3 ,cocoa-nut ,palms1 ,port 
,douglas4     ,,the ,,granadilla4   ,a  
vine1 belonging to the natural order    
,passifloreae1 that produces one of our 
most delicious tropical fruits4 ,the    
papaw and the passion fruit belong to   
this same order4 ,it can be grown all   
along our eastern seaboard1 but comes to
 greatest perfection in the ,north4 ,the
 fruit is of a pale greenish-yellow     
colour1 cylindrical in shape1 and varies
 in weight from about #a to #e lb41 the 
largest fruits being produced on a      
sub-species4 ,the fruit consists of an  
outer pulpy covering1 which can be used 
for cooking if desired1 which surrounds 
a cavity filled with seeds which are    
encased in a jelly-like mass4 ,this is  
the portion eaten1 and to use an        
,americanism1 ,it is not at all hard to 
take4 ,it is either eaten by itself1 or 
is used in conjunction with papaw and   
other fruits to make a fruit salad1 a   
dish that is fit for the food of the    
gods1 and once taken is never forgotten4

  ,the granadilla is easily grown from  
seed1 and the plants are trained on an  
overhead trellis1 the fruit hanging down
 on the underside4 ,it is a heavy       
bearer1 and once planted requires little
 attention4 ,it requires a free1 warm   
soil1 that is fairly rich1 to be grown  
to perfection1 hence it is most commonly
 grown on scrub land4 ,it can1 however1 
be grown on any well-prepared land of a 
free nature4 ,unfortunately1 it is a    
difficult fruit to ship any distance1   
hence its consumption is mainly confined
 to the districts in which it is grown1 
and where1 needless to say1 it is       
greatly appreciated4 ,it is in fruit    
more or less all the year round1 its    
main crop being in early spring in the  
,north1 and during the summer months    
further ,south4 ,it is sometimes made   
into jam or jelly1 but when preserved   
loses much of its characteristic        
flavour4  ,illustration3 ,granadilla    
,vine at ,kuranda1 ,cairns district4    
,,the ,,passion ,,fruit4   ,this fruit  

is very closely related to the          
granadilla1 but is much hardier than it1
 and can be grown to perfection much    
further ,south4 ,it is not injured by   
frost to any extent in any part of      
coastal ,queensland1 and can be grown a 
considerable distance inland4 ,it is    
more rightly a semi-tropical than a     
tropical fruit1 though1 as it is so     
nearly related to the granadilla1 ,i    
have included it amongst the tropical   
fruits4 ,it is also a vine1 and1 when   
grown commercially1 is trained along a  
horizontal trellis1 in a somewhat       
similar manner to a grape vine4 ,it is  
readily grown from seed1 and will       
produce fruit in less than twelve months
 from the time that it is planted1 and  
will continue to bear fruit for some    
years4 ,it does best on a free1 warm    
soil of fair quality1 though it may be  
grown anywhere with care1 and often     
thrives well in very poor soils with the
 addition of manure4 ,it is found       
growing wild on the borders of many of  

our scrubs and elsewhere1 the seeds     
having been deposited by birds or other 
agencies1 and under such conditions it  
produces an abundance of fruit4 ,the    
fruit is of a roundish oval shape1 and  
is of a dark-purple colour4 ,it is about
 the size of a large hen's egg1 the     
outer skin being hard and shell-like1   
and the centre filled with the seeds1   
which are surrounded with a jelly-like  
mass and a yellowish pulp4 ,it is a very
 fine flavoured fruit1 and is           
universally liked4 ,it is grown in      
considerable quantities in the ,southern
 part of the ,state1 and is one of our  
commonest fruits4 ,it has usually two   
crops a year--a summer and a winter     
crop--but can be got to produce its     
fruit at any particular time that is    
desired by systematic pruning at        
different times of the year4 ,it is     
often grown over sheds1 dead trees1     
fallen logs1 c41 which it covers with a 
mass of dense green foliage1 and        
converts what would otherwise be an     

unsightly object into an ornament4 ,the 
illustration herewith shows this well1  
and gives a good idea of the growth of a
 single vine4 ,commercially it is grown 
on trellis1 so that the land between the
 rows can be kept well cultivated1 and  
also to permit of ease in the gathering 
of the fruit4 ,when ripe1 the fruit     
drops1 and the gathering is usually from
 the ground4 ,the fruit carries well1   
but will not keep for any length of     
time1 as it shrivels up4 ,it is         
principally used as a fresh fruit1      
though it is also made into jam or      
jelly1 and it often forms part of a     
fruit salad1 taking the place of the    
granadilla4 ,it has few pests1 and is   
one of the easiest fruits to grow4      
,illustrations3 ,passion ,fruit1        
,redland ,bay--,showing method of       
culture 7#a7 and part of a vine in fruit
 7#b74     ,,custard ,,apples4   ,under 
this heading ,i will include all the    
,anonas1 such as the sour sop1 sweet    
sop1 bullock's heart1 and cherimoya4    

,the sour sop is purely tropical1 and is
 very sensitive to frost1 but the other 
species are by no means so tender1 and  
can be grown anywhere along the coast   
where the soil is suitable1 as well as  
at many inland places4 ,all the species 
produce very fine fruits1 that vary     
somewhat in shape1 in the roughness of  
the skin1 and in size4 ,the sour sop is 
the largest1 and attains a size of #f to
 #h lb4 ,the fruit is covered with soft 
spines1 and is of an irregular oval1 or 
even pyriform1 shape4 ,it ripens very   
soon after it is gathered1 consequently 
cannot be sent any distance4 ,it is a   
pleasant fruit of an aromatic sub-acid  
flavour4 ,the pulp surrounding the seeds
 is of a woolly consistency1 and this is
 surrounded by a custard-like mass which
 is much appreciated by those who have  
acquired a liking for it4 ,it is a      
comparatively uncommon fruit1 and is    
confined to the tropics4  ,the sweet sop
 is the commonest of the ,anonas1 and is
 grown throughout a considerable part of

 coastal ,queensland4 ,it is usually of 
an irregular roundish shape1 very full  
of seeds1 which are surrounded by a     
custard-like pulp of very pleasant      
flavour4 ,it is usually a heavy bearer1 
and is the variety most commonly met    
with in our fruit stores4 ,the tree is  
hardy and is easily grown4  ,the        
bullock's heart is a stronger-growing   
variety than the previous one1 the fruit
 is larger1 and1 as its name implies1   
heart-shaped4 ,it is also fairly seedy1 
the pulp of a light-brown colour1 and   
more gritty1 and not1 in my opinion1 of 
first-rate quality4 ,it is most commonly
 grown in the ,north1 where it is a very
 hardy and prolific tree4  ,the         
cherimoya is the best of the custard    
apples4 ,the tree is a strong grower1   
with large handsome leaves1 but1 as a   
rule1 it is not a very heavy bearer4    
,there are many varieties1 the fruit of 
which varies considerably in size and   
shape1 and the skin is sometimes smooth 
and sometimes warted1 or even covered   

with short soft spines4 ,it has usually 
comparatively few seeds1 and these are  
surrounded by a rich custard-like pulp1 
which in the better kinds is of very    
fine flavour1 and is generally much     
liked4 ,the fruit is not a good keeper1 
still1 given careful handling and       
packing1 it can be kept for nearly a    
week4 ,all custard apples are easily    
raised from seed1 but the better        
varieties are propagated by grafting    
strong seedlings with wood taken from a 
tree producing fruit of especial merit4 
,any good fruit soil will grow them1 and
 they do not require any especial       
treatment4  ,illustration3 ,custard     
,apples1 ,brisbane ,district4  ,there   
are still a large number of tropical    
fruits that ,i have not mentioned1 but  
space will not permit of my giving them 
more than a passing notice1 as they are 
not of any great value from a commercial
 standpoint at present4 ,of these fruits
 the litchi1 whampee1 averoha1 longan1  
vi-apple1 and ,chinese mangosteen are   

practically confined to the ,north4 ,the
 guava1 of which there are many species1
 grows anywhere2 in fact1 it is a pest  
in many cases1 taking complete          
possession of the land4 ,it is not      
cultivated to any great extent1 as it   
grows so readily without1 and1 further1 
it harbours several pests whose presence
 it is desirable to remove from the     
orchard4 ,it is a useful fruit for home 
consumption1 as it stews well1 makes an 
excellent jam1 and its jelly is one of  
the best4  ,the rosella1 a species of   
hibiscus1 is an annual fruit that is    
grown to a considerable extent in       
several parts of the ,state1 and is used
 for pies1 jams1 and jellies4 ,the      
latter is remarkably good1 equal to that
 made from the red currant of colder    
climes1 and will no doubt become an     
article of export at no very distant    
date4 ,the fruit also dries well1 and   
makes an excellent pickle4 ,it is raised
 from seed1 the young seedlings being   
set out in well-prepared land when all  

danger of frost is past4 ,it is a rapid 
grower1 and forms a bush some #d feet   
across by #d or #e feet high4 ,it is a  
heavy bearer1 and the fruit meets with a
 ready sale4 ,to do well1 the plants    
require a warm1 free1 well-drained soil1
 as they do not thrive where there is   
any stagnant water at or near the roots4
  ,the avocado or alligator pear is not 
grown to any extent1 though it thrives  
well1 particularly to the north of the  
tropic of ,capricorn1 and can also be   
grown successfully as far south as the  
,new ,south ,wales border4 ,it is a     
fruit that deserves to be cultivated to 
a much greater extent than it is at     
present1 and once it becomes better     
known ,i have no doubt that it will be  
planted in considerable numbers1 and    
prove a very welcome addition to our    
already long list of fruits1 as it is   
unequalled1 in my opinion1 as a salad4  
,as far as my experience goes1 it is    
likely to become a profitable fruit to  
grow1 as once persons acquire a liking  

for it1 they become very partial to it1 
and eat it whenever they can get it4    
,in addition to purely tropical fruits a
 number of semi-tropical fruits are     
grown on our eastern seaboard1 but are  
not entirely confined thereto1 as many  
of them are cultivated to a considerable
 extent in some parts of our coastal and
 inland tablelands1 particularly in     
sheltered positions4 ,under the heading 
of semi-tropical fruits1 all kinds of   
citrus fruits1 persimmons1 loquats1 date
 palm1 wine palm1 pecan nut1 ,brazilian 
cherry1 ,natal plum1 ki-apple1 and many 
other fruits are included1 as well as   
several fruits that more properly belong
 to the temperate regions1 such as      
,japanese plums1 ,chickasaw plum1       
peaches of ,chinese origin1 figs1       
mulberries of sorts1 strawberries1 cape 
gooseberries1 c4 ,of all of these the   
citrus fruits1 which include the orange1
 mandarin1 ,seville1 lemon1 lime1 grape 
fruit1 kumquat1 citron1 and pomelo are  
by far the most important1 and are grown

 successfully over a very large portion 
of the ,state1 so that we will consider 
them first4  ,illustration3 ,sour ,sop1 
,mossman ,district4     ,,citrus        
,,fruit4   ,quite a number of fruits are
 included under this heading1 and all   
reach a very high state of perfection in
 this ,state4 ,the whole of the family1 
the lemon-shaped citron excepted1 is    
noted for the beauty and symmetry of    
growth that its trees make1 and ,i know 
of few more beautiful sights in the     
vegetable world than a well-kept citrus 
grove in full bearing4 ,take the common 
round orange as an example1 its         
well-balanced and evenly grown head1 its
 dark glossy green foliage1 its wealth  
of white blossoms1 which perfume the    
whole neighbourhood1 or its mass of     
golden fruit between its dark-green     
leaves1 render it one of the most       
beautiful of fruit trees at all times1  
but especially so when covered with     
blossoms or ripe fruit4 ,a typical      
,queensland grove is even more beautiful

 than those of many other places1 as the
 vigour and size of our trees1 their    
exceptionally healthy appearance1 their 
dark foliage1 and the heavy crop of     
high-class fruit that they bear1 are at 
once evident to a stranger who has never
 seen the orange grown under such       
favourable conditions as are experienced
 here4 ,the yield is often so heavy that
 the trees actually bend to the ground  
with the weight of their fruit1 and a   
stack of props has to be used to prevent
 the tree from splitting into pieces4   
,those who have seen the enormous crops 
of apples that are produced on some     
trees in ,tasmania or the old cider     
orchards of ,devon or ,somerset can form
 an idea of the crops2 but the writer1  
who has seen both1 as well as our       
,queensland trees1 has no hesitation in 
saying that a ,queensland mandarin can  
give points to either as a heavy        
cropper2 in fact1 if it has a fault1 it 
is its proneness to overbear1           
particularly when young4 ,this all tends

 to prove how well adapted ,queensland  
is to the growth of citrus fruits1 and  
were ,i asked to select a country       
particularly suited to their culture ,i 
should have no hesitation in naming this
 ,state1 as ,i know of nowhere where    
their culture can be carried out with   
less trouble1 or where the trees will   
produce better fruit or heavier crops4  
,queensland may well be termed the home 
of citrus fruits1 as we have no less    
than three native species which are     
indigenous to the ,state1 and are by no 
means uncommon in our scrubs4 ,their    
presence gives unmistakable proof of the
 suitability of this ,state for the     
culture of fruits of the same family1 so
 that ,i think a short description of   
these native species may not be out of  
place1 but will be of some interest to  
my readers4  ,illustration3 ,young      
,orange ,orchard 7#f years old7 on scrub
 land1 near ,mapleton1 ,blackall ,range4
 ,showing the standing scrub in the     
background4  ,citrus australis1 the     

native orange or lime1 is both the      
largest and most common4 ,it grows into 
a large tree1 having a diameter of #ae  
to #ah inches in the trunk1 and a height
 of #fj feet or more4 ,it produces a    
quantity of thick-skinned acid fruit1 of
 from #b to #c inches in diameter4 ,the 
skin is full of a resinous sap1 and the 
fruit is of little value4 ,it is a      
slow-growing tree1 though1 as just      
mentioned1 it attains a considerable    
size1 is very hardy1 and produces a     
quantity of fruit4 ,its slow growth1    
when young1 has prevented its use as a  
stock on which to work improved         
varieties1 but ,i have no doubt it would
 make a very hardy stock that would be  
distinctly disease-resistant4  ,the     
second variety is ,citrus australasica1 
the so-called finger lime1 a thorny     
bush1 producing a fruit of from #c_/d to
 #a inch in diameter1 and #c to #d      
inches long4 ,the fruit has a thin skin1
 and contains an agreeable acid pulp    
that varies in colour1 in some specimens

 being of a reddish tinge that resembles
 the pulp of a blood orange4 ,these two 
varieties are met with in the ,southern 
part of the ,state1 but the third is a  
,northern species1 to which ,mr4 ,f4 ,m4
 ,bailey1 our ,colonial ,botanist1 has  
given the name of ,citrus inodora1 the  
,north ,queensland lime4 ,it is met with
 in the scrubs of the ,russell ,river1  
and is described by ,mr4 ,bailey as     
bearing a greater resemblance to the    
cultivated species than the two former  
varieties4 ,it produces a fruit over #b 
inches long by #a-a_/d inches in        
diameter1 having a thin rind and a juicy
 pulp of a sharply acid flavour1 so that
 even in its wild state it is a         
desirable fruit1 and takes the place of 
the cultivated lemon4 ,where native     
species flourish as they do here1 there 
is every probability of cultivated      
species thriving equally well1 and this 
is found to be the case in practice4    
,illustration3 ,a young ,orange         
,orchard1 ,woombye ,district4  ,no      

fruits are more generally distributed or
 have a wider range in this ,state than 
those of the ,citrus family1 as1 with   
the exception of the colder parts of the
 ,downs1 where the winter temperature is
 too low1 the ,gulf country1 and the dry
 ,western districts1 where there is no  
water available for irrigation1 they can
 be grown from one end of the ,state to 
the other1 provided that they are       
planted in suitable soil1 and that1 in  
the drier parts1 there is an available  
supply of suitable water with which to  
irrigate them during the prevalence of  
long dry spells4 ,the country adjoining 
the eastern seaboard1 extending from the
 ,tweed ,river in the ,south to         
,cooktown in the ,north--a distance of  
about #a1ajj miles1 and extending inland
 for nearly #ajj miles--is naturally    
suited to the growth of citrus fruits1  
and there is probably no country in the 
world that is better adapted to1 or that
 can produce the various kinds of these 
fruits to greater perfection or with    

less trouble1 than this portion of      
,queensland4 ,of course1 the whole of   
this large area is not adapted for      
citrus culture1 as it contains many     
different kinds of soils1 several of    
which are not suitable for the growth of
 these fruits1 and there is also a large
 extent of country which is too broken  
and otherwise unsuitable4 ,at the same  
time there are hundreds of thousands of 
acres of land in this area in which the 
soil and natural conditions are         
eminently suited to the growth of citrus
 fruit1 and in which the tenderest      
varieties of these fruits may be grown  
to perfection without the slightest     
chance of their being injured by frost2 
and where the natural rainfall is such  
that1 provided the trees receive        
ordinary care and cultivation1 there is 
seldom any necessity for artificial     
irrigation4 ,at the present time there  
are hundreds of citrus trees growing    
practically wild in different parts of  
the coastal country that are in vigorous

 health and producing heavy crops of    
good fruit1 even though they are        
uncultivated1 unpruned1 unmanured1 and  
have to hold their own against a        
vigorous growth of native and introduced
 shrubs1 trees1 and weeds4 ,when the    
orange1 lime1 citron1 or common lemon   
become established under conditions that
 are favourable for their proper        
development1 they apparently become as  
hardy as the indigenous plants1 and are 
able to hold their own against them1    
thus showing how well the climate and   
suitable soils of coastal ,queensland   
are adapted for the cultivation of      
citrus fruits4 ,the commercial          
cultivation of citrus fruits is at      
present practically confined to this    
coastal area1 the most important        
centres1 starting from the ,south1 being
 ,nerang1 ,coomera1 ,redland ,bay1      
,brisbane1 ,enoggera1 ,gatton1          
,grantham1 ,toowoomba1 ,north ,coast    
line from ,north ,pine to ,gympie       
including the ,blackall ,range and      

,buderim ,mountain2 the ,wide ,bay      
district1 including ,maryborough1       
,tiaro1 ,mount ,bauple1 ,gayndah1       
,pialba1 and ,burrum2 the ,burnett      
district1 including ,bundaberg and      
,mullet ,creek2 the ,fitzroy district1  
including ,rockhampton and ,yeppoon2    
,bowen1 ,cardwell1 ,murray ,river1      
,tully ,river1 ,cairns and district1    
,port ,douglas1 and ,cooktown4 ,in      
addition to these districts a few citrus
 fruits are grown at ,mackay1           
,townsville1 and several other places4  
,citrus fruits are also grown further   
inland1 but their cultivation here is   
largely dependent on the ability to     
supply the trees with suitable water for
 irrigation during dry spells4 ,frosts  
have also to be taken into              
consideration1 for1 though the days are 
warm1 the temperature often falls       
considerably during the night1 owing to 
the great radiation1 and citrus-trees in
 districts like ,roma1 ,emerald1 c41 are
 liable to injury thereby4 ,west of     

,emerald1 at ,bogantungan1 ,barcaldine1 
and other places1 citrus fruits do very 
well with irrigation4 ,some of the      
finest lemons1 ,washington ,navel1 and  
other improved varieties of oranges are 
grown here to perfection1 the lemons    
especially being of high quality1 and   
curing down equal to the imported       
,italian or ,californian article4 ,the  
soil in many of the inland districts is 
well suited to the culture of citrus    
fruits1 and when the trees are given the
 necessary water1 and are uninjured by  
frost1 they produce excellent fruit4 ,i 
stated1 some short distance back1 that  
there is probably no country in the     
world that is better adapted to the     
cultivation of or that can produce the  
various kinds of citrus fruits to       
greater perfection or with less trouble 
than the eastern seaboard of            
,queensland4 ,to many of my readers this
 may seem to be a very broad statement2 
but ,i am certain that1 if suitable     
trees are planted in the right soil and 

under favourable conditions1 and are    
given anything like the same care and   
attention that is devoted to the culture
 of citrus fruits in the great producing
 centres for these fruits in other parts
 of the world1 we have nothing to fear  
either as regards the cost of production
 or the quality of the fruit produced4  
,in order to exemplify this1 it may be  
interesting to compare our capabilities 
with those of the principal             
citrus-producing districts north of the 
equator4 ,to begin with1 ,i will take   
,florida1 which more nearly approaches  
our climatic conditions than any other  
citrus-growing country that ,i know of1 
and which is noted for the excellence of
 its citrus fruit1 and we find that we  
have all its advantages except that of  
proximity to the world's markets1       
without its disadvantages4 ,we have a   
better and richer soil1 requiring far   
less expensive artificial fertilisers to
 maintain its fertility1 and at a very  
much lower price4 ,we can grow equally  

as good fruit2 in fact1 it is           
questionable if ,florida ever produced a
 citrus fruit equal in quality to the   
,beauty of ,glen ,retreat ,mandarin1 a  
,queensland production4 ,we get as      
heavy1 if not heavier1 crops1 and our   
trees come into bearing very early4 ,we 
have no freeze-outs similar to those    
which have crippled the industry in     
,florida so severely in the past that   
many of their wealthy growers are       
actually covering in whole orchards of  
many acres in extent as a protection    
from frost4 ,this covering-in is        
accomplished by means of a framework of 
timber having slat-work or panel sides  
and tops--in fact1 by enclosing their   
orchards in a huge elaborate bush-house1
 which is further protected by the heat 
produced by six large heating stoves or 
salamanders to each acre of trees       
enclosed4 ,if it pays the ,florida      
growers to go to all this expense in    
order to prevent freeze-outs and to     
produce first-class fruit1 surely we can

 compete with them when a seed stuck in 
the right soil under favourable         
conditions will produce a strong1       
vigorous1 healthy tree1 bearing good    
crops without any attention whatever4   
,illustration3 ,an ,orange ,orchard1    
near ,woombye4  ,illustration3 ,orange  
,trophy in the ,moreton ,district       
,exhibit at the ,brisbane ,exhibition4  
,in comparing ,queensland with the      
citrus-producing districts of ,southern 
,europe1 we have the advantage of better
 and cheaper land1 absence of frost1    
more vigorous growth1 earlier maturity  
of the trees1 and superior fruit2 but   
with the advantage of cheaper and more  
skilful labour1 especially in the       
handling and marketing of fruit1 and    
proximity to the world's markets in     
their favour4  ,as compared with        
,california1 our soil is no better than 
theirs1 but it costs much less1 and     
their citrus industry is dependent on   
artificial irrigation1 their natural    
rainfall being altogether inadequate for

 the growth of citrus fruits4           
,californian conditions more nearly     
approach those of our inland districts1 
such as ,barcaldine1 with the exception 
that the only rainfall in ,california is
 during the winter1 whereas in          
,barcaldine and similar districts the   
heaviest fall is during the summer      
months1 but1 in both1 the successful    
culture of these fruits depends on      
irrigation4  ,in ,jaffa1 also1 where the
 oranges are of large size and extra    
quality1 the trees have to be carefully 
irrigated and manured1 as these         
operations are found to be essential to 
the production of marketable fruit4     
,these few instances show how favourably
 the conditions prevailing in           
,queensland compare with those of the   
great citrus-growing districts of       
,europe and ,america1 especially in the 
matter of soil and climate1 and ,i feel 
confident that1 if the industry were    
taken up in the same business-like      
manner that it has been done in         

,california and ,florida1 we could      
easily hold our own against any part of 
the world4 ,in comparing ,queensland    
with the rest of the world we have the  
advantage--also shared by ,new ,south   
,wales and ,south ,africa--of ripening  
our fruit at a time of the year which is
 the off season in the citrus-producing 
countries to the north of the equator1  
so that our fruit does not clash with   
theirs1 their ripening period and ours  
being at different times of the year4   
,as regards our ,australian market1 our 
fruit ripening earlier than that of the 
,southern ,states1 we are enabled to    
dispose of a considerable portion of our
 crop in the ,southern markets before   
the local fruit is ready for gathering4 
,this gives us three markets--first1 a  
local one2 secondly1 a ,southern one2   
and1 finally1 when this demand is       
supplied1 an oversea market to ,europe1 
,america1 and the ,east4  ,when grown   
under favourable conditions1            
citrus-trees are heavy bearers in this  

,state1 it being no uncommon thing to   
meet with seedling or worked            
orange-trees of from ten to twelve years
 of age producing over twenty cases of  
marketable fruit to the tree1 averaging 
about #aj dozen medium-sized fruit4     
,illustration3 ,bunch of ,valencia late 
,oranges1 ,blackall ,range ,district4   
,illustration3 ,washington ,navel       
,oranges1 ,barcaldine ,district1        
,central ,line4  ,citrus-trees of all   
kinds1 particularly worked trees1 come  
into bearing very early1 and the returns
 obtained from an orchard rapidly       
increase4 ,the illustrations give a good
 idea of the rapid growth1 and a fair   
one of the crop of fruit the young trees
 are bearing1 but the following         
examples1 taken at random for the crop  
that was marketed in ,january1 #aijf1   
will show better how our trees bear3--  
,mr4 ,a41 ,blackall ,range1 marketed    
#g-a_/d cases per tree from a row of    
twenty-five ,beauty of ,glen ,retreat   
,mandarins1 planted ,april1 #aijj4      

,a return of ,l#a #ajs4 per tree4       
,mr4 ,b41 from the same district1       
averaged #g cases of ,washington        
,navel ,oranges per tree from trees six 
years old1 which realised ,l#a          
#aes4 per tree1 and #h cases of ,beauty 
of ,glen ,retreat ,mandarins from       
trees of the same age4 ,the navels were 
large1 and averaged #e dozen      per   
case1 and the mandarins #aj dozen per   
case4       ,mr4 ,c1 another district1  
averaged #f cases of ,valencia ,late    
,oranges1      from trees six years     
planted1 and #aj cases per tree from    
,emperor      ,mandarins1 nine years    
old4       ,one twelve years old        
orange-tree in this district produced   
over #be      cases of fruit4       ,mr4
 ,d41 same district as last2 ,washington
 ,navels averaged #aj cases      per    
tree1 ten years planted1 and have borne 
regular crops since      three years    
old4  ,numerous other cases might be    
given1 but the above are sufficient to  
show the earliness at which our trees   

bear1 and the crops they yield4 ,trees  
in full bearing often yield up to #dj   
cases1 but these are usually old        
seedlings1 which bear a very heavy crop 
one year and a comparatively light crop 
the next4 ,all the instances ,i have    
quoted are from worked trees1 which are 
found to give the most regular and      
constant yields4 ,until quite recently1 
citrus-trees were almost entirely grown 
from seed in this ,state1 with the      
result that we have a very large number 
of types1 and many crosses between      
different species4 ,this was not        
advisable1 as a uniformity in type is   
desirable for marketing1 hence the      
greater number of trees now being       
planted are of selected varieties of    
proved merit4 ,many of the seedlings    
have produced most excellent fruit1 but 
a seedling has usually the disadvantage 
of being very full of seeds1 and having 
a lot of rag 7the indigestible fibre    
round the pulp7 as compared with the    
worked varieties1 which have either no  

seeds or very few seeds and little rag4 
,seedlings are also of many types1 and  
they produce a lot of small fruit1      
thereby making an uneven sample1 whereas
 worked trees produce fruit even in size
 and quality4 ,seedlings are probably   
the hardiest1 and will stand the most   
neglect1 but experience is showing that 
worked trees are the most profitable to 
grow4 ,the growth of all kinds of       
citrus-trees from seed is a very simple 
matter1 all that is necessary being a   
well-prepared seed bed of friable soil  
that is partially shaded from the heat  
of the sun1 so as to protect the young  
plants4 ,selected1 fully ripe fruit from
 well-grown1 prolific1 healthy trees is 
taken1 and the seeds sown in rows in the
 seed bed1 or broadcast when weeds are  
not likely to be any trouble4 ,fresh    
seed germinates quickly1 and the young  
plants are soon ready to be transplanted
 into the nursery bed1 where they are   
either worked over or allowed to remain 
seedlings4 ,at twelve months old1 from  

seed1 a tree will have a stem-diameter  
of about #c_/d-;inch1 and a height of #c
 to #d feet1 a growth about twice that  
made in the ,southern ,states4  ,the    
general remarks ,i have given respecting
 our fruit soils apply with equal force 
to those best adapted for citrus        
culture--viz41 they must possess perfect
 drainage1 and be of a friable nature4  
,we are growing most of the best        
varieties of citrus fruit1 the original 
trees from which they are now being     
propagated having been introduced into  
the ,state from the most celebrated     
citrus-producing districts in the world1
 and1 as stated and shown by the        
accompanying illustrations1 they are all
 doing well4  ,the ,washington ,navel1  
the variety of orange most commonly     
grown in ,california1 does remarkably   
well on our rich volcanic scrub soils1  
where it has proved itself a regular    
bearer of high-class fruit4 ,the        
,mediterranean ,sweet ,orange1 ,valencia
 ,late1 and ,jaffa also do well in many 

parts1 the ,valencia ,late adapting     
itself to most districts4 ,many other   
kinds of oranges are grown1 but the     
varieties mentioned are some of the     
best1 and are the ones now being planted
 in the greatest quantity4              
,illustration3 ,spray of ,orange        
,blossom4  ,in mandarins1 all kinds do  
remarkably well1 and ,i never saw this  
fruit produced to greater perfection in 
any part of the world than it is in     
,queensland4 ,the varieties most        
commonly grown are3 ,the ,emperor or    
,canton1 the ,scarlet or ,scarlet       
,emperor1 ,thorny or ,tangerine1 and    
,beauty of ,glen ,retreat1 though there 
are many types of seedlings in addition 
to these well-known sorts4 ,the grape   
fruit which is now so popular in        
,america does well1 but1 so far1 has not
 taken on in our markets4 ,citrons grow 
practically wild1 and produce good      
fruit1 for which there is a limited     
demand for peel4 ,their cultivation     
could be extended with ease were there a

 better demand for peel4 ,the ,seville  
,orange1 which is used for the          
manufacture of marmalade1 is an         
exceptionally hardy and prolific tree1  
and1 were it required1 we could easily  
grow enough of this fruit to supply the 
world4 ,lemons do best inland1 or at an 
elevation of some #b1jjj feet above     
sea-level1 as this fruit is apt to      
become too coarse in the skin when grown
 in a humid climate4 ,in suitable       
localities very good fruit can be grown1
 which compares very favourably with the
 ,european or ,american grown fruit4    
,the lime does well in the more humid   
districts1 taking the place of the      
lemon1 and one variety--the ,tahiti--has
 proved itself to be a heavy and regular
 bearer4 ,the ,west ,indian lime1 from  
which the lime juice of commerce is     
made1 is very easily grown1 particularly
 in the more tropical parts1 where it is
 often met with growing in an entirely  
uncultivated condition1 and bearing     
heavy crops of fruit4 ,kumquats are     

easily grown1 and are heavy bearers1 and
 all the different types of pomelos or  
shaddocks do well4 ,seedlings of the    
latter are very hardy1 as they are      
deep-rooted plants that stand dry       
weather well and are1 consequently1 not 
liable to injury during dry spells4     
,there is very little demand for the    
fruit1 but ,i am of opinion that the    
seedlings will prove to be of value as  
stocks on which to work our best kinds  
of oranges4  ,the culture of all kinds  
of citrus fruits1 when grown in suitable
 soil1 is by no means difficult1 as it  
consists mainly of keeping the land well
 stirred and keeping down all weed      
growth during dry spells1 the keeping of
 the trees well pruned out in the       
centre1 and the keeping in check of all 
diseases1 both insect and fungus4       
,although citrus fruits are subject to  
many pests1 they are for the most part  
easily kept in check by either spraying 
or cyaniding1 or both1 provided that    
reasonable care is taken1 and the pests 

are destroyed before they have obtained 
control4 ,taken as a whole1 our citrus  
fruits are remarkably clean1 and compare
 more than favourably with those grown  
in the ,southern ,states4 ,the culture  
of these fruits is extending rapidly1   
with a corresponding increase in        
production1 but1 despite this1 our      
prices have been better during the past 
season than for some years1 as the      
quality of our fruit is such that it    
will command a good market4 ,when       
properly handled1 it has good keeping   
qualities1 and ,i have no doubt that we 
will1 in time1 be able to supply the    
markets of the ,old and ,new ,worlds    
with good fruit1 in the best of         
condition1 at the time of the year that 
their markets are bare of locally-grown 
citrus fruit4  ,there is a good opening 
for the growth of citrus fruits in this 
,state1 as the writer knows of no       
country where they do better1 where they
 can be produced with as little trouble 
and expense1 where they can be          

successfully grown over such a large    
area1 or where the soil and climate is  
more suited to the production of fruits 
of the highest quality as in            
,queensland4  ,illustration3 ,lisbon    
,lemon1 ,esk ,district4     ,,the       
,,persimmon4   ,this exceedingly        
handsome fruit of ,japanese origin is   
grown to a high state of perfection in  
this ,state1 particularly in the coastal
 districts south of the tropic of       
,capricorn4 ,it is a fruit of           
comparatively recent introduction1 the  
oldest trees being less than thirty     
years of age1 but has already become    
widely distributed1 as well as a        
favourite fruit amongst many4 ,it is a  
very showy fruit when well grown1 but   
must be thoroughly ripe before it is    
eaten1 as1 if not1 it is extremely      
astringent1 and anyone who has tackled  
an unripe fruit has no wish to repeat   
the experience in a hurry4 ,there are   
many varieties of this fruit1 some of   
which are seedless1 and others more or  

less seedy4 ,the seedless kinds are     
usually preferred1 as1 as well as being 
seedless1 they are the largest and      
handsomest fruit4 ,the different kinds  
vary considerably in the size of tree1  
habit of growth1 foliage1 size and      
colour of fruit1 c4 ,all are easily     
grown1 and most kinds are good and      
regular bearers4 ,they do well on any   
fruit soil1 and some of the             
dwarf-growing kinds are well adapted for
 growing in private gardens1 on account 
of the small amount of room they take   
up4 ,the trees are deciduous1 and1 as a 
rule1 are not much troubled with pests4 
,so far1 the use of the fruit is        
confined to its consumption fresh1      
though in ,japan it is dried in a       
similar manner to apricots or peaches4  
,illustration3 ,persimmons4     ,,the   
,,loquat4   ,a handsome evergreen tree1 
that can be grown in the more ,southerly
 coast districts1 in the foothills of   
the coast range1 and on the coast       
tablelands4 ,there are several types of 

the fruit1 whose chief value consists in
 that it ripens its fruit in early      
spring1 when there is a shortage of     
stone fruits1 and that it withstands    
wind well1 so makes a good break for the
 protection of exposed orchards4 ,its   
cultivation is not extensive1 nor is it 
likely to become so4  ,illustration3    
,fruit of ,loquat 7#a_/b natural size74 
,,the ,,date ,,palm4   ,although this   
extremely valuable fruit is grown in    
this ,state more as an ornament than for
 its commercial value1 there is nothing 
to prevent its culture on a scale       
sufficiently large to supply the        
,australian requirements4 ,it is grown  
in many places along the coast1 as well 
as in the foothills country of the      
coastal range1 but it does best in      
situations that more nearly resemble its
 natural habitat--viz41 in districts    
having a hot dry air1 a deep sandy loam 
or sandy soil1 and a good supply of     
moisture in the soil4 ,this latter      
condition does not occur naturally1 but 

can be supplied artificially in our     
,western lands1 where there is a good   
supply of artesian water of a quality   
suitable to the plants' requirements4   
,here the date palm thrives1 and        
produces huge bunches of fruit4 ,little1
 if any1 cultivation is necessary when  
once the palm is firmly established2    
provided it has an ample but not        
excessive supply of moisture1 it is able
 to take care of itself4  ,the date palm
 is a dioecious plant--that is to say1  
the male organs1 or stamens1 are        
produced on one plant1 and the female   
organs1 or pistils1 on another1 and this
 necessitates the growing of the two    
sexes in proximity to each other1 in    
order that the female flowers may be    
fertilised and produce perfect fruit4   
,this is best accomplished artificially1
 the pollen from a fully developed bunch
 of male flowers being shaken over the  
bunch of female flowers4 ,infertile     
fruit contains no seeds1 and is of small
 size and inferior quality1 whereas the 

fertile fruit is both large and good4   
,the date palm is a handsome ornamental 
plant1 and in the hot and dry ,western  
districts1 where it thrives best1 it    
forms a splendid shelter from the sun   
for both man and beast4 ,so far1 very   
little attention has been given to its  
growth1 few persons knowing how to      
fertilise the flowers or even taking the
 trouble to see that they have plants of
 both sexes4 ,there is no reason why    
this should be so1 as there would be a  
good local demand for the properly-cured
 fruit1 and ,i believe that1 were its   
culture carried out in a thorough       
business manner1 it would become a      
profitable industry1 and one capable of 
supplying our ,australian market4       
,illustration3 ,date ,palms in fruit at 
,barcaldine4     ,,the ,,pecan ,,nut4   
,another little-known fruit which does  
well in this ,state4 ,it belongs to the 
hickory family1 and closely resembles   
the walnut4 ,there are trees now growing
 in the ,maryborough district that are  

some #ae inches in diameter at the      
trunk1 and from #dj to #ej feet in      
height1 that bear regular and heavy     
crops of nuts1 and that have stood      
drought and been under flood4 ,for years
 the trees have received no cultivation1
 and they have shown themselves to be as
 hardy as the adjacent indigenous trees4
 ,the trees are easily raised from seed1
 and come into bearing in about eight   
years4 ,like all nut fruits1 it is      
advisable to set the nut where the tree 
is to remain permanently1 if it is      
possible to do so1 as it produces a very
 deep taproot1 with few laterals1 and is
 consequently difficult to shift4 ,the  
soil on which it does best is an        
alluvial loam1 and1 if possible1 it     
should not be more than #cj feet to     
water1 as the tree1 being a very deep   
rooter1 will penetrate a free soil to   
that depth4 ,it will do on other free   
loamy soils1 but will not make the same 
growth as when planted in free          
alluvials4 ,it has been tested in       

several parts of the ,state1 and it is  
probable that it will be found to thrive
 over a considerable area of the coastal
 and coastal tablelands districts4 ,it  
produces an olive or acorn shaped nut1  
having a thin shell1 and of a flavour   
closely resembling that of a good       
walnut1 and will be a valuable addition 
to our list of nut fruits once it       
becomes better known4  ,illustration3   
,date ,fruit 7natural size74            
,,japanese ,,plums4   ,all varieties of 
this fruit thrive well and bear heavily 
in the more ,southerly part of our coast
 country1 as well as on the country     
immediately adjacent to it1 the coastal 
tablelands1 and several other parts of  
the ,state4 ,the trees are rapid        
growers1 come into bearing very early1  
and often bear enormous crops of fruit4 
,they are good fruits for home          
consumption or for the fresh-fruit      
trade1 but are not equal to ,european   
varieties of plums for preserving1      
drying1 or jam-making4 ,in this ,state  

they have one very great drawback1 and  
that is their liability to the attack of
 the fruit fly1 a pest that very        
frequently destroys the entire crop4    
,for home use they are1 however1 a very 
useful fruit to grow1 provided that the 
trees are kept dwarf1 so that they can  
be covered with a cheap mosquito netting
 as a protection from the fly1 as they  
are very easily grown1 are by no means  
particular as to the kind of soil on    
which planted1 and are heavy bearers4   
,,chickasaw ,,plums4   ,this family of  
,american plums does well in the same   
districts as the ,japanese varieties    
just dealt with1 but has the advantage  
of being resistant to the fruit fly4    
,the trees are usually more or less     
straggling growers1 the fruit is of     
small size1 but good for cooking or     
jam-making4 ,one or more of the         
varieties of this plum are bad setters1 
though they blossom profusely1 but this 
may be overcome either by working two   
varieties which bloom at the same time  

on to the same stock1 or by planting    
varieties that bloom at the same time   
together1 as the pollen from the one    
will set the fruit of the other4 ,it is 
a good plum for home use or marketing1  
despite its small size1 as it is easily 
grown1 requires little attention1 and is
 not over particular as to soil4        
,,chinese ,,peaches4   ,peaches of      
,chinese origin thrive well on the      
coast1 and are extremely hardy4 ,the    
fruit is not1 as a rule1 of high quality
 when compared with that of the ,persian
 varieties1 but their earliness and ease
 with which they can be grown causes    
them to be planted by many who have     
small gardens4 ,like the ,japanese plums
 they are1 however1 very subject to the 
attack of fruit fly1 and require to be  
kept dwarf and covered in a similar     
manner if any good is to be got from    
them4 ,on the coast1 they are           
practically evergreen1 as they never    
lose their leaves entirely1 and are in  
blossom during the winter4 ,when grown  

on the tablelands1 this early blossoming
 is a disadvantage1 as the blossoms are 
liable to be injured by frost1 but in   
these districts peaches of ,persian     
origin can be grown instead4     ,,figs4
   ,several kinds of figs can be grown  
successfully in the ,southern coast     
districts1 the first crop ripening      
before ,christmas1 but the second or    
main crop is often a failure1 owing to  
the fact that it ripens during our wet  
season1 and the fruit consequently sours
 and bursts4 ,as one recedes from the   
coast1 the fruit does better1 and is    
less liable to injury from excessive    
wet4 ,the coastal tablelands and the    
more ,western ,downs grow it well1 and  
the trees1 when planted on soil of a    
rich friable nature1 grow to a large    
size and bear heavily4 ,many varieties  
are grown1 which are used fresh or      
converted into jam1 but no attempt has  
been made to dry them1 though it is     
possible that this industry may         
eventually be found profitable in the   

drier parts of the ,state1 where there  
is water available for the trees' use at
 certain periods of the year1 but not   
during the fruiting period1 as it cannot
 well be too dry then if a good quality 
of dried figs is to be turned out4 ,this
 fruit is easily grown1 and is not at   
all subject to serious pests1 so that   
anyone who will take reasonable care can
 produce all that is required for home  
use or local sale1 as its softness      
renders it a difficult fruit to ship    
long distances in a hot climate4        
,,the ,,mulberry4   ,this is one of the 
hardiest fruits we have1 one of the most
 rapid growers1 and one of the most     
prolific4 ,there are several varieties  
in cultivation1 and those of ,japanese  
or ,chinese origin will grow from the   
coast to the interior1 and thrive either
 in an extremely dry or humid climate4  
,the common ,english or black mulberry  
does not do too well as a rule1 though  
there are many fine trees scattered     
throughout the ,state1 but the other    

sorts are as hardy as native trees4 ,the
 fruit is not of any great value1 still1
 as it is so easily grown1 it finds a   
place in most gardens1 and in time of   
drought the leaves and young branches   
are readily eaten by all kinds of stock1
 so that it is a good standby for stock 
as well as a fruit4     ,,the           
,,strawberry4   ,to those who have been 
accustomed to look upon the strawberry  
as a fruit of the purely temperate      
regions1 it will be somewhat of a       
revelation to know that exceptionally   
fine fruit can be grown right on the    
,queensland coast1 and well within the  
tropics1 and that on the coast1 between 
the #bfth to the #bhth degrees of south 
latitude1 we are probably producing as  
fine fruit and obtaining as heavy crops 
as are produced in any of the older     
strawberry-growing countries4 ,not only 
this1 but that we are able to supply the
 ,southern markets of ,australia with   
finer fruit than they can produce       
locally1 and at a time of the year that 

they cannot grow it4 ,as ,i have already
 mentioned when dealing with other      
fruits1 one thing that particularly     
impresses strangers is the early age at 
which our fruits come into bearing4     
,this is borne out in the case of the   
strawberry to a marked degree1 as       
runners set in ,april fruit in ,july1   
and often earlier1 and will continue to 
bear1 given reasonable weather1 right up
 to ,christmas or even longer4 ,new     
plants are set out every year1 and the  
plantation is seldom allowed to stand   
more than two years1 as the young plants
 produce the finest fruit4 ,there is a  
good demand for the fruit1 the larger   
berries being packed in flat cases      
holding a single layer of fruit1 as     
shown in the illustration1 and being    
sold for consumption fresh1 whereas the 
smaller berries are packed in kegs and  
sent direct to the factories for        
conversion into jam4 ,the strawberry    
grows well on various soils1 but does   
best with us on a rich loam of medium   

texture1 of a reddish-brown or even     
black colour4 ,it should be planted in  
districts that are free from frosts     
where early fruit is desired1 as frosts 
injure the blossoms1 but where jam fruit
 only is wanted this is not so          
necessary4 ,the land requires to be     
thoroughly well prepared1 and the plants
 are usually set out in rows about #b   
feet apart1 with the plants about #a    
foot apart in the row4 ,under favourable
 conditions they grow very rapidly1 and 
soon start flowering4 ,their cultivation
 is usually confined to comparatively   
small areas of #b or #c acres in extent1
 as the labour of picking and packing is
 usually done by the grower himself with
 the assistance of his family4 ,they are
 often planted between the rows of trees
 in young orchards1 thus bringing in a  
return whilst the trees are coming into 
bearing1 and helping to keep the pot    
boiling4 ,they grow well on our coastal 
scrub lands1 and have proved a great    
assistance to many a beginner1 as one   

has not long to wait before obtaining a 
return4  ,illustration3 ,strawberry     
,garden1 ,mooloolah ,district4  ,the    
productiveness of this fruit in         
,queensland is phenomenal1 as high as #e
 tons of berries having been taken off  
#a acre in a single season4 ,there are  
many varieties of strawberries in       
cultivation1 some of which have been    
produced locally from seed1 and have    
turned out extremely well1 being of     
better flavour1 stronger growers1 and   
heavier bearers than introduced         
varieties--in fact1 local seedlings have
 adapted themselves to local conditions1
 and stand our climate better than those
 varieties which are natives of colder  
countries4  ,illustration3 ,marguerite  
,strawberry4  ,illustration3 ,marguerite
 ,strawberry packed for market4  ,the   
case berries1 which are used for fresh  
consumption1 fetch a fair price1        
especially early in the season1 but jam 
fruit sells at an average of #b-a_/b;d4 
per lb41 at which price it pays fair    

wages1 but is not a bonanza4 ,as a rule 
the plants are very healthy1 and any    
fungus pests to which they are subject1 
such as leaf blight1 are easily kept in 
check by spraying1 a knapsack pump being
 used for this purpose4 ,the ground is  
kept well worked and free from weeds1   
whilst the plants are fruiting1 and     
occasionally the ground is mulched1 as  
is the case in the plot shown in the    
illustration4 ,no special knowledge is  
necessary for their culture1 but1 at the
 same time1 thorough cultivation and    
careful attention to details in the     
growing of the plants make a            
considerable difference in the total    
returns4  ,illustration3 ,forman's      
,strawberry1 ,brisbane ,district4       
,,cape ,,gooseberry4   ,this ,peruvian  
fruit1 introduced into this ,state via  
the ,cape of ,good ,hope1 hence its     
name1 has now spread throughout the     
greater part of the tropical and        
semi-tropical portions of ,queensland4  
,its spread has largely been brought    

about by the agency of fruit-eating     
birds1 that have distributed the seeds  
widely by means of their castings4 ,it  
is one of the first plants to make its  
appearance in newly burnt-off scrub     
land1 and often comes up in such numbers
 as to give a full crop of fruit4 ,in   
other cases it is usual to scatter a    
quantity of seed on such land1 so as to 
be sure of securing a plant4 ,no        
cultivation is given2 the plant grows   
into a straggling bush bearing a        
quantity of fruit which is enclosed in a
 parchment-like husk4 ,the fruit is     
gathered1 husked1 and is then ready for 
market4 ,the bulk of the fruit is grown 
in this manner1 and as it can be grown  
on land that is not yet ready for any   
other crop 7grass or maize excepted7 it 
is a great help to the beginner1 as a   
good crop and fair prices can usually be
 obtained4 ,the name gooseberry is      
somewhat misleading1 as it is not a     
gooseberry at all1 is not like it1 nor  
does it belong to the same natural      

order4 ,it is a plant belonging to the  
order ,solanaceae1 which includes such  
well-known plants as the potato1 tomato1
 tobacco1 c41 and altogether unlike the 
common gooseberry1 which1 by the way1 is
 one of the fruits that we cannot do    
much with4 ,in addition to being grown  
in the wild manner ,i have described1 it
 is occasionally cultivated in a        
systematic manner1 somewhat like the    
tomato1 but not to any extent2 growers  
preferring to depend on it as a first   
return from newly fallen and burnt-off  
scrub land4 ,as a fruit it meets with a 
very ready sale1 as it is one of the    
best cooking fruits grown2 plainly      
stewed and served with cream1 made into 
puddings or pies1 or converted into jam1
 it is hard to beat4 ,the jam has a     
distinct flavour of its own1 one that   
one soon becomes very partial to1       
besides which it is an                  
attractive-looking jam that1 were it    
better known in the world's markets1    
would1 ,i feel sure1 meet with a ready  

sale at satisfactory rates4 ,the plant  
is somewhat susceptible to cold1 hence  
it does best in a district free from    
frost1 but it is not killed out by light
 frosts1 only killed back1 and its crop 
put back4 ,like all plants belonging to 
the same natural order1 it likes a good 
soil1 rich in available potash1 and this
 is probably the reason why it does so  
well on newly burnt-off scrub1 the ashes
 of which provide an ample supply of    
available potash4     ,,the ,,olive4    
,a much-neglected fruit in this ,state1 
as it is also in most ,english-speaking 
countries4 ,few ,english people are fond
 of either the fruit or the oil1 and yet
 it is probable that there is no tree   
that for the space it occupies will     
produce a greater annual return of food 
than the olive4 ,a number of trees are  
scattered throughout the ,state1 some of
 which are now of large size and fair   
age1 but1 so far1 practically nothing   
beyond making a few gallons of oil and  
pickling a few gallons of fruit has been

 attempted1 and this only in a purely   
experimental manner4  ,the present      
condition of the olive industry is      
destined to have a wakening up ere long1
 as a country that can produce this     
fruit in such quantities and of such a  
quality as the lighter soils of the     
,darling ,downs is destined some day to 
be one of the largest producers of      
olives on earth4 ,some years since ,i   
planted a number of the best varieties  
of olives--trees obtained direct from   
,california--on the ,darling ,downs1 in 
land that ,i considered suitable for    
their growth1 and which was properly    
prepared prior to planting4 ,the trees  
here have made a really phenomenal      
growth1 they came into bearing within   
three years of planting1 and have borne 
steadily ever since4 ,they have proved  
enormous bearers1 and an experimental   
crushing showed that the oil was of high
 quality4  ,there are large areas of    
similar country to that in which they   
are planted in different parts of the   

,state1 and ,i feel certain that this   
really valuable food fruit is bound some
 day to be a considerable source of our 
national wealth4 ,so far1 the drawback  
to the growth of olives has been the    
cost of gathering the fruit and the     
limited demand for the oil or pickled   
fruit1 but1 against this1 it has many   
advantages1 one1 and by no means the    
least1 of which is its value as a shade 
and shelter tree on our open treeless   
plains4 ,it is also a very hardy tree1  
withstanding drought well1 and thriving 
in land that is too stony for the       
cultivation of ordinary farm crops4 ,it 
is a healthy tree1 free from most fruit 
pests other than the olive scale1 which 
can be kept in check by spraying or     
cyaniding2 and last1 but not least1 it  
is an ornamental tree whose wood is of  
considerable value4 ,the olive does best
 with us in loamy soils of fair depth   
and basaltic origin1 that are moderately
 rich in lime and potash1 and have a    
fair drainage4 ,a subsoil of decomposed 

rock answers well4 ,it will1 however1 do
 on several other kinds of soil1 but it 
is in the type that ,i have just        
described that it does so well1 and in  
which ,i would recommend its culture on 
a large scale4 ,it will stand a fair    
amount of frost as well as great heat1  
and ,i have never seen the trees injured
 by either on our ,downs country4 ,i    
have also seen trees doing well right on
 the coast1 where they have been subject
 to heavy rainfalls1 so that it appears 
to adapt itself to the conditions       
prevailing in many parts of our ,state4 
,in addition to the fruits ,i have      
briefly described1 there are several    
others of minor importance that can be  
grown successfully1 but1 as they are not
 of any great value commercially1 ,i    
will leave them out1 and go on to the   
fruits of our more temperate districts1 
as1 in addition to growing the tropical 
and semi-tropical fruits which ,i have  
already dealt with1 ,queensland can also
 produce temperate climate fruits to a  

very high degree of perfection4  ,the   
fruits of the temperate regions that we 
are able to grow include the apple1     
pear1 plum1 prune1 quince1 apricot1     
,persian peach1 nectarine1 almond1      
walnut1 chestnut1 cherry1 c41 as well as
 some of the hardier fruits which ,i    
have classed as semi-tropical--viz41 the
 ,japanese plum1 persimmon1 ,chickasaw  
plum1 strawberry1 c4 ,the districts     
adapted for the growth of the distinctly
 temperate fruits are mostly situated in
 the ,southern portion of the ,state1   
and at an elevation of from #b1jjj to   
#c1jjj feet above sea-level--districts  
having a warm summer but a comparatively
 cold winter1 during which frosts are by
 no means uncommon1 but where snow      
rarely falls2 a healthy climate1 with   
warm days and cool nights1 to which many
 visitors go during the heat of summer1 
when the humidity of the coast is       
somewhat trying to persons not naturally
 robust4 ,the ,downs country1           
particularly its southern or ,stanthorpe

 end1 is the most suitable2 the soil is 
mainly of granitic origin1 and is very  
suitable for the growth of apples1 stone
 fruit1 and grapes1 but the latter ,i   
will deal with by themselves later on4  
,the country is by no means rich from an
 agricultural standpoint1 and is        
considerably broken1 but1 as already    
stated1 it is admirably adapted for the 
growth of fruit1 and within the last ten
 years at least #ajj1jjj fruit trees1   
mostly apples1 plums1 and peaches1 have 
been planted out and are doing well4    
,the ,stanthorpe show1 which is held    
annually during the month of ,february1 
is always noted for the excellence of   
its fruit exhibits1 which would be hard 
to beat1 both for size1 quality1 and    
appearance4 ,the fruits ripen earlier   
than similar varieties grown in the     
,southern ,states1 hence supply our     
markets at a time when there is little  
outside competition1 and1 consequently1 
meet with a ready sale at fair prices4  
,the fruit grown in the largest quantity

 is the apple1 so ,i will deal with it  
first4     ,,the ,,apple4   ,as a       
description of this well-known and      
universally used fruit is entirely      
superfluous1 ,i will confine my remarks 
to the types of fruit grown1 and their  
method of growth4 ,owing to the fact    
that our fruits ripen much earlier than 
similar varieties in more southern parts
 of ,australia1 we have gone in largely 
for early varieties of apples1 both for 
cooking and table use1 but have not     
confined our attention to them entirely1
 as good-keeping sorts are found to do  
equally well1 and have been shown at the
 annual exhibition that is held in      
,brisbane during ,august1 in perfect    
condition1 showing that the fruit has   
good keeping qualities4 ,the soil on    
which the apple is mostly grown is      
largely composed of granitic matter1 and
 is of a sharp1 sandy1 loamy nature1    
often of a gritty character4 ,it is     
usually rich in potash1 the             
predominating felspar being orthoclase1 

but somewhat deficient in nitrogen and  
phosphoric acid4 ,it is usually easy to 
work1 of fair depth1 and retains        
moisture well when kept in a thorough   
state of tilth4 ,the trees are usually  
planted at from #bj to #be feet apart   
each way1 when they are either one year 
or two years old from the graft or bud4 
,they are headed low1 so as to shade the
 ground from the heat of the sun1 and   
also so as to facilitate the handling of
 the crop when grown1 as well as to     
prevent their swaying about with the    
wind4 ,the trees make a rapid growth1   
come into bearing very early1 often     
bearing a fair crop three years after   
planting1 and fruiting even earlier4    
,the fruit of the early varieties has   
usually a handsome appearance1 but lacks
 keeping qualities1 but the later fruits
 are both handsome1 high-coloured fruit1
 and good keepers4 ,the trees are not   
very liable to disease1 as1 thanks to   
all varieties being worked on           
blight-resistant stocks1 there is very  

little ,american blight 7woolly aphis74 
,scale insects do a certain amount of   
damage1 but are easily kept in check by 
winter spraying1 and codling moth is not
 bad unless grossly neglected1 many     
orchards being quite free from this     
great pest of the apple-grower4 ,so far1
 the growing of apples has been confined
 entirely to the growing of fruit for   
the local markets1 no attempt having    
been made to export same4 ,a very small 
quantity is dried1 and a little is used 
for jelly4  ,many varieties of apples   
have been tested in this ,state1 but    
growers have found out that it pays them
 best to confine their attention to     
comparatively few sorts that have proved
 to be the best suited to the soil and  
climate1 as a few good kinds are much   
more profitable to grow than a mere     
collection of varieties4 ,many varieties
 are prone to overbear1 and trees of    
large size have produced enormous crops 
of fruit1 whereas young trees frequently
 break down under the weight of their   

crop4 ,the usual plan is to plant a few 
varieties that ripen in succession1 so  
as to extend the season over as long a  
period as possible1 and not to cause a  
glutted market at any one time4 ,early  
fruits particularly are not noted for   
their keeping qualities1 and a market   
glutted with such would entail a heavy  
loss to growers1 hence a succession of  
varieties that suit the district as well
 as the market is grown4  ,nearly all   
kinds of apples do well1 those that are 
resistant to the attack of woolly aphis 
are1 however1 generally chosen in       
preference1 even though they may not be 
of the highest quality1 as their        
prolificness and freedom from this pest 
renders them more profitable than       
varieties of superior quality that are  
liable to blight1 and that are at the   
same time often somewhat indifferent    
bearers4 ,it is outside the scope of    
this paper to go into the question of   
varieties1 but ,i may mention that such 
sorts as ,irish ,peach1 ,gravenstein1   

,summer ,scarlet ,pearmain1             
,twenty-ounces1 ,jonathan1 ,lord        
,suffield1 ,rome ,beauty1 and ,prince   
,bismarck do remarkably well1 and many  
other well-known kinds can be grown to  
perfection4  ,illustration3 ,prince of  
,pippins ,apple1 ,darling ,downs        
,district4     ,,the ,,peach4   ,this   
king of the temperate fruits grows with 
us to perfection4 ,the tree is hardy1 a 
rapid grower1 comes into bearing early1 
and is1 if anything1 inclined to        
overbear4 ,it can be grown over a       
considerable part of our coastal and    
inland downs1 as well as the ,stanthorpe
 district1 and thrives in many kinds of 
soil1 from light sandy loams of poor    
quality to rich loams of medium texture 
or even heavier4 ,in this ,state1 the   
peach is always grown on peach roots1   
the desired variety being either budded 
or grafted on to a seedling peach1 and  
the resulting tree is planted out when  
it has made one year's growth4 ,no tree 
is easier to grow1 but if the best      

returns are desired1 it requires very   
careful pruning for the first three     
years1 after which an annual winter     
pruning is usually all that is          
necessary4 ,the young tree is such a    
strong grower that unless it is heavily 
cut back it becomes top-heavy and breaks
 to pieces with the weight of fruit1 but
 when hard cut back for the first two   
years1 so that it has a good main stem  
and strong primary branches1 it will    
form a strong tree1 and stand up well   
under a heavy crop of fruit4 ,the strong
 growth it makes necessitates heavy     
pruning when large fruit is desired--and
 it is large showy fruit which sells    
best here--as were the tree allowed to  
go unpruned1 it would bear enormous     
numbers of fruit1 many of which would be
 of small size4 ,growers now realise    
this1 and many of our orchards are well 
pruned1 whereas a few years since the   
trees were allowed to grow pretty much  
as they like4  ,the peach remains       
profitable much longer here than it does

 in ,california1 as the trees do not    
wear out so quickly1 the roots remaining
 sound up to the last1 so that1 unless  
the top is too far gone1 the life of the
 tree may usually be extended for       
several years by heading hard back and  
forming an entirely new head to the     
tree4 ,trees in full bearing often      
produce fully #a1jjj lb4 weight of fruit
 in a single season4 ,this is1 of       
course1 very much above the average1 but
 by no means exceptional4 ,when in their
 third season1 they should bear enough  
to pay for all working expenses4  ,a    
very large number of varieties have been
 tested in ,queensland1 most of which do
 well1 but1 as in the case of apples1 we
 find from experience that it is best to
 stick to a few kinds1 and those that   
have proved to be most suitable to our  
soil and climate1 rather than to        
experiment with a large number of       
varieties4  ,the usual plan is to plant 
a number of varieties that ripen in     
succession1 as with the apple1 so as to 

spread the season over as long a time as
 possible1 and to stick to kinds that   
bear well1 look well1 and ship well1 for
 appearance will usually beat quality1  
and fetch more money4  ,so far1 little  
has been done in the way of utilising   
the peach1 as the demand for the fresh  
fruit has been equal to our supply4     
,there is1 however1 no reason why we    
should not be able to establish and     
maintain a fair canning and drying      
trade1 should the production overcome   
the demand for the fresh fruit1 as our  
peaches are of large size1 and will can 
and dry well--that is to say1 varieties 
adapted to those purposes will do so4   
,the nectarine1 which is simply a       
smooth-skinned peach1 does equally well1
 many varieties bear heavily1 and some  
produce fruit of exceptional merit4 ,i  
have seen as fine nectarines grown in   
the ,stanthorpe district as ,i have met 
with in any part of ,australia or       
,america1 fruit of large size and the   
highest flavour1 that compared          

favourably with the finest              
hothouse-grown fruit of the ,old ,world4
  ,illustration3 ,peach ,avenue1        
,darling ,downs ,district4     ,,the    
,,plum4   ,as already mentioned1 plums  
of ,japanese and ,american origin       
7,chickasaw7 do well in the more coastal
 districts4 ,they also bear heavily on  
our coastal downs and more western      
country1 but some kinds of ,japanese    
plums blossom too early for the         
,stanthorpe district4 ,european plums1  
however1 do well1 and are heavy bearers4
 ,all kinds do not bear heavily1 the    
freest bearers being those of the damson
 family--,white ,magnum ,bonum and      
,diamond type4 ,prunes also do well4    
,plums of ,european origin do best in   
the coldest districts1 but their        
cultivation is not confined entirely to 
these1 as some varieties thrive well in 
warmer and drier parts of the country4  
,so far1 there has been a ready sale for
 all the plums we can produce for fresh 
consumption1 excepting some of the      

smaller plums of the damson type1 which 
have been converted into jam4 ,it is not
 a fruit1 however1 in which there is    
much money1 as it is too easily grown in
 the ,southern ,states1 and can there be
 converted into jam or canned at a lower
 rate than we can do here1 hence our    
cultivation will be more or less        
confined to the growing of large fruits 
for supplying our local markets rather  
than to the production of the fruit in  
quantity4     ,,the ,,apricot4   ,most  
varieties of this fruit do well on our  
coastal downs country in the ,south1 and
 to a certain extent further west4 ,the 
trees are very rapid growers1 and bear  
heavily4 ,the earlier ripening fruit    
usually escapes damage from fruit fly1  
but the late fruit often suffers        
considerably4  ,the apricot does best in
 a fairly strong rich soil1 when it     
makes a great growth1 and bears heavy   
crops of large-sized fruit4 ,it also    
does well on sandier soils1 which       
produce a firmer and better-drying      

fruit4 ,so far1 although a number of    
trees are planted throughout the ,state1
 the cultivation of the fruit is mainly 
confined to the production of table     
fruit1 drying or canning having been    
carried out to a small extent only4 ,the
 apricot grows to a large tree1 and     
lives to a good old age4 ,like the      
peach1 it is a very vigorous grower when
 young1 requiring severe pruning in     
consequence1 but1 when once shaped1 the 
trees require little in the way of      
pruning other than the removal of       
superfluous branches and an annual      
shortening in winter4     ,,the         
,,cherry4   ,queensland is almost       
outside the limit of the successful     
growth of this fruit1 but not quite1 as 
we produce the first fruit to ripen in  
,australia1 which realises a high price 
on account of its earliness4 ,many      
varieties have been tested1 but1 so far1
 no one variety can be said to be a     
complete success in our climate1 nor do 
the trees grow to the large size or     

produce as heavily as they do in the    
,southern ,states1 where the winters are
 more clearly defined than they are in  
,queensland4 ,another drawback to the   
growth of this fruit is that the soils  
of our coldest district are not the best
 of cherry soils4 ,the cherry likes a   
deep1 moderately rich loam1 whereas we  
are growing it mostly on sandy loams of 
a granitic origin4 ,what fruit we do    
grow is good1 and pays well on account  
of its earliness1 but ,i do not consider
 that this ,state will ever be able to  
compete with the ,south in the growth of
 the cherry4  ,illustration3 ,litchi1   
,mossman ,district4     ,,the ,,pear4   
,many kinds of pears do well1 but1      
unfortunately1 this fine fruit is very  
liable to be attacked by fruit fly4 ,it 
does well generally in the districts    
that ,i have mentioned as suitable for  
the apple1 plum1 and apricot4 ,the tree 
is healthy1 grows rapidly and to a large
 size4 ,it comes into bearing remarkably
 early as compared with the pear in     

colder climates1 and produces excellent 
fruit4 ,i have grown as good ,bartletts 
here as could be obtained anywhere1 and 
the trees have proved to be good bearers
 and doers4 ,this fruit does best on    
deep soils of a medium to strong loamy  
nature1 and of good quality1 though it  
does well in much freer soils1 but does 
not make as good a growth or bear as    
heavily4 ,it is usually grown on        
seedling-pear stocks1 but the growing of
 suitable varieties on quince stocks and
 keeping the resultant trees dwarfed is 
to be recommended4 ,this method of      
growing the pear does well here1 and    
dwarf trees can be easily protected from
 fly1 whereas it is practically         
impossible to deal with big trees1 which
 the pear becomes when grown on pear    
roots4     ,,the ,,almond4   ,this fruit
 does well in parts of our coastal      
tableland country1 though its habit of  
blossoming too early in the season      
renders it very liable to injury from   
late frosts4 ,the trees do remarkably   

well1 grow rapidly1 and bear heavily    
when the blossoms are uninjured by      
frost1 hence it is a good tree to grow  
in selected situations containing       
suitable soil1 as it commands a ready   
sale1 and is very little troubled with  
pests4 ,a free1 sandy1 loamy soil is    
best suited to the growth of the almond1
 and the situation should be well       
protected from frost4 ,the trees are    
usually worked on peach stocks1 on which
 they make a very rapid growth4 ,several
 varieties should be grown together1 as 
a better set of fruit will be obtained  
by doing so1 most almonds requiring the 
pollen of another variety flowering at  
the same time to render their flowers   
fertile4 ,the almond grows into a       
handsome1 shapely tree1 and1 when in    
blossom1 an orchard is a sight not      
easily forgotten1 the wealth of flowers 
being such that it must be seen to be   
fully appreciated4  ,the walnut1        
chestnut1 quince1 blackberry1 raspberry1
 and one or two other fruits of the     

temperate regions are also cultivated to
 a small extent1 but are of no great    
value so far1 though there is no reason 
why the walnut1 which does well with us1
 should not be cultivated to a much     
greater extent than it is1 as there is  
always a fair demand for the nuts4      
,blackberries of different kinds have   
been introduced1 and do well1 the common
 ,english blackberry almost too well1 as
 unless kept in check it is apt to      
spread to such an extent as to be a     
nuisance4 ,in addition to the cultivated
 fruits ,i have briefly mentioned as    
growing in ,queensland1 we have a number
 of native fruits growing in our scrubs 
and elsewhere that are worthy of        
cultivation with a view to their        
ultimate improvement4 ,of such are the  
,queensland nut1 a handsome evergreen   
tree1 bearing heavy crops of a very fine
 flavoured nut4 ,the nut is about       
#c_/d-;inch in diameter1 but the shell  
is very hard and thick4 ,it could no    
doubt be improved by selection and      

careful breeding4 ,the ,davidsonian plum
 is also another fruit of promise4 ,it  
is a handsome tree of our tropical      
,north coast1 and bears a large         
plum-shaped fruit of a dark purple      
colour1 with dark reddish purple flesh1 
which is extremely acid1 but which is   
well worth cultivation4 ,several species
 of eugenias also produce edible fruit1 
and there are two species of wild       
raspberries common to our scrubs4 ,there
 are the native citrus fruits ,i        
referred to in an earlier part of this  
paper1 as well as several other less    
well-known fruits that are edible4      
,illustration3 ,tamarind ,tree1 ,port   
,douglas ,district4     ,,grape         
,,culture4   ,no work on fruit-growing  
in ,queensland1 however small1 would be 
complete without due reference being    
made to the vine1 the last but by no    
means the least important of our many   
fruits4 ,although the cultivation of    
this most useful and popular fruit has  
not reached to anything like the        

dimensions that vine culture has        
attained in the ,southern ,states1      
particularly in the production of wine1 
there is no reason why it should not do 
so at no very distant future4 ,we have  
many advantages not possessed by our    
,southern neighbours in the culture of  
the grape1 the first and most important 
of which is that our crop ripens so much
 earlier than that of the ,south that we
 can secure the whole of the early      
markets without fear of any serious     
opposition4 ,until quite recently1 grape
 culture was in a very backward state in
 ,queensland1 the grapes grown on the   
coast being nearly all ,american        
varieties1 which are by no means the    
best wine or table sorts4 ,a few grapes 
of ,european origin were grown on the   
,downs and in the ,roma district1 but   
their cultivation was practically       
confined thereto4 ,now1 however1 things 
have altered very much for the better4  
,many good varieties of ,european grapes
 have been proved suitable to the       

coastal climate of the ,southern half of
 the ,state1 and many inland districts  
other than ,roma and the ,downs have    
also proved that they1 too1 can and do  
grow first-class fruit both for table   
and wine4  ,illustration3 ,grosse       
,koelner ,vine in ,fruit1 ,roma         
,district 7,gros ,colman74              
,illustration3 ,picking ,grapes1 ,roma4 
,now the culture of the grape extends   
over a great part of the ,state1 from   
the coast to the interior2 in the       
latter1 its successful growth depending 
on the necessary suitable water for     
irrigation1 and on the coast to our     
knowledge of how to keep fungus pests1  
such as anthracnose1 in check by winter 
treatment and spring spraying4  ,in the 
,brisbane district many kinds of        
excellent table grapes are now grown1   
which meet with a ready sale1 such as   
the well-known ,black ,hamburgh of      
,english vineries1 the ,sweetwater1     
,snow's ,muscat ,hamburgh1 ,royal       
,ascot1 c41 as well as all the better   

kinds of ,american grapes1 such as      
,iona1 ,goethe1 ,wilder1 c4 ,a little   
wine is made1 but more attention is     
given to table fruit4  ,illustration3 ,a
 ,grape ,vine in ,fruit1 ,stanthorpe    
,district4  ,illustration3 ,madresfield 
,court ,grape4  ,in the ,maryborough1   
,gympie1 and ,bundaberg districts1      
similar grapes are also grown1 and do   
well1 ripening somewhat earlier than    
they do in ,brisbane2 and in the        
,rockhampton district1 right on the     
tropic of ,capricorn1 some of the best  
table grapes ,i have seen in the ,state 
are produced4 ,further north a few      
grapes are grown1 but not in any great  
quantities1 and ,i consider that the    
profitable cultivation of good table    
grapes on the coast extends from our    
,southern border to a short distance    
north of the tropic of ,capricorn and   
inland to all districts where there is  
either a sufficient rainfall or a supply
 of water from artesian bores1 or       
otherwise1 to enable them to be grown4  

,grapes here1 as in other parts of the  
world1 like moderately rich1 free1 loamy
 soils of good depth1 free sandy loams1 
and free alluvial loams4 ,in such soils 
they make a vigorous growth1 and are    
heavy bearers4 ,the granitic soils of   
the ,stanthorpe district1 that produce  
such good peaches1 plums1 and apples1   
grow excellent grapes1 which ripen late4
 ,they are of large size1 and           
conspicuous for their fine colour4 ,the 
sandy soils of ,roma and the ,maranoa   
country generally grow excellent wine   
and table grapes1 the latter being of   
large size1 full flavour1 and handsome  
appearance4 ,wine grapes also do well   
here1 and some excellent wine has been  
made1 both dark and light1 natural and  
fortified4 ,i have no doubt that        
eventually good rich port and the best  
of sherries will be produced in this    
district1 as the soil and climate are   
admirably adapted to the production of  
these classes of wine4 ,our difficulty1 
so far1 has been to find out the exact  

kinds of grapes to grow for this        
purpose1 but now ,i am glad to say that 
we are on the right track1 and the      
excellence of ,queensland ports and     
sherries will be a recognised thing     
before many years are past4 ,there is a 
big and good opening for up-to-date     
viticulturists in this ,state4 ,we have 
any amount of suitable land at low      
rates1 and1 thanks to the generous sun  
heat of our interior1 we can grow grapes
 capable of producing wines equal to the
 best that can be turned out by ,spain1 
,portugal1 or ,madeira4 ,in those       
districts that do not possess such an   
extreme climate1 such as the coastal    
downs and the ,stanthorpe districts1    
good wines of a lighter character can be
 produced1 and1 as already stated1 good 
wines are now being made on the coast4  
,it is only now that we are beginning to
 realise the value of the grape to      
,queensland1 as1 until our production   
increased to such an extent that our    
local markets were being over-supplied1 

our growers made no attempt to supply   
outside markets4 ,now this is being     
done1 and better means of handling and  
packing the fruit1 so as to enable it to
 be shipped long distances1 are now     
coming into vogue4 ,with improved       
methods of handling and packing1 we have
 a greatly extended market1 in which we 
will have no local competition1 hence   
will be able to secure good returns1 so 
much so that ,i consider that           
grape-growing in ,queensland has a very 
promising outlook for some years to come
 at any rate4 ,in addition to growing   
grapes to supply the fresh-fruit trade  
and for winemaking1 our western country 
is capable of producing good raisins and
 sultanas4 ,so far1 this industry has   
not been entered into commercially1 the 
fresh fruit realising far too high a    
price for it to pay to convert it into  
raisins4 ,still1 with increased         
production1 this will have to take      
place1 and when it does ,i am of opinion
 that we will be able to turn out a very

 saleable article4 ,the growing of      
grapes here certainly requires          
considerable experience of a practical  
nature4 ,this is not at all hard to     
obtain1 and there are no insurmountable 
difficulties to the beginner1 once he   
has learnt how to work his land so as to
 cause it to retain moisture during a   
dry spell1 and to plant and prune his   
vines4 ,these are matters in which any  
beginner can obtain practical advice    
from the ,queensland ,agricultural      
,department1 as the ,government of      
,queensland1 recognising the importance 
of fruit-growing1 grape-growing1 and    
general agriculture to the ,state1 have 
devoted considerable sums of money to   
the establishment of experiment farms1  
orchards1 and vineyards in different    
parts of the ,state4 ,all these         
,government institutions are under the  
control of thoroughly qualified         
managers1 who are willing at all times  
to give any assistance to beginners1    
thereby enabling the latter to keep free

 from mistakes1 and to obtain the best  
returns as the result of their labour4  
,instructors1 thoroughly conversant with
 the ,state as a whole1 are also        
available for giving practical advice1  
so that there is no necessity for a     
beginner1 through lack of experience1 to
 waste any time in finding out for      
himself what his soil and climate are   
suited for4 ,he can start on the right  
lines from the beginning1 and keep to   
right lines if he will only take        
advantage of the advice1 based on       
practical experience1 that is given him4
 ,queensland is a good land for the     
intending fruit-grower4 ,we offer you   
good soil1 a choice of climates1        
suitable for the growing of practically 
every kind of commercial fruit1 a       
healthy climate to live in1 cheap land1 
free education for your children1 and   
free advice from competent experts for  
yourselves4 ,this is a country that has 
not been advertised or puffed up2 that  
is1 in consequence1 not by any means    

well known2 but it is a country that1   
taken all in all1 will take a lot of    
beating when one is looking out for a   
home4 ,its natural advantages and the   
other inducements it offers to intending
 settlers1 particularly those interested
 in fruit culture1 cannot1 in my        
opinion1 be equalled1 and certainly not 
excelled1 elsewhere2 and1 as ,i stated  
in the beginning of this paper1 my      
opinion is based on practical experience
 gained in various parts of the         
fruit-producing parts of the world4     
,illustration3 ,black ,mammoth ,grape4  
,illustration3 ,cinsaut ,grape4         
,list of ,fruits ,grown in ,queensland4 
,almonds1 several varieties             
,almond1 ,fiji      ,apples1 many       
varieties      ,apricots1 many varieties
      ,averrhoa      ,avocada ,pear     
,bael ,fruit      ,banana1 several      
varieties      ,barberry                
,blackberry      ,brazilian ,cherry     
,bread ,fruit      ,burdekin ,plum      
,carob ,bean      ,chalta               

,cherries1 several varieties            
,chestnut--,spanish                     
,chestnut--,japanese      ,chinese      
,raisin      ,citrons1 several varieties
      ,cocoa-nut1 many varieties        
,custard ,apples 7,cherimoyers7         
,dates      ,davidsonia ,plum           
,figs1 several varieties                
,gooseberries--,cape                    
,gooseberries--,otaheitan               
,granadillas      ,grapes1 many         
varieties      ,guavas1 many varieties  
,jujube      ,kai ,apple      ,kumquat  
,litchi      ,longan      ,lemons1      
several varieties      ,limes1 several  
varieties      ,loquats      ,mandarins1
 several varieties      ,mangoes1 many  
varieties      ,mangosteen--,sour or    
,coochin ,york      ,medlars            
,melons1 many varieties      ,monstera  
,mulberries1 several varieties          
,natal ,plum      ,nectarines1 several  
varieties      ,olives1 several         
varieties      ,oranges1 many varieties 
,papaw1 several types      ,passion     

,fruit1 several types                   
,peaches--,persian1 many varieties      
,peaches--,china1 several varieties     
,peaches--,ceylon1 several varieties    
,pears1 many varieties      ,pecan ,nut 
,persimmons1 several varieties          
,pineapples1 several varieties          
,pistachio ,nut      ,plums--,european1 
several varieties                       
,plums--,japanese1 several varieties    
,plums--,american1 several varieties    
,pomegranate      ,quince--,european1   
several varieties                       
,quince--,japanese      ,queensland ,nut
      ,raspberries1 several types       
,rosellas      ,rose ,apple             
,sapodilla ,plum      ,shaddock or      
,pomelo1 several types      ,star ,apple
      ,strawberries1 many varieties     
,tamarinds      ,tree ,tomato      ,vi  
,apple      ,walnut      ,whampee       
,list of ,vegetables ,grown in          
,queensland4                            
,artichokes--,jerusalem and ,globe      
,asparagus      ,beans of all kinds     

,beetroot      ,broccoli      ,brussels 
,sprouts      ,cabbage                  
,cabbage--,chinese      ,capsicums      
,cardoons      ,carrots      ,cassava   
,cauliflowers      ,celery      ,chicory
      ,chokos      ,cress               
,cucumbers      ,earth ,nuts 7,peanuts7 
,egg ,plant      ,endive      ,eschalots
      ,garlic      ,herbs--all kinds    
,horseradish      ,kohl-rabi      ,leeks
      ,lettuce      ,mushrooms          
,mustard      ,nasturtiums      ,ockra  
,onions      ,peas                      
,potatoes--,english and ,sweet          
,pumpkins      ,radishes      ,rhubarb  
,salsify      ,seakale      ,spinach    
,squashes      ,sweet ,corn      ,swedes
      ,taro      ,tomatoes      ,turnips
      ,vegetable ,marrows      ,yams    
,by ,authority3 ,,anthony ,,james       
,,cumming1 ,government ,printer1        
,brisbane4