Part 7

This fruit does well in parts of our coastal tableland country, though its habit of blossoming too early in the season renders it very liable to injury from late frosts. The trees do remarkably well, grow rapidly, and bear heavily when the blossoms are uninjured by frost, hence it is a good tree to grow in selected situations containing suitable soil, as it commands a ready sale, and is very little troubled with pests. A free, sandy, loamy soil is best suited to the growth of the almond, and the situation should be well protected from frost. The trees are usually worked on peach stocks, on which they make a very rapid growth. Several varieties should be grown together, as a better set of fruit will be obtained by doing so, most almonds requiring the pollen of another variety flowering at the same time to render their flowers fertile. The almond grows into a handsome, shapely tree, and, when in blossom, an orchard is a sight not easily forgotten, the wealth of flowers being such that it must be seen to be fully appreciated.

The walnut, chestnut, quince, blackberry, raspberry, and one or two other fruits of the temperate regions are also cultivated to a small extent, but are of no great value so far, though there is no reason why the walnut, which does well with us, should not be cultivated to a much greater extent than it is, as there is always a fair demand for the nuts. Blackberries of different kinds have been introduced, and do well, the common English blackberry almost too well, as unless kept in check it is apt to spread to such an extent as to be a nuisance. In addition to the cultivated fruits I have briefly mentioned as growing in Queensland, we have a number of native fruits growing in our scrubs and elsewhere that are worthy of cultivation with a view to their ultimate improvement. Of such are the Queensland nut, a handsome evergreen tree, bearing heavy crops of a very fine flavoured nut. The nut is about 3/4-inch in diameter, but the shell is very hard and thick. It could no doubt be improved by selection and careful breeding. The Davidsonian plum is also another fruit of promise. It is a handsome tree of our tropical North coast, and bears a large plum-shaped fruit of a dark purple colour, with dark reddish purple flesh, which is extremely acid, but which is well worth cultivation. Several species of eugenias also produce edible fruit, and there are two species of wild raspberries common to our scrubs. There are the native citrus fruits I referred to in an earlier part of this paper, as well as several other less well-known fruits that are edible.

GRAPE CULTURE.

No work on fruit-growing in Queensland, however small, would be complete without due reference being made to the vine, the last but by no means the least important of our many fruits. 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 States, particularly in the production of wine, there is no reason why it should not do so at no very distant future. We have many advantages not possessed by our Southern neighbours in the culture of the grape, 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 opposition. Until quite recently, grape culture was in a very backward state in Queensland, the grapes grown on the coast being nearly all American varieties, which are by no means the best wine or table sorts. A few grapes of European origin were grown on the Downs and in the Roma district, but their cultivation was practically confined thereto. Now, however, things have altered very much for the better. Many good varieties of European grapes have been proved suitable to the coastal climate of the Southern half of the State, and many inland districts other than Roma and the Downs have also proved that they, too, can and do grow first-class fruit both for table and wine.

Now the culture of the grape extends over a great part of the State, from the coast to the interior; in the latter, its successful growth depending on the necessary suitable water for irrigation, and on the coast to our knowledge of how to keep fungus pests, such as anthracnose, in check by winter treatment and spring spraying.

In the Brisbane district many kinds of excellent table grapes are now grown, which meet with a ready sale, such as the well-known Black Hamburgh of English vineries, the Sweetwater, Snow's Muscat Hamburgh, Royal Ascot, &c., as well as all the better kinds of American grapes, such as Iona, Goethe, Wilder, &c. A little wine is made, but more attention is given to table fruit.

In the Maryborough, Gympie, and Bundaberg districts, similar grapes are also grown, and do well, ripening somewhat earlier than they do in Brisbane; and in the Rockhampton district, right on the tropic of Capricorn, some of the best table grapes I have seen in the State are produced. Further north a few grapes are grown, but not in any great quantities, 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 bores, or otherwise, to enable them to be grown. Grapes here, as in other parts of the world, like moderately rich, free, loamy soils of good depth, free sandy loams, and free alluvial loams. In such soils they make a vigorous growth, and are heavy bearers. The granitic soils of the Stanthorpe district, that produce such good peaches, plums, and apples, grow excellent grapes, which ripen late. They are of large size, and conspicuous for their fine colour. The sandy soils of Roma and the Maranoa country generally grow excellent wine and table grapes, the latter being of large size, full flavour, and handsome appearance. Wine grapes also do well here, and some excellent wine has been made, both dark and light, natural and fortified. I have no doubt that eventually good rich port and the best of sherries will be produced in this district, as the soil and climate are admirably adapted to the production of these classes of wine. Our difficulty, so far, has been to find out the exact kinds of grapes to grow for this purpose, but now I am glad to say that we are on the right track, and the excellence of Queensland ports and sherries will be a recognised thing before many years are past. There is a big and good opening for up-to-date viticulturists in this State. We have any amount of suitable land at low rates, and, thanks to the generous sun heat of our interior, we can grow grapes capable of producing wines equal to the best that can be turned out by Spain, Portugal, or Madeira. In those districts that do not possess such an extreme climate, such as the coastal downs and the Stanthorpe districts, good wines of a lighter character can be produced, and, as already stated, good wines are now being made on the coast.

It is only now that we are beginning to realise the value of the grape to Queensland, as, until our production increased to such an extent that our local markets were being over-supplied, our growers made no attempt to supply outside markets. Now this is being done, and better means of handling and packing the fruit, so as to enable it to be shipped long distances, are now coming into vogue. With improved methods of handling and packing, we have a greatly extended market, in which we will have no local competition, hence will be able to secure good returns, so much so that I consider that grape-growing in Queensland has a very promising outlook for some years to come at any rate. In addition to growing grapes to supply the fresh-fruit trade and for winemaking, our western country is capable of producing good raisins and sultanas. So far, this industry has not been entered into commercially, the fresh fruit realising far too high a price for it to pay to convert it into raisins. Still, with increased production, this will have to take place, and when it does I am of opinion that we will be able to turn out a very saleable article. The growing of grapes here certainly requires considerable experience of a practical nature. This is not at all hard to obtain, and there are no insurmountable difficulties to the beginner, once he has learnt how to work his land so as to cause it to retain moisture during a dry spell, and to plant and prune his vines. These are matters in which any beginner can obtain practical advice from the Queensland Agricultural Department, as the Government of Queensland, recognising the importance of fruit-growing, grape-growing, and general agriculture to the State, have devoted considerable sums of money to the establishment of experiment farms, orchards, and vineyards in different parts of the State. All these Government institutions are under the control of thoroughly qualified managers, who are willing at all times to give any assistance to beginners, thereby enabling the latter to keep free from mistakes, and to obtain the best returns as the result of their labour. Instructors, thoroughly conversant with the State as a whole, are also available for giving practical advice, so that there is no necessity for a beginner, through lack of experience, to waste any time in finding out for himself what his soil and climate are suited for. He can start on the right lines from the beginning, and keep to right lines if he will only take advantage of the advice, based on practical experience, that is given him. Queensland is a good land for the intending fruit-grower. We offer you good soil, a choice of climates, suitable for the growing of practically every kind of commercial fruit, a healthy climate to live in, cheap land, free education for your children, and free advice from competent experts for yourselves. This is a country that has not been advertised or puffed up; that is, in consequence, not by any means well known; but it is a country that, taken all in all, will take a lot of beating when one is looking out for a home. Its natural advantages and the other inducements it offers to intending settlers, particularly those interested in fruit culture, cannot, in my opinion, be equalled, and certainly not excelled, elsewhere; and, as I stated in the beginning of this paper, my opinion is based on practical experience gained in various parts of the fruit-producing parts of the world.

List of Fruits Grown in Queensland.

Almonds, several varieties Almond, Fiji Apples, many varieties Apricots, many varieties Averrhoa Avocada Pear Bael Fruit Banana, several varieties Barberry Blackberry Brazilian Cherry Bread Fruit Burdekin Plum Carob Bean Chalta Cherries, several varieties Chestnut--Spanish Chestnut--Japanese Chinese Raisin Citrons, several varieties Cocoa-nut, many varieties Custard Apples (Cherimoyers) Dates Davidsonia Plum Figs, several varieties Gooseberries--Cape Gooseberries--Otaheitan Granadillas Grapes, many varieties Guavas, many varieties Jujube Kai Apple Kumquat Litchi Longan Lemons, several varieties Limes, several varieties Loquats Mandarins, several varieties Mangoes, many varieties Mangosteen--Sour or Coochin York Medlars Melons, many varieties Monstera Mulberries, several varieties Natal Plum Nectarines, several varieties Olives, several varieties Oranges, many varieties Papaw, several types Passion Fruit, several types Peaches--Persian, many varieties Peaches--China, several varieties Peaches--Ceylon, several varieties Pears, many varieties Pecan Nut Persimmons, several varieties Pineapples, several varieties Pistachio Nut Plums--European, several varieties Plums--Japanese, several varieties Plums--American, several varieties Pomegranate Quince--European, several varieties Quince--Japanese Queensland Nut Raspberries, several types Rosellas Rose Apple Sapodilla Plum Shaddock or Pomelo, several types Star Apple Strawberries, many varieties Tamarinds Tree Tomato Vi Apple Walnut Whampee

List of Vegetables Grown in Queensland.

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 (Peanuts) 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 Authority: ANTHONY JAMES CUMMING, Government Printer, Brisbane.