Oct. 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S. W. 845 



Report by Fruit Expert on the land lyii]g 

 between Gosford aijd Mangrove River. 



Department of Agriculture, 



Sydney, 6th July, 1908. 

 1 HAVE the honor to report that on the 2nd and 3rd instant, 

 accompanied by Mr. Saml. Moore, jun., I inspected part of the country lying 

 between Gosford and the Mangrove River, passing through portions of the 

 parishes of Gosford, Narara, Popran, Eglington, Stowe, and Kooree, where I 

 saw a good many thousands of acres admirably adapted for the culture of 

 passion-fruit. I mention this fruit first as there is no part of Australia, and 

 I think I may safely say the v/orld, where this fruit will do as well. The 

 better portions of the land will grow a good orange, while on some of the 

 richer and heavier parts good apples could be grown. There are only small 

 areas where this fruit would do, and these are mostly found in the gullies and 

 .along the banks of creeks, where the soil is usually deeper and richer than in 

 most other parts. 



Persimmons could also be grown to perfection on most of the better 

 portions. Lemons, plums, peaches, and nectarines could also be grown in 

 places. 



After leaving Gosford there is very little (if any) Crown land available, 

 aintil after the 7-mile post is passed, which is quite close to Woodlands, the 

 Avell-known orchard of Mr. C. Robinson, and also that of Mr. Alex. Hunter. 

 Roth of these gentlemen have tried a goodly variety of the different kinds of 

 fruits. 



Even after passing these orchards it is found that most of the larger 

 blocks of best land lying in close proximity to the main road for the next 5 

 miles, is taken up. There are, however, a few blocks on which could be found 

 from 10 to 30 acres of land suitable for cultivation, but most of the best land 

 has been selected in fairly large blocks along the road ; but on leaving the 

 main road at Raid Hill, at the 13-mile post, some good Crown lands were 

 found in the parish of Popran, from 3 to 4 miles from the main Gosford Road, 

 and lying close to Mr. J. Rushell's 400-acre farm, and to the east of it. 



Lying to the south, and across the creek, there is more good land, which is 

 not more than 7 miles from Mangrove Whai-f . 



Returning to the Gosford-Mangrove Road, some fair land is still open for 

 selection, not far from the 14-mile post, but from here to Mangrove the 

 greater portion of the best land has been selected recently. There still 

 remain, however, many blocks on which some good land can be found, but the 

 larger portions of the blocks are composed of poor worthless soil, and to get 

 the good the poor also must be taken, so that it makes that portion which is 

 jit for fruit-growing very expensive. 



