52 TASMANIAN ADVANTAGES, &C. 



mainland, and there is already a noticeable increase of 

 activity in agriculture, trade, and manufacture. 



Freetrade, — In the past the transfer of produce was very 

 much hindered by intercolonial duties, but these are now all 

 done away with. 



Small Industries- 

 It is undoubted that in the first place the prosperity of 

 new countries must depend largely upon agriculture, 

 especially upon what are termed small industries — industries 

 where profits are derived from the economical working of the 

 soil, and which enable large families to live comfortably on 

 small acT cages. The growth of fruit and potatoes meets 

 this requirement, and thereby it is quite possible to have a 

 population of as much as one to the acre. In this, these 

 industries differ widely from what until recent years has 

 been the staple industry of the State — the rearing of sheep 

 and export of wool. In rearing sheep, people strive for 

 loneliness, so that the sheep may not be disturbed, and in 

 many cases efforts are made to keep population away ; but 

 with small industries supporting families of ten, upon ten to 

 fifty acres of ground, well tilled, it is quite possible to 

 support a population of one to the acre, as subsidiary 

 mechanical industries, such as sawmills, wheelwrights, 

 carpenters, blacksmiths, tailors, shoemakers, tinsmiths, case- 

 makers, all follow, just as water fills up a hollow. 



Fruit. — During the past twenty years the fruit export 

 industry has been developing, and in 1902 fruit and jam 

 were exported to the value of nearly £450,000, being an 

 increase of about 80 per cent, on the preceding year. This 

 industry has been growing at an increasing rate for some 

 years past, has been the cause of widespread prosperity, 

 great increase in the value of land, and has brought several 

 trades to Tasmania previously unknown in the Island. 



