What to Plant 19 



English markets, a moderate planting of this variety 

 should prove a safe investment. The gordo bianco 

 (pudding raisin) has also been extensively planted 

 on the river irrigation areas, and the Malaga raisin 

 to a lesser extent. The supply of "gordos" has long 

 passed the Australian consumption, the surplus 

 being used for distillation purposes. 



As there has been for some time a good demand 

 for spirits, a number of the riverside growers are 

 planting some of their land to doradillos. These are 

 very heavy croppers, crops of ten tons of fresh fruit 

 to the acre being not unknown. 



The Apricot. After having been condemned for 

 some years, the apricot seems once more to be com- 

 ing into favour. This is largely due to the fact that 

 local prices have been good, and that a good demand 

 is arising for Australian dried apricots in England. 

 It is not advisable, however, for the average grower 

 to plant many acres of apricots, as this fruit ripens 

 during the hottest part of the year, often so rapidly 

 that, unless many hands are employed in harvesting, 

 a great portion of the crop is lost. As it is not 

 always possible to procure the necessary labour at 

 the right time, the average grower should not plant 

 more land to apricots than he and his family, with 

 perhaps an occasional hand or two, could manage to 

 harvest; say, from two to three acres. The Moor- 

 park variety is the best drying kind to plant. 



The Royal is also planted to some extent and, 

 although hanging better, is not of such good quality 

 as the Moorpark. 



The Peach. Peaches and nectarines are grown to 

 a considerable extent on the irrigation settlements. 

 Up to the present the Australian markets for these 

 have been fair. But there does not appear to be 

 room for great expansion with these fruits, as 

 Californian dried peaches are at present sold on the 



