FRUITS OF QUEENSLAND. 21 



the climate is even and healthy, and is neither severe in summer nor winter. 

 The average rainfall is some 30 inches, and is usually sufficient, though there 

 are dry periods, when a judicious watering, as recommended for the coast 

 districts, would be of great value to fruit and vegetable growers. The more 

 northern end of this tableland country has a much better rainfall some 

 40 inches per annum and frosts, though they occur at times, are not common. 

 Here the climate is very healthy, there are no extremes of heat and cold, and, 

 lying as it does inland from the -most trying portion of our tropical seaboard, 

 it forms a natural sanatorium to this part of our State. 



Further west the rainfall decreases, the summers are hot a dry heat, as 

 distinct from the more humid heat of the coast, and much more bearable. 

 There are frequent frosts in winter, particularly in the Southern part of the 

 State. Fruit-growing is only carried on to a slight extent at present, and then 

 only with the help of water, but when the latter is obtainable, very good results 

 are obtained. Grapes do well, both wine and table, and for raisin-making. 

 Citrus fruits are remarkably fine, the lemons especially, being the best grown 

 in the State. The trees are less liable to the attack of many pests, the dryness 

 of the air retarding their development, if not altogether preventing their 

 occurrence. The date palm is quite at home here, and when planted in deep 

 sandy land, and supplied with sufficient water, it is a rapid grower and heavy 

 bearer. As an offset to the smallness of the rainfall, there is a good supply of 

 .artesian water, distributed over a wide range of country, that can be ob' ained 

 at a reasonable rate, and that is suitable for irrigation purposes. A 1 bore 

 water is not suitable for irrigation, however, as some of it is too highly 

 mineralised, but there are large areas of countiy possessing an artesian supply 

 of excellent quality for this purpose. It will thus be seen that we h.-;ve in 

 Queensland, roughly, three distinct belts of fruit-growing country 



1st. The Eastern Seaboard, and the land adjacent to it, suit; ble for 



the growing of tropical and semi-tropical fruit ; 

 2nd. The Coastal Tablelands, suitable for the growth of deciduous 



fruits, vines, olives, and citrus fruits in parts; 

 3rd. The Central Tablelands, suitable for the growth of gn ; prs, for 



table and drying, dates, citrus fruits, &c., but requiring water for 



irrigation to produce profitably. 



So far, I have confined my remarks mainly to the climatic side 01 fruit- 

 growing, and, before dealing with the growing of the different kinds of fruit, I 

 will say a few words about our fruit soils, and will deal with them in districts, 

 .as I have endeavoured to do in the case of climate. 



1st. Soils of Eastern Seaboard, and Land adjacent to it, suitable to the 

 Growth of Tropical and Semi-Tropical Fruit. 



Several distinct types of soil are found that are well adapted for fruit- 

 growing, but they all have one general characteristic which is a sine <jua non 

 of success viz., they must possess good natural drainage, so that there is no 

 danger of their becoming waterlogged or soured during periods of continued 

 or heavy rainfall, as these conditions are fatal to fruit culture under tropical 



