24 FRUITS OF QUEENSLAND. 



of volcanic origin. The former are suitable for almonds and wine grapes, and 

 the latter for peaches, apricots, pears, apples, and especially olives. Further 

 north a few of these fruits may be grown on loamy soils, together with citrus 

 fruits, but, commercially, deciduous fruits are confined to the southern end of 

 this district, the winter temperature being too high for their successful growth 

 further north, as the trees get no winter rest, hence do not mature their fruit- 

 bearing wood properly. 



3rd. Soils of the Central Tablelands, suitable to the Growth of Grapes, 

 Dates, Citrus Fruits, Etc. 



At the Southern end of the State the fruit soils are all of a sandy nature. 

 Nothing else is used in any quantity, as sandy soils alone will retain sufficient 

 moisture for the growth of grapes and fruit trees during dry spells, and even 

 then only when kept well and deeply worked. Further north, where suitable 

 artesian water is available, the best fruit soils are also free loams of a sandy 

 nature, either aluvial or open forest soils, but deep, and possessing perfect 

 drainage, as irrigation on land without good natural drainage is fatal to fruit 

 culture. These sandy loams are also easy to work ; though by no means rich, 

 they, on account of their depth, grow good crops of fruit by means of irriga- 

 tion, and the fruit, such as dates, oranges, lemons, grapes, &c., is of very fine 

 quality. The fruit soils of this district are covered either with open forest 

 the trees being of comparatively small size or with a scrubby undergrowth 

 through which a few larger trees are scattered. Nearly all the timber of this 

 district is extremely hard, is more or less stunted, and burns readily, hence 

 clearing is not a very expensive item. 



Having now given a very brief description of our climate and the fruit- 

 soils in our principal fruit-producing centres, we will next consider the culture 

 of those fruits which are grown in commercial quantities in the different parts 

 of the State, as well as that of a few less well-known fruits which show 

 especial promise. We will first deal with our tropical fruits, of which the first 

 to be considered is the banana, as its production greatly exceeds that of any 

 other tropical fruit, and, as far as Australia is concerned, this is the only State 

 in which it is grown in commercial quantities. From tropical fruits we will 

 go on to semi-tropical fruits, then to temperate fruits and vines. 



THE BANANA. 



Under the heading of " Banana," all kinds of plantains will also be 

 included, as they belong to one and the same family. The members of this 

 family of plants are all tropical, and produce the most typical and best known 

 tropical fruits. 



The rank luxuriance of the growth of this class of fruits, their handsome 

 foliage, their productiveness, their high economic value as food, and their 

 universal distribution throughout the tropics, all combine to place them in a 

 premier position. As a food it is unequalled amongst fruits, as no matter 

 whether it is used green as a vegetable, ripe as a fruit, dried and ground into 



