Fit V ITS OF QVEEXSLAX]). 61 



the dry Western districts, where there is no water available for irrigation, 

 they can be grown from one end of the State to the other, provided that they 

 are planted in suitable soil, and that, in the drier parts, there is an available 

 supply of suitable water with which to irrigate them during the prevalence of 

 long dry spells. The country adjoining the eastern seaboard, extending from 

 the Tweed River in the South to Cooktown in the North a distance of about 

 1,100 miles, and extending inland for nearly 100 miles is naturally suited to 

 the growth of citrus fruits, and there is probably no country in the world that 

 is better adapted to, or that can produce the various kinds of these fruits to 

 greater perfection or with less trouble, than this portion of Queensland. Of 

 course, the whole of this large area is not adapted for citrus culture, as it 

 contains many different kinds of soils, several of which are not suitable for 

 the growth of these fruits, and there is also a large extent of country which is 

 too broken and otherwise unsuitable. At the same time there are hundreds 

 of thousands of acres of land in this area in which the soil and natural 

 conditions are eminently suited to the growth of citrus fruit, and in which 

 the tenderest varieties of these fruits may be grown to perfection without 

 the slightest chance of their being injured by frost; and where the natural 

 rainfall is such that, provided the trees receive ordinary care and cultivation, 

 there is seldom any necessity for artificial irrigation. At the present time 

 there are hundreds of citrus trees growing practically wild in different parts 

 of the coastal country that are in vigorous health and producing heavy crops 

 of good fruit, even though they are uncultivated, unpruned, unmanured, and 

 have to hold their own against a vigorous growth of native and introduced 

 shrubs, trees, and weeds. When the orange, lime, citron, or common lemon 

 become established under conditions that are favourable for their proper 

 development, they apparently become as hardy as the indigenous plants, and 

 are able to hold their own against them, thus showing hoAv well the climate 

 and suitable soils of coastal Queensland are adapted for the cultivation of 

 citrus fruits. The commercial cultivation of citrus fruits is at present practi- 

 cally confined to this coastal area, the most important centres, starting from 

 the South, being Nerang, Coomera, Redland Bay, Brisbane. Enoggera, Gatton, 

 Grantham, Toowoomba, North Coast line from North Pine to Gympie including 

 the Blackall Range and Buderim Mountain; the Wide Bay district, including 

 Maryborough, Tiaro, Mount Bauple, Gayndah, Pialba, and Burrum; the 

 Burnett district, including Bundaberg and Mullet Creek; the Fitzroy district, 

 including Rockhampton and Yeppoon; Bowen, Cardwell, Murray River, Tully 

 River, Cairns and district, Port Douglas, and Cooktown. In addition to 

 these districts a few citrus fruits are grown at Mackay, Townsville, and several 

 other places. Citrus fruits are also grown further inland, but their cultivation 

 here is largely dependent on the ability to supply the trees with suitable 

 water for irrigation during dry spells. Frosts have also to be taken into 

 consideration, for, though the days are warm, the temperature often falls 

 considerably during the night, owing to the great radiation, and citrus-trees 

 in districts like Roma, Emerald, &c., are liable to injury thereby. West of 

 Emerald, at Bogantungan, Barcaldine, and other places, citrus fruits do very 

 well with irrigation. Some of the finest lemons, Washington Navel, and other 



