n PKOCEEDINGS, APRIL. 



entitled, " The Geology of Tasmania." No doubt the Government would 

 recognise the importance of this work as they did with that of Mr. 

 Johnston, and make provision for its publication. 



The part of the work prepared by Mr. Rodway was remitted to the 

 Council of the Society for their consideration. 



TASMANIAN APPLES IN LONDON. 



Mr, W, E. Shoobridge read a paper entitled " Tasmanian Apples in 

 London." He said : — The export of Tasmanian apples to London opens 

 up a wide and interesting field of inquiry to the student ot physical 

 science, as well aa a source of profit to Tasmanian growers, and pleasure 

 to consumers in England, and being intimately acquainted with the 

 subject from the beginniog, he had thought some account of its history 

 would be interesting to this Society, and form a record of the initial 

 steps taken to establish what now appears likely to be of colonial, if not 

 national, importance. The soil and climate of ^outhern Tasmania have 

 long been noted for their suitability for growing and maturing all the 

 fruits of a temperate climate in perfection ; and as the industry 

 gradually extended from Hobart, southwards to the fluon, and north- 

 westerly up the Derwent Valley, a distinct difi'erence was discovered in 

 the growth, and consequent treatment necessary in the two districts. 

 In the Huon the heavy rainfall and damp climate, and fertility of 

 virgin soil fre«h won from the deose forests produced a luxuriant 

 growth of large sized fruit, and orchards quickly spread along the 

 narrow valleys and crept up the steep hillsides until it became the staple 

 industry of a great part of the district, and the main dependeuce of 

 a number of small settlers. The Derwent V' alley extending inland, 

 and gradually widening in a north-westerly direction out of the line of 

 the great mountain ranges of the west that cause the moist climate of 

 the Huon. is dry and arid, and the system of fruit growing, espeoially 

 that of apples, that had been so successful in the Huon, failed when 

 applied to the Upper Derwent. But small patches of the river fldta 

 near New Norfolk that received the drainage from the hills, and some 

 that were irrigated for hops, were found to produce excellent fruit ; 

 through information about irrigation and its effect on growing and 

 maturing fruit was difficult to obtain, and such knowledge as could be 

 gained by fragmentary description of Indian and Italian irrigaiion, 

 needed adapting to the special wants of our own soil and climate. 

 Besides a strong though unreasoning prejudice existed against fruit 

 grown by artificial watering, as it was said to be soft and green, though 

 large, and destitute of flavour and keeping qualities, and at the same 

 time irrigation appliances were costly and hard to get. But the 

 indomitable energy of the Anglo-Saxon, when once fairly applied to 

 the problem, slowly but surely overcame the diflSculties, and brought 

 success out of seeming failure. The first step was to get an accurate 

 knowledge of the climate, and this was obtained by a careful seiies 

 of observation?, extending over many years, by which it was found 

 that the average rainfall at New Norfolk for the year was 23 22in., and 

 the spontaneous evaporation 45"36in.; and for the summer months of 

 December, January, and February the mean average rainfall was 5in., 

 and evaporation 15in , the mean temperature of three daily registers, 

 62'36deg., the mean of maximum solar intensity 134'S8deg., of minimum 

 terrestrial radiation 4r51de£., and humidity of air 68 per cent.; of 

 course this means an exceptionally dry summer climace for cultivation, 

 and explained the reason of the failure of the Huon system when 

 applied to the Derwent, but the mean amount of cloud of three daily 

 registers (7*30 a.m., 4.30 p.m., and sunset) was only 4*20 of soAle — 10. 

 He gave these and other figures in order that those who may wish to 

 investigate the subject, either as a matter ot inquiry, or for the purpose 

 of establishing the industry in other places, may have some reliable 



