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wealth territory in the tropics, but its overland distance from the 
populous markets of the more temperate latitudes will always prove 
a formidable obstacle in the way of providing the southern markets 
with productions of tropical latitudes. The cultivation of the sugar 
-cane has already proved highly remunerative in Queensland, and 
other crops as well await development at the hands of settlers in the 
warmer latitudes of both States. 
Coffee, cocoa, cotton, and tea also grow with great luxuriance, 
but at present would prove risky ventures, on account of the lack of 
suitable labour to exploit them. 
Tropical fruits stand differently. To the increasing number of 
settlers on the sea board of tropical Western Australia they would 
prove a blessing and a luxury, whereas the population at the South 
could absorb large quantities of such of the delicious tropical fruits 
which are capable of being raised at the Nor’-West and the North. 
Among such crops are:— 
Atnicaror or Avocapo PEar (Persea gratissima). 
Is a native of Mexico and Brazil, whence it was introduced 
into the West Indies. The tree, which has somewhat the appearance 
of the apple tree, is a fine spreading evergreen, with leaves large, 
oblong, and smooth, and of a bright green colour. The tree bears 
towards the extremity of the branches, the fruit being in appear- 
ance not unlike large pears. They weigh from 14lb. to 2lbs. each. 
They consist of a single large rugged seed wrapped up in a mem- 
branous cover, inside a firm buttery flesh of a bright greenish yellow 
colour. The skin, which changes from bright green to yellow green, 
is tough and leathery, and when the fruit is ripe can be peeled clean 
off the pulp, to which it firmly adheres until then. Very unpalatable 
when green, it is deliciously melting, with a delicate fresh walnut 
flavour, when ripe. The pulp contains six to eight per cent. of a 
greenish oil. In the tropics it is also sometimes eaten with pepper 
and salt or with sugar and kirsh, or with port wine. 
The Avocado Pear thrives as well beyond the tropics, and should 
be an acquisition to the orchards from Sharks Bay northward. It is 
easily grown from seeds or from young cuttings. It requires moist 
soil, and is unsuited for droughty localities. When marketing it 
should he picked before it becomes soft, and should be carefully 
packed, when it ripens in a week or 10 days after gathering. 
Banana AND Puantsin (Jfusa sp.). 
Probably the most widely known fruit in the world, although it 
does best in the tropics proper. The plant grows from a rhizome 
root, a cylindrical spongy stem, surmounted by an ornamented head 
made up of large leaves. 
