The apple is the most esteemed of Victorian fruits, 
and thrives in all parts of the C tlouy. * The apricot 
prefers the warmer districts, where its produce is both 
large and fine. Cherries are largely grown, and appear 
to thrive in the strong volcanic loams that exist in 
various parts of the Oolony. 
The fig grows exceptionally well in the warm northern 
districts, and fig-drying is being taken up as a local 
industry. The grape, both for wine-making and for a 
dessert fruit, flourishes in all but the coldest climates. 
In suitable localities the bunches and berries are de- 
scribed as of enormous size, fine colour, and excellent 
flavour. Melons are in great demand in local markets, 
and " a cross-bred variety of sugar melon " is much 
used for jam. The peach, often grafted on almond 
stocks, is one of the most delicious fruits grown in 
the Oolony. The persimmon (Kaki) is becoming pqpular 
on account of its rich flavour and fine colour. Plums 
are abundant, and are obtained in the markets at a 
low rate. The raspberry, grown in the rich valleys 
of the Yarra, is sent to Melbourne to the value of 
£150,000 annually ; while of the strawberry, two, and 
even three, crops are not unusually borne in the year. 
SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 
This Colony, next to New Soutn "Wales, made a very 
successful show of fresh fruits. Its grapes, apples, 
and pears were of special interest, not so much for 
what they were in themselves, as foe the possibilities 
which they foreshadowed, and the promise which they 
held out of an extensive and prosperous fruit trade 
between the Australian Colonies and the mother 
country. The resources of civilization iu this instance 
are evidently being directed to a comparatively on- 
worked field ; and there is no reason why this trade 
in fruit should not grow into permanent benefit alike 
to producer and consumer. The speci il points wherein 
6ome shipments failed have already been pointed out 
by Mr. D. Tallerman, who had charge of the Colonial 
Market, and it is unnecessary to repeat them here. 
The knowledge, so far gained, will be of great benefit 
in arranging for future consignments. In packing 
fruit, it is suggested that " the cases for fruits should be 
of the ordinary flat shape, with one or two partitions." 
"I find," says Mr. Tallerman, "that the fruit from 
Adelaide, in the old-fashioned cheap Tasmanian cases, 
with the apples papered, has arrived in good con- 
dition. Some South Australian shippers simply line 
the cases with paper, and pack their apples loose, and 
they have arrived equally well; but I recommend that 
all large and choice fruits be papered." 
The dessert raisins, Zante currants, and Sultana 
raisins, shown in the South Australian Court, were 
of a most interesting character, and compared very 
favourably with the best qualities usually imported 
into England. It is evident that South Australia, no 
less than the Cape of Good Hope, can supply both 
the European and American markets to a large extent 
with these dried fruits, and they have done well to 
display in so enterprising a manner their special 
capabilities. 
QUEENSLAND, 
At least one-half of the vast territory of Queensland 
lies within the tropics ; hence, in a classification of 
its fruits, they may very conveniently be divided into 
tropical and sub-tropioal. BeloDgiug to the latter class, 
there are the fruits of the orange family, Chinese and 
Japanese fruits, and the more delicate of English-grown 
fruits, such as apricot, almoud and peach. Of tropical 
fruits grown in, or suitable for, the climate of Northern 
Queensland, there a"C the bauana, pine-apple, and 
mango, for which there is a very large local and 
Colonial demand,f audit is said that "growers have 
for years p ist been accumulating wealth by growing 
and marketing them." An export fruit-trale exists 
* Th ' "codlin moth" is a gr^at enemy to apples and 
peajg. so are sparrowi to cherries, while the peach 
" as bee 1 Blnapst killed out in somi districts by dis- 
eac e y ctoria has a wonderful variety of climates, 
-Ed. 
bo 
* jj^fceia^y > u Melbourne,— JSv, 
between Queensland and Sydney, and having regard 
to the vase extent of rich lands suitable for fruit 
culture, there is scope for almost unlimited develop- 
ment. 
Queensland scarcely did herself justice at the Colonial 
and Indian Exhibition in the matter of fruits ; and 
indeed, judging by the specimens shown under Class 
07 (fruits, fresh and preserved), it would ba impossible 
to express an opinion respecting them. It is evident 
that it is not sufficient to grow good and choice fruits ; 
but for external trade, the most approved and skilful 
methods must be studied for selecting, packing and 
shipping such fruits expressly for long voyages. 
WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 
The representation of fruits iu the Western Aus- 
tralian Court comprised one magnificent pear weighing 
3 lb. and 3 oz., some dried apricots and figs, dried 
peaches, several boxes of raisins, and a selection of 
preserves of Cape gooseberry, melons and gooseberry, 
and melon and limes. 
There were exhibits of candied fruits, and one lot 
of preserved olives. 
Judging by the specimens here shown, it is evident 
that both raisins and currants can be grown in 
Western Australia, equal to any in the English market. 
The stalk, or dessert raisins, prepared by C. W. 
Ferguson and O. C. Fauntleroy, were in excellent 
condition, and deserve special mention. Practically an 
undeveloped country, Western Australia cannot be 
expected to show advance- in cultural operations equal 
to ner sister-colonies. What she has done already, 
is good earnest of what she is capable of doing ; 
and it is evident that choice and delicious fruits are 
to be numbered amongst the stores of her prosperous 
future. 
NEW ZEALAND. 
The best and most successful fruits for export pur- 
poses in New Zealand appear to be the apple, pear 
and quince. Excellent apples of a most attractive 
colour and size were shown iu the New Zealand Court 
for three weeks after arrival, proving that they possess 
excellent keeping qualities. 
Besides apples, there were received from New 
Zealand, during the course of the Exhibition, such fruits 
as pears, lemons, limes, walnuts, all of which arrived 
in fairly good condition. As the success of sending 
fruit such a long distance, assuming it was first care- 
fully selected and graded, depended on the mode of 
packing, it may be useful to place on record the method 
which appears to have given the best results. In a 
Report kindly placed at my disposal by the Exec utive 
Commissioner, Sir Julius von Haast, k.cm.g. it is 
stated that of New Zealand fresh fruit : — ' 
" In all, about thirty consignments were received. 
The first that came to hand, was in a case brought 
by Mr. John Bowman of Green Lanes, Auckland, in 
the '• Sutlej " via the Suez Canal : his mode of packing 
seems to have resulted satisfactorily. Mr. Bowman's 
apples w<?re packed iu a close case of Kauri pine, 
with no holes for ventilation. Each apple was wrapped 
in tissue paper, and completely surrounded with chaff, 
so tightly packed that the fruit could not shake 
about. The apples were from one-and-a-half to two 
inches apart at the nearest point. Each layer of 
apples was separated by a wooden shelf. The chaff 
was not dried artificially before packing. On opening 
the case, from 10 to 13 per cent, only were found 
unfit for use, the rest of them being in perfect 
condition, and still retaining their bloom. The apples 
had not sweated at all, nor had the dampness from 
the bad fruit affected the good ones near them. The 
fruit being large and fiue attracted great attention 
from visitors, and when placed in a glass case iu a 
prominent part of th9 Court, was generally taken 
for models similar to those shown by the Australian 
Colonies. 
" Although packed in the Colony three weeks before 
subsequent arrivals, some of these apples were still 
good in the ci^e after three weeks' exposure here. 
Mr, Bowman's apples are stated to have been packed 
in the last week in March, or more than three wee k 
