144 
THE GARDENING WORLD , 
February 18, 1905. 
tural design is the arrangement of bulbs in set figures appro¬ 
priate. Elsewhere they are more in harmony when in irregular 
groups. Near the centre of the group the bulbs should be set 
close, but gradually more scattering toward the edge of the 
group. A southern slope should be selected for the early 
bloomers. A plan recommended for Tulips especially is to 
remove 6 in. of the surface loam, spread an inch layer of sand, 
and in this set out the bulbs, then replace the loam. It has 
been found by experience that the Japan Lilies—Lilium aura- 
tum, L. speciosum album, L. speciosum var. praecox, and L. 
speciosum var. rubrum—grow better and give more satisfaction 
when planted in partial shade. They should be set about- 10 in. 
deep, and be well covered in winter. Edward P. Adams. 
By all means the Narcissus bulbs after forcing should be 
slowly ripened under the benches, and when ripened, tho¬ 
roughly cleaned and planted outdoors in the grass in the 
autumn. If they only bloom once they will repay all the 
trouble taken. Both Scilla and Chionodoxa and the commonei 
Narcissus and Campernelles are very easily naturalised in the 
grass, and form a charming addition to the beauty of the 
spring. That authority on Narcissus, Peter Ban - , when in this 
country some years ago told the writer that the best effect 
was produced by planting Narcissus bulbs in groups of twenty 
to thirty, very thickly, and then scattered out in the direction 
of the prevailing winds more thinly, so that the effect when 
in bloom was that of mother-plants with seedlings growing near 
the older ones. All formal planting should be avoided as much 
as possible. . R- H. 44 arder. 
(j l'o be continued.) 
Australian Fruit Production. 
It is doubtful whether there exists outside the Common¬ 
wealth any adequate idea of the immense fruit-growing capa¬ 
bilities of the various Australian States. In Europe, America, 
and elsewhere, the name of the island-continent is generally 
associated with gold and pastural produce—certainly not with 
fruits or flowers, although the profuse luxuriance and abun¬ 
dance of each constitute'one of its most characteristic features. 
Nearly the whole of the best fruits of the Old 44 r orld have 
become acclimatised, and with such success that during favour¬ 
able seasons they are obtained in enormous quantities, fre¬ 
quently of exceptional size and flavour ; yet, although the soil 
and climate of large areas in each of the States are so admirably 
adapted for fruit-growing, the industry remains very imper¬ 
fectly developed, partly by reason of a lack of care and skill 
on the part of the growers, and partly by reason of deficient 
means of rapid transit at reasonable rates from the more 
distant orchards to the principal markets. 
In 1902 the area under orchards and gardens in Australia was 
175,483 acres, as follows :—Victoria, 58,415 acres, New South 
Wales, 55,847 acres; South Australia, 26,865 acres; Tas¬ 
mania, 14,568 acres; Queensland, 13,023 acres; Western 
Australia, 6,765 acres. According to the New South Wales 
Government Statistician, the average annual value of the 
Australian fruit crop during the last five years was as follows : 
- Victoria, ,£696,000 ; New South Wales, £457,000 ; South 
Australia, £358,000; Queensland, £179,000; Tasmania, 
£177,000; Western Australia, £81,000; total, £1,948,000. 
The values of the oversea exports of Australian fruit in 1903 
were:—Dried and bottled fruits, £22,222; fruit pulp, 
£37,240 : and fresh fruits, £217,912 ; total £277,374. 
According to Mr. McLean, the Victorian Statist, the fruit 
produce of Victoria during the year 1903-4 comprised: — 
654,965 cwt. Grapes, 251,373 cwt. Apples, 56,495 cwt. Pears, 
29,113 cwt. Quinces, 108,736 cwt. Plums, 42,215 cwt. Cherries, 
88,414 cwt. Peaches, 114,305 cwt. Apricots, 9,635 cwt. 
Oranges, 20,842 cwt. Lemons, b 8,959 cwt. Figs, 22,377 cwt. 
Baspherries, 3,122 cwt. Strawberries, 14,199 cwt. Gooseberries, 
2,312 cwt. Currants (black, white, and red), and 4,297 cwt. 
miscellaneous, also 113,791 lb. Almonds, 13,276 lb. Walnuts, 
2,223 lb. Filberts, arid 6,677 lb. of Chestnuts. This does not 
include fruits grown for private use. 
In Queensland the fruit produce of 1903 included 
2,362,520 lb. of Grapes, 1,112,578 dozen Bananas, 340,832 
dozen Pineapples, and 1,150,514 dozen Oranges. In New 
South 4Vales, where the statistics of fruit produce are extremely 
meagre, the figures include:-—Grapes, 378,832 cwt., and 
Oranges and Lemons 6,534,620 dozen. In South Australia 
the Grape production in 1902-3 was 26,175,472 lb. The total 
Grape production of the Commonwealth in 1902-3 was 
57,538,200 lb., from which, exclusive of the portion retained 
for table use, 4,785,440 gallons of wine, and considerable quan¬ 
tities of brandy were obtained. 
Grapes and citrus fruits do not thrive in Tasmania, their 
places being taken by Strawberries, Raspberries, Pears, and 
Apples, which are exceedingly plentiful and of rich flavour. 
In Victoria and South Australia considerable attention is given 
to the fruit-drying industry. In the former State the output of 
Raisins in 1903-4 was 5,986,064 lb., and of Currants 838,880 
lb. The dried fruits also included 25,137 lb. Apples, 
58,293 lb. Prunes, 114,096 lb. Peaches, 184,960 lb. Apricots, 
and 17,599 lb. Figs. The weights are after drying. In the 
Victorian orchards, as in those of the other States, considerable 
quantities of Melons, Rhubarb, and Tomatos were produced, 
the figures in 1903-4 being:—Melons, 23,109 cwt. ; Rhubarb, 
49,259 cwt. ; and Tomatos, 28,990 cwt. If the produce of 
private orchards were included, the totals would become largely 
increased. 
Western Australia is likelv to become one of the meat 
fruit-growing countries of the future, the soil and climate in 
many places being admirably adapted for the production of 
Grapes, citrus fruits, Apples, Pears, Plums, Peaches, Apricots, 
Nectarines, etc. Suitable land for fruit cultivation is readily 
obtained, and there is a good local demand for all the choicer 
kinds at remunerative prices. The export trade is yet in 
its infancy, but considering that in Australia the seasons are 
reversed, and that all the leading British and American summer 
fruits, such as Cherries and Strawberries, are most plentiful 
from November to February, there should be a large oversea 
market for them. 
The most successful growers are orchardists who have had 
s nne previous experience of the industry in other countries, 
and are familiar with the proper conditions of cultivation. To 
such men the Commonwealth is a country of great possibilities. 
Grape Lady Hutt. 
This is a poor late kind, and it is strange that no one has 
yet raised a late white kind worth having from a flavour point 
of view. During the past forty years several have been 
brought forward as new kinds, all claiming to be good 
flavoured and long keeping. After being grown for a time, 
finding they have no merit, they have to lie given up. Were 
T asked to name the- best late-keeping white for flavour, 1 
should say White Tokay. 1 am aware it is a strong grower. 
I remember this being grafted on a weak grower in a large 
garden where I served thirty-five years ago in a Muscat house. 
It was in fine condit ion in February. Royal Vineyard, growing 
in the same house, was a success, and in my estimation far 
before Lady Hutt. This I obtained when sent out, grafting 
it in a house with Downes, etc. Nothing could give finer and 
more handsome bunches, which colour and keep well ; but for 
flavour it is not worth room. Now (the middle of January) 
bunches cut recently and put in bottles in a room are tasteless. 
I admit the flesh is of a, Sweetwater type 1 , but Spanish Grapes' 
in the shops are before it. 
It has the merit of being a strong grower, and when grown 
on its own roots I consider it no better. Some may say this 
may arise from lack of heat, but this is not so with us, having 
the same treatment as Lady Downes, and these are fine in all 
ways. It received a Certificate from the R.H.S., but surely 
not for flavour. Syrian is an old kind, with large bunches, not 
much grown now. A really good late white kind would be a 
boon. Con. 
