1 Jury, 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 145 
them ona line, hang them on a tree, and probably in the morning you would 
find them studded with flying foxes. I found that the flying foxes were very good 
judges, and J thought, if I hung my hooks on the tree which bore the best 
peaches, that I would have a better opportunity of making the experiment a 
success. In the morning f found that I had not misjudged the flying foxes’ 
discrimination, for the whole of the peaches on the tree where I had hung the 
hooks were gone. They had left me the fish hooks, however, and for that I 
was thankful. I then thought that it would be just as well to call in 
experience from outside, and I found some kanakas who were familiar with the 
flying fox. The kanaka will prefer a flying fox to a duck as a delicacy. They 
told me I should get » bamboo pole and hang on it long red or white 
streamers. I took their advice, but discovered in a day or two that the fruit 
went exactly the same, with the only difference that, in this case, I lost the 
streamers. It appears provision was made by the Government for the granting 
of a subsidy for the destruction of flying foxes, but that very little advantage 
was taken of it, Of course, a vote of Parliament lapses if not spent within 
the financial year for which it was granted. I shall look into the matter, and, 
if the Treasurer is willing at the present time to allow a certain sum of money 
towards the destruction of flying foxes, I personally shall be inclined to 
recommend it. I fully admit the disabilities of fruitgrowers in the matter, and 
know myself the evil which these particular creatures are. 
__ The following papers were then read :— 
PINEAPPLE-GROWING, 
[By Mr. J. Ross, Junr., Woombye. | 
; My paper will deal chiefly with smooth-leaf pineapples, but, as both rough and 
smooth-leaf will grow and thrive under the same conditions, this article will apply 
to both. 
Now, the first matter that I shall deal with will be how to grow pineapples at a 
cost that will allow a profit to the grower. This is a most necessary thing to be 
studied, as there are times every year when a grower realises very small returns for his 
fruit. I do not mean that a grower shall sacrifice quality of his fruit for cost of 
roducing same, but I maintain that pines can be grown under favourable conditions at 
1f the cost to Tings grown under unfavourable conditions. 
I have found from practical experience that, under favourable conditions, pines bear 
their fruit much earlier from date of planting, require less nursing, a better quality of 
fruit and twice the quantity is gained, and in this way the cost of producing it is 
much less. : 
Every case of failure in pineapple-growing can be put down to one or other of 
two causes. Hither the soil is not suitable or the frost is too severe. Now, the first 
thing an intending pineapple-grower should consider in choosing his land is this—Is 
the land free from trost or nearly soP No matter how favourable the conditions of the 
soil may be, if it is subject every year to a very severe winter, failure will be the result 
of any person attempting to grow pines on such a piece of land. 
Some growers cover their pines during the winter months with grass and weeds, 
which protect them a great deal; but, where this is necessary, pines should not be 
grown, as the cold penetrates the plant, and small fruit is the result. 
Great attention must be paid to the wants of the plant in this respect, as the 
Bech is a tropical plant; and, if planted in the proper locality, as before stated, 
the following results will be obtained :— 
Early bearing of fruit, and quality and quantity of same ; 
Intermediate or ee out of season, which realise a good price; and the most 
important of all reasons : 
That, if it be planted in a good, warm locality, the life of the plant will be 
almost doubled and will be less subject to any diseases. : 
Too much stress cannot be laid upon the fact that land requires to be free from 
frost for successful pineapple-growing. There is plenty of such land available in 
districts where the country has not been opened up extensively. To my idea, the 
most suitable land is small clearings of not more than 20 acres, with a belt of forest 
timber standing round, which forms a splendid protection. 
I have known a really first-class patch of pines to be ruined by a grower cuttin, 
down standing timber near by, and by so doing he allowed the westerly winds Hail 
K 
