1 Dec., 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 551 
Our last illustration shows what the olive is doing at Westbrook. These 
are really very beautiful trees, and have made grand progress, proving that on 
this country of the Downs they will probably do as well as they will anywhere 
in the world. 
Besides being of value for domestic purposes, and for ornament as well 
as for breakwinds, the olive has a certain commercial value both for oil and as 
a pickled fruit, but it is not the purpose of this article to deal with this 
matter. All I need say here is that the olive has not received the attention 
it deserves. I hope some day it will. I trust that in the foregoing readers 
will find something at least to interest them, and if any growers succeed in 
getting a few ideas to help them J shall be very well satisfied. 
STRAWBERRY-GROWING ON THE SOUTH-EAST COAST 
OF QUEENSLAND. 
By JAMES PINK. 
During the past few years strawberry-growing in the Wellington Point 
and Cleveland district has been largely developed. Ten years ago strawberries, 
like the historical cabbage on the Darling Downs, could not be made to grow 
at any price; but industry and perseverance have again illustrated what 
Queensland soil is capable of producing when cultivated by intelligent men. In 
the course of the present season, more than 50 tons of strawberries have been 
sent from the above district to the Sydney and Brisbane markets and to the 
jam factories, and sold at a remunerative price to the growers. In consequence 
more land is being cleared and broken up to be ready for planting in March, so 
there is likely to be an even larger output of fruit next season, which usually 
commences in July and lasts till December. The different varieties coming 
into bearing one after another makes the fruiting season last out as long as 
ossible. 
e The finest berries are gathered in the early morning, packed in single rows in 
cardboard boxes each holding about a pint, and sent out by the first train to their 
destination, so that they reach the consumer quite fresh. The small and 
inferior fruit is gathered in wooden kegs, and forwarded to the factory daily, 
where they are received in quite fresh condition. 
This district having proved pre-eminently suitable for strawberry culture, 
there is little doubt that in a few years it will be able to supply all the straw- 
berries required for jam-making in Australasia. Three tons of berries per acre is 
quite an ordinary crop, and five tons have been grown in at least one instance 
this season. The fruiting season is consequently quite a busy time, and “ boys 
who can whistle and girls who can sing” are in great request—in fact, it is the 
local harvest time, and everybody is busy. Some growers pay by the day, 
others 3d. per lb. for gathering—a quick hand can gather 1 ewt. per day. 
The soil on which the fruit is grown is a red sandy loam, and, according to 
Dr. Voelcker’s report of it, is poor in nitrogen, also in lime, potash, and phos- | 
phoric acid ; therefore these constituents have to be supplied in the shape of | 
manure. ‘To grow good berries, the land can hardly be too rich, although the 
strawberry is not an exhausting crop; but there must be plenty of food 
available for the growing plant, otherwise it will become stunted and the berries 
small, The following manures have been found to answer wellin these soils :— 
= ton bonedust 
1 ewt. kainit oe acre ; 
1 ewt. sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of soda 
the bonedust and kainit to be well ploughed in about two months before planting, 
that it may be available for the young plants so soon as their roots get to 
work. The reason of this will be plain ate it is understood that they can 
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