74 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ave., 1902. 
In selecting fruit for Downs country the question of earliness is of paramount 
importance, as early ripening fruit usually escapes the ravages of the fruit hy: at the 
same time, many of the best fruits are mid-season; and both in the case of those 
growing for the market and those growing for home consumption it is advisable to 
grow such fruits, so as to prolong the season as far as can be safely done. As to late 
deciduous fruits, although many varieties do well, the risk of fruit fly is too great; 
and also at the time at which they would ripen there is an abundance of superior fruit 
available in the Southern States which is being placed on our markets. 
So many varieties of fruit will grow on the Downs that it is a difficult matter to 
make a selection of the most suitable, especially as some varieties do better on one 
class of soil than another. In the May number of the Agricultural Journal, Mr. 
Voller gives a list of the trees that, up till the present, have done best at the Hermitage 
and Westbrook State farm orchards; and as the soils at these orchards is character- 
istic of a large part of the Lowns, I cannot do better than advise intending growers 
who have similar soils to consult the list given. At the same time, the following general 
information may be of some little yalue :— 
Axtmonps.—Choose warm light soils in a position as free as possible from iate 
frosts, as this fruit blossoms very early. Plant three or four kinds together, so as to 
secure fertilization of the flowers. Single trees are often poor bearers, owing to the 
fact that the flowers are usually incapable of fertilization by their own pollen. The 
best varieties are Early Jordan, Brand’s Jordan, 1X, and La Prima. 
Apricots.—This fruit does best on good rich loam, though it will stand a stronger 
soil than many other kinds of fruit. The trees require severe pruning at first, as they 
are apt to become very straggling if neglected ; but, once well in bearing, the pruning 
is not difficult. The following varieties willbe found to suit generally :—Pennant 
Hills Oval, Oullin’s Early Peach, Moorpark, Hemskerke, Alsace. 
AppriEs.—Apples do fairly well on any soil, the heaviest black soils excepted, but 
are of best quality when grown on free soils. A very large number of varieties can 
be grown, ae for commercial purposes, only the earlier EIDE sorts are worth 
lanting. The following kinds do well generally :—EKarly Richmond, Carrington, 
tyavensiennt Lord Nelson, Lord Suffield, Scarlet Pearmain, W. HK. Gladstone, 
Alexander, Trivett’s Seedling, Frampton, Prince Bismark, Prince of Pippins, Twenty 
Ounce. Many other varieties do well, but the list given contains the most of the best 
kinds for marketing during December and January. If later varieties are wished, 
Jonathan, Stone Pipppin, London Pippin, Winter Majetin, and Monroe’s Favourite 
may be tried. 
Prars.—This fruit does best on good rich loam—fairly strong land. It must be 
grafted on seedling stock, not suckers ; if dwarf trees are required, it should be worked 
on quince, not hawthorn. The following varieties will be found most profitable :— 
Williams, Bonchrétien, Clapp’s Favourite, Beurre Bosc, Beurre Clairgeau, Marie 
Louise, Gansell’s Bergamot, Winter Nelis; for cooking, Uvedale’s St. Germain and 
Vicar of Winkfield. : 
Pracuzs.—This fruit does well generally in any good fruit soil. To ensure fine fruit, 
the peach requires more severe pruning than any other fruit tree, as the best fruit is 
always produced on the strong wood of one year’s growth. Many worthless seedlings 
are grown, but the following varieties have proved themselves valuable :—Governor 
Garland, Alexander, Brigg’s Red May, Hale’s Early, Foster, Elberta, Lady Palmerston, 
Globe, Robert Stewart. There are many other varieties, some much later than any of 
those mentioned, but there is too much risk of fly with any peaches ripening much 
later than the end of January. 
Necrarines require similar soil and treatment to peaches. The best varieties 
to grow are as follows :—Irewarra, Early Rivers, Albert Victor, Elruge, Stanwick 
seedling. 
Prums.—Nearly all kinds of plums do well on the Downs, though many varieties 
of particular species are not profitable, the fruit being either too small or inferior or 
the trees are not good bearers. Of the American type, the Red Cherry Plum is the 
earliest and best; of the Chickasaw type, the fruits of which are all pray fy 
proof, there are several good varieties, though the fruit of some is on the small side 
Chickasaw plums must ie worked on peach stocks, not suckers. The best varieties 
are:—Helm, Robinson, Wild Goose, Cumberland, and Golden Beauty. It is not 
advisable to plant many plums of this type, as they are not equal in quality to 
European varieties, though their freedom from fly is a great consideration to all who 
grow for home use. European Type:-——Evans’ sae Crittenden’s Prolific, Angelina 
Burdett, Reine Claude de Bavay, Diamond, Purple Gage, Washington. Japanese 
