336 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL’ JOURNAL. {1 Noy., 1902. 
Fancy the transformation that would occur! In place of the present 
wilderness of miles and miles in extent, we would see happy homes, good 
substantial dwellings, beautiful gardens and orchards, thriving farms, and a 
smiling people! What a change from drought, dust, and despair! What a 
jump from starvation to plenty! We can and ought to have repeated here 
what is being worked out on the arid areas of the States of America. There 
the transformation has largely been accomplished, and the results are marvel- 
lous. There is no doubt of the wealth-giving power of what the Americans 
have done and are still doing, and there need be no doubt in our minds of the 
results here if we only tackle the business properly. I am aware that in this 
matter as in all things worth attempting certain difficulties will have to be 
overcome, and brains and intelligence applied at all points, and the people who 
would settle on this country require lifting along in some ways. But with 
regard to all the agricultural work involved in this article .it may well be 
remembered that the intelligence and resources of this Departmentare available 
for the help of settlers.’ Information and instruction can always be obtained, 
and every step of the way made clear to the man who does not know his way. 
Let any intelligent observer visit this district, see what has been already 
accomplished on the places | have mentioned, and I believe he will come away 
impressed not only with what he has seen, but still more with the idea that 
things are possible that have not been dreamt of. 
MARKETING ORANGES. 
Hints on Picking, Packing, and Shipping.—Dry weather is best for pick- 
ing oranges, but if they are dried before being packed no injury is done them 
by picking wet. 
Gathering.—Oranges for market should never be pulled from the trees. 
Pulled fruit is looked upon with suspicion by the trade, and is usually sold as 
“drops.” Great care should be taken to cut the stem smoothly and close, that 
it may not puncture the skin of the fruit next to it in the box. The finger- 
nails should be closely cut before attempting to handle oranges. Cut the fruit 
with clijpers made tor the purpose, which can be procured at any hardware 
store. A knife is apt to graze the fruit, which causes it to rot, even if the cut 
is too small to be noticed, and often leaves a protruding, sharp stem. ‘The 
fruit when picked should be placed in receptacles, which protect it from being 
thorned, pressed, or bruised. Many of the largest shippers use cans or baskets 
shaped or adjusted to the body of the picker, and held by a strap over the 
shoulder. Some, however, continue to use sacks, claiming that heavy canvas 
sacks are much handier and less cumbersome than metal boxes, the proportion 
of thorned fruit being very slight. The most convenient size is 14 by 20 
inches when laid flat, with straps to go over the shoulder, holding the top of 
the sack at the waist. When full they should be carefully emptied, placing 
the mouth of the sack at the bottom of the field box, and lifting slowly by the 
straps on the bottum of the sack. 
Grove Boxes.—A handy and serviceable grove box is made from two panel- 
heads connected by stiff slats, three on each side, with 43-inch openings between 
and at the bottom corners to allow for ventilation. Boxes are of the same size 
and shape as the ordinary packing box, but do not contain the middle partitions. 
The heads should be hooped, and the slats planed on both sides, with the inside 
edges slightly rounded. ‘These boxes should be placed about two-thirds full, so 
they can be stacked on top of one another, and the sides should be of sufficient 
thickness — depending on the kind of wood used—so that they will not bulge 
from pressure of the fruit. Some make the’ grove boxes smaller at the bottom 
than the top, with flaring sides like a tray, so that they will “nest.” Remoye 
the fruit from the picking receptacle by hand carefully, placing it in boxes: 
never pour it except from a sack, as above described. A. freshly picked orange 
