1 Dec., 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 409 
REPORT OF THE INSTRUCTOR IN FRUIT CULTURE. 
Although the year just closed has not been a favourable one for fruitgrowers 
generally throughout this State, the industry, taken as a whole, has suffered less from 
the same drought than many other branches of agriculture. ‘The spring of 1901 was 
a very good one, and there was a promise of a record crop, especially of citrus fruit, 
put the long-continued drought has destroyed a very large amount of fruit in many 
districts, only a few favoured places, such as the North Coast Line, producing 
anything like an average crop. In the Bowen district the question of irrigation for 
fruit trees has received attention, and a number of windmills, and pumps worked by 
both steam and horse-power, have been erected between my visits in August, 1901, and 
June, 1902. The results obtained from which have been highly satisfactory, especially 
when the irrigation has been systematically and intelligently applied, and combined 
with thorough cultivation. The drought has taught many growers throughout the 
State the value of conserving water, and of applying it to their fruit trees during dry 
spells and thereby saving their crop, and I feel certain from my experience of the 
Queensland climate, with its recurrent dry spells—especially from July to January— 
that it will pay all fruitgrowers who have cither suitable underground water or the means 
of conserving surplus surface water, to use or conserve same for use during such dry 
times, as a single watering at the right tine will often mean the saving of a crop of 
fruit which would otherwise turn out a failure. The orchards of the State are usually 
very scattered, so that no general schemes of water conservation are possible. In 
most cases the conservation will have to be undertaken by the individual grower, the 
quantity conserved depending on individual requirements. [ven in ordinary good 
seasons there is usually a dry spell of longer or shorter duration during the spring 
months, and a supply of water for irrigation then will be found to be a very valuable 
asset to all fruitgrowers. If the lessons taught fruitgrowers by the present drought 
are therefore taken to heart and acted upon, the drought may prove to be a blessing in 
disguise, and tend to the increased prosperity of the industry in the future. 
The deciduous fruit crop of the Darling Downs and Stanthorpe district was a 
fairly satisfactory one, especially where the trees have been kept free from pests by 
systematicsprayingand the land has been kept well cultivated, thus enabling it to retain 
moisture for the trees’ use, The quality of the fruit produced has been good, prices 
have been satisfactory, and it has been very free from the ravages of the fruit-fly; so 
much so that if a determined and systematic attack be made on this insect during the 
coming season by destroying all infected fruit, especially early in the season, this 
great pest should receive a serious check and be capable of being kept within bounds. 
The pineapple industry has been in a thriving state despite the drought—the 
quality of the fruit being above average, and the prices better than for some 
years. A good demand has sprung up for fruit suitable for canning, which has 
relieved the market, and this branch of the industry is capable of considerable 
extension, provided that it is worked on the right lines and gets a fair show. 
Considerable attention has been directed by me to this industry during the past six 
months, and will continue to be given, as I feel certain that it can be placed ona much 
better basis than it is at present as the pineapple is one of the few fruits that we can 
produce to perfection, and of which we have a practical monoply, at any rate as far as 
Australia is concerned. 
During the year there has been a large increase in the number of trees planted 
both decidnous trees in the Stanthorpe and Downs country, and citrus trees on the 
coast, and, as far as can be judged at present, there is every appearance of a further 
heayy planting taking place during the coming spring. A considerable proportion of 
the planting that has taken place, and that is proposed, consists of varieties of proved 
merit suitable to the districts in which they have been or are to be planted, so that 
when they come into bearing their produce will be of the highest value. Atthe same 
time, despite all that this department can teach or advise to the contrary, there are 
still a few foolish persons who will plant varietivs of both trees and plants that are 
quite unsuitable to this soil and climate; but I am glad to say that such are now in 
a very small minority, the up-to-date fruit growers realising that it does not pay to 
plant trees that produce inferior fruit or to plant varieties unsuitable to his district. 
The question of fighting the various pests attacking fruit and fruit-trees has 
received considerable attention, and a number of practical demonstrations of both 
spraying and eyaniding have been given in various parts of the State, ‘These methods 
of fighting fruit-pests are now coming into general use, several new cyaniding outfits 
and a number of spray pumps having been started during the year. Growers are 
realising more and more the necessity of keeping their trees clean if they wish to make 
fruit growing pay, and this was strongly emphasized at the recent conference at 
Toowoomba, where there was a unanimous opinion amongst the fruit growers present 
