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34 chapters
PREFACE.
PREFACE.
In the more thickly populated portions of the Old and New World, and, to a certain extent, in the large cities of Australia, the question of how to make a living has became one of vital importance to a large portion of the population, and is the cause of considerable anxiety to fathers of families who are endeavouring to find employment for their sons. This difficulty of obtaining employment is a very serious question, and one demanding the most earnest consideration. It is probably the result o
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INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION.
Queensland's greatest want to-day is population: Men and women to develop our great natural resources, to go out into our country districts as farmers, dairymen, or fruit-growers—not to stick in our towns, but to become primary producers, workers, home-builders—not the scourings of big cities, the dissatisfied, the loafer, but the honest worker whose wish is to make a home for himself and his family. There are many such in the overcrowded cities of older countries, striving in vain to make a liv
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QUEENSLAND FRUIT GROWING.
QUEENSLAND FRUIT GROWING.
Very few persons have any idea of the magnitude or the resources of this State of Queensland, and in no branch of agricultural industry are they more clearly shown than in that of fruit-growing. Here, unlike the colder parts of the world or the extreme tropics, we are not confined to the growing of particular varieties of fruits, but, owing to our great extent of country, and its geographical distribution, we are able to produce practically all the cultivated fruits of the world, many of them to
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CLIMATE.
CLIMATE.
As previously stated, the successful culture of fruit depends mainly on the right kinds of fruit being grown in the right soil and climate. This naturally brings us to the question of climate, and here one again gets an idea of the extent of our country, as we have not one but many climates. Climate is a matter of such vital importance to fruit-growers, and there is such a general lack of knowledge respecting the climate of Queensland, that a little information on this point is desirable. I am a
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THE BANANA.
THE BANANA.
Under the heading of "Banana," all kinds of plantains will also be included, as they belong to one and the same family. The members of this family of plants are all tropical, and produce the most typical and best known tropical fruits. The rank luxuriance of the growth of this class of fruits, their handsome foliage, their productiveness, their high economic value as food, and their universal distribution throughout the tropics, all combine to place them in a premier position. As a food it is un
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THE PINEAPPLE.
THE PINEAPPLE.
If there is one fruit that Queensland can grow to perfection, it is undoubtedly the pineapple. This is not merely my own personal opinion, but is the universal admission of all who are qualified to judge. On many occasions I have taken men thoroughly conversant with pineapple-growing, and who knew what a good fruit really is, through some of our plantations, where I have given them fruit to test, and, without exception, they have had no hesitation in saying that they have never tasted better fru
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THE MANGO.
THE MANGO.
This magnificent fruit, which is practically unknown outside of the tropics, has become as hardy as a forest tree throughout our eastern seaboard, wherever it is planted out of frost. It has been named, and well named too, the apple of Queensland, as it stands as much neglect, and can be grown with as little care and attention as, or even less, than that given to the apple-trees in many of the Somerset or Devonshire orchards. It will not, however, stand frost. Droughts and floods have little eff
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THE MANGOSTEEN.
THE MANGOSTEEN.
Many attempts have been made during past years to introduce this delicious fruit into Queensland, but these always resulted in failure. True, a certain variety of mangosteen has been successfully grown at Port Douglas, also on the Lower Burdekin, and rumours of the existence of the true Java mangosteen ( Garcinia mangostana ) have been received, but, in nearly every case, they have, on investigation, proved to be Garcinia xanthochymus , or some other species. At the Kamerunga State Nursery, howe
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THE PAPAW.
THE PAPAW.
Continuing our list of tropical fruits, we now come to the papaw, one of our most wholesome and useful fruits. It is grown all along our eastern seaboard in situations that are free from frost. It comes into bearing early, and is a heavy cropper. Like the other tropical fruits already described, it does best in our warmer parts, coming to maturity earlier, and producing better fruit. In many of the Northern coastal scrubs it is often met with growing wild, and producing fruit in abundance, the s
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THE COCOA-NUT.
THE COCOA-NUT.
Although this palm can be grown for ornamental purposes as far south as Brisbane, its cultivation on commercial lines will be confined to the coast district north of Townsville, and to the islands off the coast, as, in order to develop its fruit to perfection, it requires a tropical climate. Where the climate is suitable it does well, it makes a rapid growth, and bears heavy crops of nuts. Old palms on the beach at Cairns compare favourably with any growing in the South Seas, and I am of opinion
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THE GRANADILLA.
THE GRANADILLA.
A vine, belonging to the natural order Passifloreæ, that produces one of our most delicious tropical fruits. The papaw and the passion fruit belong to this same order. It can be grown all along our eastern seaboard, but comes to greatest perfection in the North. The fruit is of a pale greenish-yellow colour, cylindrical in shape, and varies in weight from about 1 to 5 lb., the largest fruits being produced on a sub-species. The fruit consists of an outer pulpy covering, which can be used for coo
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THE PASSION FRUIT.
THE PASSION FRUIT.
This fruit is very closely related to the granadilla, but is much hardier than it, and can be grown to perfection much further South. It is not injured by frost to any extent in any part of coastal Queensland, and can be grown a considerable distance inland. It is more rightly a semi-tropical than a tropical fruit, though, as it is so nearly related to the granadilla, I have included it amongst the tropical fruits. It is also a vine, and, when grown commercially, is trained along a horizontal tr
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CUSTARD APPLES.
CUSTARD APPLES.
Under this heading I will include all the Anonas, such as the sour sop, sweet sop, bullock's heart, and cherimoya. The sour sop is purely tropical, and is very sensitive to frost, but the other species are by no means so tender, and can be grown anywhere along the coast where the soil is suitable, as well as at many inland places. All the species produce very fine fruits, that vary somewhat in shape, in the roughness of the skin, and in size. The sour sop is the largest, and attains a size of 6
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CITRUS FRUIT.
CITRUS FRUIT.
Quite a number of fruits are included under this heading, and all reach a very high state of perfection in this State. The whole of the family, the lemon-shaped citron excepted, is noted for the beauty and symmetry of growth that its trees make, and I know of few more beautiful sights in the vegetable world than a well-kept citrus grove in full bearing. Take the common round orange as an example, its well-balanced and evenly grown head, its dark glossy green foliage, its wealth of white blossoms
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THE PERSIMMON.
THE PERSIMMON.
This exceedingly handsome fruit of Japanese origin is grown to a high state of perfection in this State, particularly in the coastal districts south of the tropic of Capricorn. It is a fruit of comparatively recent introduction, the oldest trees being less than thirty years of age, but has already become widely distributed, as well as a favourite fruit amongst many. It is a very showy fruit when well grown, but must be thoroughly ripe before it is eaten, as, if not, it is extremely astringent, a
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THE LOQUAT.
THE LOQUAT.
A handsome evergreen tree, that can be grown in the more Southerly coast districts, in the foothills of the coast range, and on the coast tablelands. There are several types of the fruit, whose chief value consists in that it ripens its fruit in early spring, when there is a shortage of stone fruits, and that it withstands wind well, so makes a good break for the protection of exposed orchards. Its cultivation is not extensive, nor is it likely to become so....
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THE DATE PALM.
THE DATE PALM.
Although this extremely valuable fruit is grown in this State more as an ornament than for its commercial value, there is nothing to prevent its culture on a scale sufficiently large to supply the Australian requirements. It is grown in many places along the coast, as well as in the foothills country of the coastal range, but it does best in situations that more nearly resemble its natural habitat—viz., in districts having a hot dry air, a deep sandy loam or sandy soil, and a good supply of mois
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THE PECAN NUT.
THE PECAN NUT.
Another little-known fruit which does well in this State. It belongs to the hickory family, and closely resembles the walnut. There are trees now growing in the Maryborough district that are some 15 inches in diameter at the trunk, and from 40 to 50 feet in height, that bear regular and heavy crops of nuts, and that have stood drought and been under flood. For years the trees have received no cultivation, and they have shown themselves to be as hardy as the adjacent indigenous trees. The trees a
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JAPANESE PLUMS.
JAPANESE PLUMS.
All varieties of this fruit thrive well and bear heavily in the more Southerly part of our coast country, as well as on the country immediately adjacent to it, the coastal tablelands, and several other parts of the State. The trees are rapid growers, come into bearing very early, and often bear enormous crops of fruit. They are good fruits for home consumption or for the fresh-fruit trade, but are not equal to European varieties of plums for preserving, drying, or jam-making. In this State they
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CHICKASAW PLUMS.
CHICKASAW PLUMS.
This family of American plums does well in the same districts as the Japanese varieties just dealt with, but has the advantage of being resistant to the fruit fly. The trees are usually more or less straggling growers, the fruit is of small size, but good for cooking or jam-making. One or more of the varieties of this plum are bad setters, though they blossom profusely, but this may be overcome either by working two varieties which bloom at the same time on to the same stock, or by planting vari
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CHINESE PEACHES.
CHINESE PEACHES.
Peaches of Chinese origin thrive well on the coast, and are extremely hardy. The fruit is not, as a rule, of high quality when compared with that of the Persian varieties, but their earliness and ease with which they can be grown causes them to be planted by many who have small gardens. Like the Japanese plums they are, however, very subject to the attack of fruit fly, and require to be kept dwarf and covered in a similar manner if any good is to be got from them. On the coast, they are practica
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FIGS.
FIGS.
Several kinds of figs can be grown successfully in the Southern coast districts, the first crop ripening before Christmas, but the second or main crop is often a failure, owing to the fact that it ripens during our wet season, and the fruit consequently sours and bursts. As one recedes from the coast, the fruit does better, and is less liable to injury from excessive wet. The coastal tablelands and the more Western Downs grow it well, and the trees, when planted on soil of a rich friable nature,
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THE MULBERRY.
THE MULBERRY.
This is one of the hardiest fruits we have, one of the most rapid growers, and one of the most prolific. There are several varieties in cultivation, and those of Japanese or Chinese origin will grow from the coast to the interior, and thrive either in an extremely dry or humid climate. The common English or black mulberry does not do too well as a rule, though there are many fine trees scattered throughout the State, but the other sorts are as hardy as native trees. The fruit is not of any great
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THE STRAWBERRY.
THE STRAWBERRY.
To those who have been accustomed to look upon the strawberry as a fruit of the purely temperate regions, it will be somewhat of a revelation to know that exceptionally fine fruit can be grown right on the Queensland coast, and well within the tropics, and that on the coast, between the 26th to the 28th degrees of south latitude, we are probably producing as fine fruit and obtaining as heavy crops as are produced in any of the older strawberry-growing countries. Not only this, but that we are ab
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CAPE GOOSEBERRY.
CAPE GOOSEBERRY.
This Peruvian fruit, introduced into this State viâ the Cape of Good Hope, hence its name, has now spread throughout the greater part of the tropical and semi-tropical portions of Queensland. Its spread has largely been brought about by the agency of fruit-eating birds, that have distributed the seeds widely by means of their castings. It is one of the first plants to make its appearance in newly burnt-off scrub land, and often comes up in such numbers as to give a full crop of fruit. In other c
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THE OLIVE.
THE OLIVE.
A much-neglected fruit in this State, as it is also in most English-speaking countries. Few English people are fond of either the fruit or the oil, and yet it is probable that there is no tree that for the space it occupies will produce a greater annual return of food than the olive. A number of trees are scattered throughout the State, some of which are now of large size and fair age, but, so far, practically nothing beyond making a few gallons of oil and pickling a few gallons of fruit has bee
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THE APPLE.
THE APPLE.
As a description of this well-known and universally used fruit is entirely superfluous, I will confine my remarks to the types of fruit grown, and their method of growth. Owing to the fact that our fruits ripen much earlier than similar varieties in more southern parts of Australia, we have gone in largely for early varieties of apples, both for cooking and table use, but have not confined our attention to them entirely, as good-keeping sorts are found to do equally well, and have been shown at
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THE PEACH.
THE PEACH.
This king of the temperate fruits grows with us to perfection. The tree is hardy, a rapid grower, comes into bearing early, and is, if anything, inclined to overbear. It can be grown over a considerable part of our coastal and inland downs, as well as the Stanthorpe district, and thrives in many kinds of soil, from light sandy loams of poor quality to rich loams of medium texture or even heavier. In this State, the peach is always grown on peach roots, the desired variety being either budded or
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THE PLUM.
THE PLUM.
As already mentioned, plums of Japanese and American origin (Chickasaw) do well in the more coastal districts. They also bear heavily on our coastal downs and more western country, but some kinds of Japanese plums blossom too early for the Stanthorpe district. European plums, however, do well, and are heavy bearers. All kinds do not bear heavily, the freest bearers being those of the damson family—White Magnum Bonum and Diamond type. Prunes also do well. Plums of European origin do best in the c
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THE APRICOT.
THE APRICOT.
Most varieties of this fruit do well on our coastal downs country in the South, and to a certain extent further west. The trees are very rapid growers, and bear heavily. The earlier ripening fruit usually escapes damage from fruit fly, but the late fruit often suffers considerably. The apricot does best in a fairly strong rich soil, when it makes a great growth, and bears heavy crops of large-sized fruit. It also does well on sandier soils, which produce a firmer and better-drying fruit. So far,
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THE CHERRY.
THE CHERRY.
Queensland is almost outside the limit of the successful growth of this fruit, but not quite, as we produce the first fruit to ripen in Australia, which realises a high price on account of its earliness. Many varieties have been tested, but, so far, no one variety can be said to be a complete success in our climate, nor do the trees grow to the large size or produce as heavily as they do in the Southern States, where the winters are more clearly defined than they are in Queensland. Another drawb
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THE PEAR.
THE PEAR.
Many kinds of pears do well, but, unfortunately, this fine fruit is very liable to be attacked by fruit fly. It does well generally in the districts that I have mentioned as suitable for the apple, plum, and apricot. The tree is healthy, grows rapidly and to a large size. It comes into bearing remarkably early as compared with the pear in colder climates, and produces excellent fruit. I have grown as good Bartletts here as could be obtained anywhere, and the trees have proved to be good bearers
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THE ALMOND.
THE ALMOND.
This fruit does well in parts of our coastal tableland country, though its habit of blossoming too early in the season renders it very liable to injury from late frosts. The trees do remarkably well, grow rapidly, and bear heavily when the blossoms are uninjured by frost, hence it is a good tree to grow in selected situations containing suitable soil, as it commands a ready sale, and is very little troubled with pests. A free, sandy, loamy soil is best suited to the growth of the almond, and the
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GRAPE CULTURE.
GRAPE CULTURE.
No work on fruit-growing in Queensland, however small, would be complete without due reference being made to the vine, the last but by no means the least important of our many fruits. Although the cultivation of this most useful and popular fruit has not reached to anything like the dimensions that vine culture has attained in the Southern States, particularly in the production of wine, there is no reason why it should not do so at no very distant future. We have many advantages not possessed by
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