tes of Australia, and,
naturally, very much less so to the rest of the world, hence a little
general information respecting our country and one of its industries may
be of some help to those who are looking for an opening in this
particular branch of agriculture.

[Illustration: A Tropical Orchard, Port Douglas.]

[Illustration: Coochin York Mangosteen, Port Douglas District.]

Queensland is a country having a population of a little over half a
million, and an area of 429,120,000 acres; the population of a city of
the second magnitude, and an area of some seven and one-half times
greater than that of Great Britain, or two and one-half times greater
than the State of Texas, United States of America.

A country embracing 18 degrees of latitude, from the 11th to the 29th
degrees of south latitude, and extending from a humid eastern seaboard
to an extremely dry interior, some 15 degrees of longitude west. A
country, therefore, of many climates and varied rainfall. A country
possessing a great diversity of soils, many of which are of surprising
richness. A country more or less heavily timbered with either scrub or
forest growth, or consisting of wide open plains that are practically
treeless. A country of infinite resources, that is capable of producing
within its own borders all that man requires, from the extreme tropical
to temperate products. A country that, once its possibilities are
realised and turned to a profitable account, is destined to become one
of the most fruitful in the globe, to support a large and thriving
population of our own people; and last, but not least, a country that,
from a fruit-grower's point of view, cannot be excelled elsewhere. We
have a healthy climate, not by any means an extreme climate as is often
represented--extreme cold is unknown, frost being unusual on any portion
of the seaboard, but common during the winter months on our tablelands.
But even where there are frosts the days are pleasantly warm. Summer is
undoubtedly warm, but it is usually a bearable heat, and sudden changes
are extremely rare, so that though trying in the humid tropical
seaboard, it is not unbearable, and compares favourably with the
tropical heat met with elsewhere. This is clearly shown by the stamina
of the white race, particularly those living in the country districts,
where both men and women compare favourably with those of any other part
of the Empire. Except in very isolated places, communication with the