duce fully 1,000 lb. weight of fruit in a single season. This
is, of course, very much above the average, but by no means exceptional.
When in their third season, they should bear enough to pay for all
working expenses.

A very large number of varieties have been tested in Queensland, most of
which do well, but, as in the case of apples, we find from experience
that it is best to stick to a few kinds, and those that have proved to
be most suitable to our soil and climate, rather than to experiment with
a large number of varieties.

The usual plan is to plant a number of varieties that ripen in
succession, as with the apple, so as to spread the season over as long a
time as possible, and to stick to kinds that bear well, look well, and
ship well, for appearance will usually beat quality, and fetch more
money.

So far, little has been done in the way of utilising the peach, as the
demand for the fresh fruit has been equal to our supply. There is,
however, no reason why we should not be able to establish and maintain
a fair canning and drying trade, should the production overcome the
demand for the fresh fruit, as our peaches are of large size, and will
can and dry well--that is to say, varieties adapted to those purposes
will do so.

The nectarine, which is simply a smooth-skinned peach, does equally
well, many varieties bear heavily, and some produce fruit of exceptional
merit. I have seen as fine nectarines grown in the Stanthorpe district
as I have met with in any part of Australia or America, fruit of large
size and the highest flavour, that compared favourably with the finest
hothouse-grown fruit of the Old World.

[Illustration: Peach Avenue, Darling Downs District.]

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 coldest districts, but their cultivation is not confined entirely to
these, as some varieties thrive well in warmer and drier parts of the
country. So far, there has been a ready sale for all the plums we can
produce for fresh consump