tion, excepting some of the smaller plums of
the damson type, which have been converted into jam. It is not a fruit,
however, in which there is much money, as it is too easily grown in the
Southern States, and can there be converted into jam or canned at a
lower rate than we can do here, hence our cultivation will be more or
less confined to the growing of large fruits for supplying our local
markets rather than to the production of the fruit in quantity.

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, although a number of trees are planted throughout the State, the
cultivation of the fruit is mainly confined to the production of table
fruit, drying or canning having been carried out to a small extent only.
The apricot grows to a large tree, and lives to a good old age. Like the
peach, it is a very vigorous grower when young, requiring severe pruning
in consequence, but, when once shaped, the trees require little in the
way of pruning other than the removal of superfluous branches and an
annual shortening in winter.

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
drawback to the growth of this fruit is that the soils of our coldest
district are not the best of cherry soils. The cherry likes a deep,
moderately rich loam, whereas we are growing it mostly on sandy loams of
a granitic origin. What fruit we do grow is good, and pays well on
account of its earliness, but I do not consider that this State will
ever be able to compete with the South in the growth of the cherry.

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