d, when covered with
scrub in the first place, grow good crops for the first few years, when
they become more or less exhausted in one or more available plant foods,
and require manuring. These soils, like the sandy alluvial loams, are
easy to work, retain moisture well when kept in a state of perfect
tilth, and respond readily to manuring. They will grow all kinds of
fruits when free from frost. There are other soils on which fruit can be
grown, but those mentioned represent those most suitable. The land on
which these soils occur is often much broken, particularly in rich scrub
country; it is fairly level when of alluvial origin, and more or less
rolling, as a rule, when of a sandy loamy nature. High, ridgy, free,
loamy country is usually the most free from frost, and alluvial flats
the most liable to it.

2nd.--Soils of the Coastal Tablelands, suitable for the Growth of
Deciduous Fruit.

Starting from the Southern part of the State, adjoining the New South
Wales border, the fruit soils are all of granitic origin. The country is
much broken, but between the ridges and along the creek flats there is a
considerable area possessing soils varying from a coarse, granitic,
gritty soil to a fine granitic soil; that on the creeks of an alluvial
nature, but still granitic. These soils vary considerably in quality,
but are, as a rule, easy to work and retain moisture well. They are
covered with open forest and are particularly adapted to the growth of
apples, plums, peaches, and grapes, though other deciduous fruits are
grown but not to the same excellence as those mentioned. Proceeding
north the fruit soils are either sandy loams or loams of a brownish
colour of volcanic origin. The former are suitable for almonds and wine
grapes, and the latter for peaches, apricots, pears, apples, and
especially olives. Further north a few of these fruits may be grown on
loamy soils, together with citrus fruits, but, commercially, deciduous
fruits are confined to the southern end of this district, the winter
temperature being too high for their successful growth further north, as
the trees get no winter rest, hence do not mature their fruit-bearing
wood properly.

3rd.--Soils of the Central Tablelands, suitable to the Growth of Grapes,
Dates, Citrus Fruits, Etc.

At the Southern end of the State the fruit soils are all of a sandy
nature. Nothing else is used in any quantity, as sandy soils alone will
retain sufficient moisture for t