he growth of grapes and fruit trees
during dry spells, and even then only when kept well and deeply worked.
Further north, where suitable artesian water is available, the best
fruit soils are also free loams of a sandy nature, either alluvial or
open forest soils, but deep, and possessing perfect drainage, as
irrigation on land without good natural drainage is fatal to fruit
culture. These sandy loams are also easy to work; though by no means
rich, they, on account of their depth, grow good crops of fruit by means
of irrigation, and the fruit, such as dates, oranges, lemons, grapes,
&c., is of very fine quality. The fruit soils of this district are
covered either with open forest--the trees being of comparatively small
size--or with a scrubby undergrowth through which a few larger trees are
scattered. Nearly all the timber of this district is extremely hard, is
more or less stunted, and burns readily, hence clearing is not a very
expensive item.

Having now given a very brief description of our climate and the
fruit-soils in our principal fruit-producing centres, we will next
consider the culture of those fruits which are grown in commercial
quantities in the different parts of the State, as well as that of a few
less well-known fruits which show especial promise. We will first deal
with our tropical fruits, of which the first to be considered is the
banana, as its production greatly exceeds that of any other tropical
fruit, and, as far as Australia is concerned, this is the only State in
which it is grown in commercial quantities. From tropical fruits we will
go on to semi-tropical fruits, then to temperate fruits and vines.

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.

[Illustration: Cavendish Bananas on scrub land, Buderim Mountain.]

[Illustration: Cavendish Bananas at Woombye on newly cleared land.]

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 unequalled
amongst fruits, as no matter whether it is used green as a vegetable,
ripe as a fruit, dried and ground into flour, or preserved in any