flavour, and to be better
for canning or preserving. Rough pines run up to as much as 6 lb. weight
each, but this is uncommon, the best average I have met with being about
4 lb. per pine, and they were exceptionally good. The price at which
this fruit sells here seems absurd to those living in cold countries,
who are accustomed to look upon it as a luxury only found on the tables
of the wealthy, as good rough-leaved pines are worth about 1s. per dozen
during the summer season, and smooth-leaved pines from 1s. 6d. to 2s.
6d. a dozen. Prices are certainly higher during the off-season, but
growers would be well satisfied to get 1s. per dozen for rough pines all
the year round. I have no hesitation in saying that pines can be grown
at a profit at from L3 to L4 per ton, so that the cost of growing is so
low that there is nothing to prevent us from canning the fruit and
selling it at a price that will defy competition.

[Illustration: Pineapple Plantation--Pines packed for market, and
showing fruit-grower's home, Woombye District.]

Pineapple-growing has been a very profitable industry, particularly in
the older plantations of the Brisbane district, and still continues to
be so in many places despite the fact that prices are much lower now
than they were some years since. The plantations from which the
illustrations are taken are comparatively new ones, the land having been
in its virgin state from six to eight years ago, and, as shown, some is
only now being cleared. The owners of the plantations started without
capital, and, by dint of hard work and perseverance, are now reaping an
excellent return of some L50 per acre net profit. This is by no means an
isolated example, but is one that is typical of what can be done, and
has therefore been chosen. There is a great opening for the culture of
this fruit in Queensland, and its cultivation is capable of being
extended to a practically unlimited extent. We have a large amount of
land suitable for the growth of this fruit that is available in
different parts of the State, much of it at very reasonable rates, so
that there is no difficulty in this direction for anyone wishing to make
a start. It is an industry from which returns are quickly obtained, and
is a branch of fruit-growing that holds out strong inducements and every
prospect of success to intending growers. At present our production is
about sufficient for our presently existing markets, but there is
nothing to prevent