Another little-known fruit which does well in this State. It belongs to
the hickory family, and closely resembles the walnut. There are trees
now growing in the Maryborough district that are some 15 inches in
diameter at the trunk, and from 40 to 50 feet in height, that bear
regular and heavy crops of nuts, and that have stood drought and been
under flood. For years the trees have received no cultivation, and they
have shown themselves to be as hardy as the adjacent indigenous trees.
The trees are easily raised from seed, and come into bearing in about
eight years. Like all nut fruits, it is advisable to set the nut where
the tree is to remain permanently, if it is possible to do so, as it
produces a very deep taproot, with few laterals, and is consequently
difficult to shift. The soil on which it does best is an alluvial loam,
and, if possible, it should not be more than 30 feet to water, as the
tree, being a very deep rooter, will penetrate a free soil to that
depth. It will do on other free loamy soils, but will not make the same
growth as when planted in free alluvials. It has been tested in several
parts of the State, and it is probable that it will be found to thrive
over a considerable area of the coastal and coastal tablelands
districts. It produces an olive or acorn shaped nut, having a thin
shell, and of a flavour closely resembling that of a good walnut, and
will be a valuable addition to our list of nut fruits once it becomes
better known.
[Illustration: Date Fruit (natural size).]