To those who have been accustomed to look upon the strawberry as a fruit
of the purely temperate regions, it will be somewhat of a revelation to
know that exceptionally fine fruit can be grown right on the Queensland
coast, and well within the tropics, and that on the coast, between the
26th to the 28th degrees of south latitude, we are probably producing as
fine fruit and obtaining as heavy crops as are produced in any of the
older strawberry-growing countries. Not only this, but that we are able
to supply the Southern markets of Australia with finer fruit than they
can produce locally, and at a time of the year that they cannot grow it.
As I have already mentioned when dealing with other fruits, one thing
that particularly impresses strangers is the early age at which our
fruits come into bearing. This is borne out in the case of the
strawberry to a marked degree, as runners set in April fruit in July,
and often earlier, and will continue to bear, given reasonable weather,
right up to Christmas or even longer. New plants are set out every
year, and the plantation is seldom allowed to stand more than two years,
as the young plants produce the finest fruit. There is a good demand for
the fruit, the larger berries being packed in flat cases holding a
single layer of fruit, as shown in the illustration, and being sold for
consumption fresh, whereas the smaller berries are packed in kegs and
sent direct to the factories for conversion into jam. The strawberry
grows well on various soils, but does best with us on a rich loam of
medium texture, of a reddish-brown or even black colour. It should be
planted in districts that are free from frosts where early fruit is
desired, as frosts injure the blossoms, but where jam fruit only is
wanted this is not so necessary. The land requires to be thoroughly well
prepared, and the plants are usually set out in rows about 2 feet
apart, with the plants about 1 foot apart in the row. Under favourable
conditions they grow very rapidly, and soon start flowering. Their
cultivation is usually confined to comparatively small areas of 2 or 3
acres in extent, as the labour of picking and packing is usually done by
the grower himself with the assistance of his family. They are often
planted between the rows of trees in young orchards, thus bringing in a
return whilst the trees are coming into bearing, and helping to keep the
pot boiling. They grow well on our coastal scrub lands, and have proved
a great assistance to many a beginner, as one has not long to wait
before obtaining a return.
[Illustration: Strawberry Garden, Mooloolah District.]
The productiveness of this fruit in Queensland is phenomenal, as high as
5 tons of berries having been taken off 1 acre in a single season. There
are many varieties of strawberries in cultivation, some of which have
been produced locally from seed, and have turned out extremely well,
being of better flavour, stronger growers, and heavier bearers than
introduced varieties--in fact, local seedlings have adapted themselves
to local conditions, and stand our climate better than those varieties
which are natives of colder countries.
[Illustration: Marguerite Strawberry.]
[Illustration: Marguerite Strawberry packed for market.]
The case berries, which are used for fresh consumption, fetch a fair
price, especially early in the season, but jam fruit sells at an average
of 2-1/2d. per lb., at which price it pays fair wages, but is not a
bonanza. As a rule the plants are very healthy, and any fungus pests to
which they are subject, such as leaf blight, are easily kept in check by
spraying, a knapsack pump being used for this purpose. The ground is
kept well worked and free from weeds, whilst the plants are fruiting,
and occasionally the ground is mulched, as is the case in the plot shown
in the illustration. No special knowledge is necessary for their
culture, but, at the same time, thorough cultivation and careful
attention to details in the growing of the plants make a considerable
difference in the total returns.
[Illustration: Forman's Strawberry, Brisbane District.]