Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/240

 2"4 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Conclusions in 1899 there were 19,159 acres. According to present indications the near future will probably show a still greater increase, and there is every promise of the industry annually drawing substantial amounts of outside capital Into the Province. Within the past ten years the area devoted to fruit cultivation in contradistinction to viticulture has been more than doubled, and with the improved opportunities for shipment, a large market should be found in Great Britain. Fruit preserving, canning, and drying are becoming important industries. Of industries that are in their initiatory stages are silk culture, and flax and hemp, beetroot, olives, hops, tobacco, mustard, opium, liquorice, and cotton. After what has appeared in the narrative it would be unnecessary at this point to Chilurbn's Hospital, Adelaide refer at any length to pastoral pursuits. The fine pastures and the high-class breeds of sheep in themselves are more valuable than many fabulously wealthy gold mines. There is, however, much to be done in the breeding of horses and cattle, and in these departments conditions are favorable for extensive developments. South Australia is the only part of the continent that has never had the stimulus of extensive gold diggings. Numerous auriferous deposits have been discovered, but no rich gold mines have been developed. It has been proved that many kinds of minerals and precious stones exist in South Australia, and both geologists and mining experts agree that they will yet amply repay energy and enterprise in their search.