340 



THE AOKICUTURAL NEWS. 



October 25, 1913. 



FRUIT AND FRUIT TREES. 



LIME CULTIVATION. 



The last of the series of articles on the cultivation of 

 limes in Dominica has appeared in L'Agrinilture Prati<jnf 

 det Pai/s C/iauds (June 1913). At the end of the 

 coDcludiog article it is stated that Martinique and 

 Guadeloupe ou,i;ht to extend their area under lime culti- 

 vation; for, in view of the fact that Dominica has surmount- 

 ed by experience and experiment such difficulties as exist 

 in the West Indies, the extension referred to would not 

 incur any great risk, provided Dominica practices were care- 

 fully followed. Iteference is also made to L'Association 

 Citroniere du Gosier, established in 1909 in Guadeloupe for 

 the production of concentrated lime juice. This society has 

 also founded a central factory. A start has therefore been 

 made in regard to lime products. 



In discussing the production of lime products it is 

 interesting to note in Dijiloiantic and Consular Reports 

 No. 5106 — Annual Series, that the world's production of 

 citrate of lime and concentrated lime juice amounts to an 

 average of about 7,200 metric tons per annum of which 

 about five-sixths are produced in Sicily. The remaining 

 1,000 tons are produced in the British Antilles (principally 

 in the islands of Dominica and Montserrat), in Mexico, and 

 in Central and South America. 



The marketing of the lime products just referred to is 

 naturally conducted on a more mechanical basis than the 

 selling of fresh limes. The recent tendency to export fresh 

 limes from Dominica in a poor and ungraded condition 

 bas to some extent been satisfactorily checked through 

 the appointment of an American trade representative at 

 Eoseau. According to the Dominica GiMrdian (Septem- 

 ber 27, 1913), similar action will be taken shortly by the 

 Jamaica Government, who contemplate the appointment 

 of competent persons as fruit inspectors to see that no 

 immature oranges or other citrus fruits in an undesirable 

 condition are experted from that island. The paper referred 

 to above is of opinion that the authorities in Dominica 

 might find it desirable to follow Jamaica's example. 



Those interested in lime cultivation should obtain 

 a copy of a recently published pamphlet by the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture, entitled Lime Cultivation in 

 the West Indies. This publication deals with every branch 

 of the industry, and is well illustrated. It has been favour- 

 ably reviewed from several sources. 



Arsenic on Fruit.— A report has recently gained 

 circulation in Christiana that a well-known Norwegian food 

 bacteriologist has warned the public against the possiliility 

 of arsenical poisoning from eating apples. Certain apples 

 imported from North America were, on examination, found 

 to have a visable layer of green powder in the hollow near 

 the stalk. This was found to contain copper and arsenic. 

 The presence of these substances is believed to be due to 

 spraying with Bordeaux solution and Paris green after the 

 fruit had begun to set. It would appear that growers 

 should take care to prevent the recurrence of this 

 dangerous condition. 



This reference to copper calls to mind a recent state- 

 ment that the metal occurs in cocoa and chocolate. Accord- 

 ing to the ExjKriinenl Station Jieconl, it appciirs that, 

 on the basis of analytical data, copper does not occur in 

 any considerable quantity in these substances. 



VARIETIES OF BANANAS CULTIVATED 

 IN THE SEYCHELLES. 



An interesting account of varieties of plantains and 

 bananas cultivated in the Seychelles appears in the Kef 

 Jiullttin of Miscellaneous Jntonnation. No. (i of 1913. 

 From this pa})er the following notes have been abstracted. 



The first variety mentioned is the Chinese banana 

 {Musa Caoendishii) called locally 'Banane gobule', and is 

 eaten raw. It is said to be open to attack by the weevil 

 (Sphenophorus striatus). The Chinese banana is the only 

 dwarf type planted in the Seychelles. Among the tall plan- 

 tains tliere are several varieties which are eaten raw in the 

 ripe state, although most of them are eaten cooked before 

 they are properly matured. The three following varieties 

 are never eaten raw, and when prepared in coco-nut milk, 

 are considered a delicacy even by Europeans and other 

 residents: Banane Malgache, Banane St. .Jacques, and Banane 

 Simeroe. The.se three varieties belong to the Congo type, 

 and two of them were cultivated a short time ago for the 

 production of banana flour. 



Amongst those varieties generally eaten raw may be 

 mentioned Banane 'Mille', a tall plantain of the Malay type, 

 the fruit of which keep well. The Banane 'Mignonne' is 

 observed to be a delicious small banana introduced from 

 Bt-union island. The plant is tall and the pseudo stem is 

 brown. The lingers are small but the flesh is hard and' 

 highly flavoured. Other popular varieties for table purpose.-) 

 are the Banane 'Tahiti', Banane 'Gingeli' (rather susceptible 

 to weevil), Banane 'Carre' the fruit of which possesses four 

 pronounced ridges^hence its name. They are generally 

 eaten cooked, but produce a good yellow-coloured starch on 

 being dried. A very hardy plantain is the Banane 'Quatre- 

 vingt'. Banane 'rouge' has a remarkable red colour and 

 since the fruit is good, the tree is both useful and ornamental. 

 A good variety for with.standing the cool climates of hich 

 summits is said to be Banane 'Blanche'. 



Effect of Fertilizers on the Quality ot 



Citrus Fruits. — In connexion with a review of his 

 article on the efl'ectof manures on the quality of citrus fruits 

 which appeared in the Agricultural News (September 13, 

 1913), Mr. Cunlifle writes to say that he personally conducted 

 the test under the auspices of the German Kali Works while 

 stationed at their Havana Depot. He suggests that in 

 reviewing his results we seemed to regard the demonstration 

 of new facts the object of his investigation, whereas the 

 main object was actually to determine how far the results 

 obtained in other districts were applicable under the varying 

 and somewhat unique conditions existing in Cuba. Further- 

 more, in response to some remarks which appeared in the 

 review in regard . to mulching, Mr. CunlifiTe is of opinion 

 it was not intended to convey in his paper that mulching in 

 its various forms was not an excellent practice, but merely 

 to indicate that it might not be all that it appeared to be 

 particularly under Cuban conditions. 



A letter has recently been received at this Office from 

 Mr. A. Simpson, Director of Agriculture, Tganda Protec- 

 torite, 11 which he refers to the rapid progress which is 

 being made in that country in connexion with native cotton 

 cultivation, and to some extent with cacao, sugar and Para 

 rubber. From the Oflicial Ga.ette of the Uganda Protecto- 

 rate (.\ugust 1."), 1913), it is seen that the total value of the 

 cotton exported during April-.June 1913 was £101, -502 com- 

 pared with a value, for 1912, of £84,363. 



