308 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



September 27, 1913. 



FRUIT. 



CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF TROPICAL 

 AND TEMPERATE FRUITS. 



In the last issue but one of this journal a short account 

 was given concerning the chemical composition of common 

 tropical fruits. Since the appearance of that article an 

 interesting treatment of the subject with regard to the com- 

 position of temperate fruits has been noticed in the .lonrnal 

 of the Roi/al Ilortkultuial Society (Vol. XX,\II), and it was 

 thought that it might prove instructive to compare the 

 figures of analyses with a view to showing which great class 

 is the more nutritious. 



In comparing the apple with the mango (carabas variety) 

 we find that the former fruit contains It 96 per cent, total 

 solids, whereas tbe mango contains 172. In regard to sugar 

 (total), the first named fruit contains about 7 .5t^ per cent., 

 whereas the mango has 13' 24. As regards protein (nitro- 

 genous matter), the apple has about 022 per cent., and 

 the mango, 22 per cent. also. The total acidity in the 

 apple is 1 04 per cent., whereas in the mango it is only 

 0"14 per cent. In making these comparisons we have 

 purposely taken one of the less nutritious varieties of 

 mango, and it may be safely said that in regard to chemical 

 composition the balance is on the side of the mango. At the 

 same time the mango contains rather more indigestible 

 matter than the apple, and of course there is the crisp consist- 

 ency and refreshing characteristics in favour of the apple. 

 This, however, is more a question of taste than nutrition. 



Perhap." rather more comparable are the peach and the 

 mango, particularly since in many tropical countries like 

 India these two kinds of fruit compete to f ome e.xtent on the 

 market. The peach contains about 17 99 per cent, total 

 solids thus closely resembling the poorer varieties of the mango 

 in this particular respect. As regards sugar, the peacL 

 possesses something like 1'5 per cent.; the mango, as already 

 noted, has about 13'24 percent. The peach contains 0"39 

 per cent, of protein whereas the mango contains 022 

 per cent. 



It is interesting to note in conclusion that the English 

 cherry is especially nutritious: it contains about 20 per cent, 

 total solids, nearly 11 per cent, of sugar, over 1 per cent, of 

 protein and 06 per cent, of soluble minerals. 



Fruits like coco nuts and other oilliearing fruits are 

 exceptional in composition on account of the oil they 

 contain. The coconut contains about 36 per cent, of oil 

 and the almond fi 1 per cent. The walnut and filbert of 

 temperate countries contain about 32 and 29 per cent , 

 respectively. 



Finally it may be again urged that, in the disposal of 

 tropical fruit, and especially of select varieties, due prominence 

 should be given in regard to the nutritive value of the 

 produce. Although chemical composition is only one factor, 

 and perhaps a minor factor, influencing the consumption of 

 fruit, it must nevertheless have a telling etl'ect to some 

 extent if judiciously and accurately advertised in cases 

 where superiority justifies doing so. 



THE PACKING AND TRANSPORTING 



OF FRUIT IN INDIA. 



In a rei.-ent is.sue of the Agricultural News a review was 

 published of tbe report on agricultural progress in India, 

 and reference was made shortly to recent investigations con- 

 ducted by Albert Howard and Gabrielle Howard at Pusa in 



regard to the possibilty of eHecting improvements in the 

 packing and transport of fruit in India. 



In a recent issue of the A'jriridltiral Journal of India 

 (July 1913) a paper on the subject appears, and this has been 

 abstracted in the present article. 



In general the experience of the investigators indicates 

 that a great Held for development is open in regard to the 

 Indian fruit industry without incurring new and expensive 

 means of transport and storage; it would appear that the 

 road to success lies rather in the direction of better methods 

 of production and packing. A few remarks concerning the 

 methods of the natives will make this evident. The crop is 

 often shaken off the branches either into sheet.s or else on to 

 the ground. A good deal more bruising takes place when 

 the fruit is heaped up before packing. There are no packing 

 sheds. The packages used for the fruit are entirely 

 unadapted for the purpose. Besides being constructionally 

 insecure, there is a general absence of ventilation. The 

 packing material is also unsuitable, articles like grass and 

 leaves being objectionable, in that they give off water instead 

 of absorbing the moisture transpired bj' the fruit. Frequently 

 the upper layers of fruit press on the lower and a good deal 

 of crushing and bruising takes place in this way. 



As already indicated, the fault of the economic loss in 

 the Indian fruit industry is not due to bad railway facilities, 

 which are, in fact, stated to be excellent. There are, for in- 

 stance, well vf ntilated fruit vans constructed to run on the 

 mail trains, whilst in other cases, vans provided with shelves 

 are at the service of the industry. There is, however, one 

 objection to the present system of transport, and that is the 

 very frequent occurrence of theft: in this direction the 

 writers emphasize the necessity for the authorities taking 

 decisive action. 



The greater portion of the paper deals with the different 

 forms of packing boxes which were tested under practical 

 conditions to find out exactly what arrangements are most 

 economical for ensuring quick and safe delivery. It was found 

 that in the plains, delicate fruit like peaches can be trans- 

 ported without damage when practically ripe, by means of 

 bamboo baskets containing small cells for each peach. Non- 

 returnable packages, made of wood and chip imported from 

 Glasgow have been put on the market at prices within the 

 means of Indian fruit dealer.s. liy means of these packages 

 delicate fiuit like peaches, grapes, and tomatoes can be sent 

 to Calcutta from (,^>uctta — a distance of 1,750 miles — without 

 loss or damage. For sending delicate fruit to distant markets 

 on a large scale, the ideal system to adopt is the unit gift 

 package such as a punnet, and to pack these in non-returnable 

 crates. All delicate fruit .should be wrapped in paper. 



In regard to desirable changes in economic matters con- 

 cerning the fruit industry in India, reference may be made 

 to the want of arrangements by means of which the market 

 prices of fruit can be circulated and definite contracts 

 with the railway companies made in regard to returnable 

 fruit packages. These facilities exist as it is to some extent, 

 but there is no uniformity. A standardization of the form 

 of contract as regards consignments, and the standardization 

 of fruit packages deserve early and careful consideration. 



According to Jh'plomatic and Conndar Ri /.orta No. .5107 

 — Annual Series, dealing with the trade of the consular 

 district of .Jerusalem, the exports of oranges from Jaffa have 

 during the last year shown a slight increase, but it would 

 appear that agricultural progress in general is retarded by 

 a lack of public security. The fact that the inhabitants of 

 the Jewish colony have to pay from £6 10s. annually per 

 family in organizing their own means of defence, is significant 

 as regards the state of public order. 



