20 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



January 1; 



191(;. 



FRUIT, 



THE AVOCADO IN CALIFORNIA. 



'The Avocado in California' is the- title (.)t' Hulk-tin No. 2-54 

 of the College of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment 

 Station, Berkeley, California, for May 191-j. This deals 

 with the culture, production and marketing; composition, 

 and food value of the fruit. As to the possible market for 

 these fruit, it is pointed out that avocados grown in California 

 and shipped to Eastern or even to Middle Western markets 

 will have to compete more or le.ss with fruit from Florida and 

 the West Indits, especially in the fall of the year. AVhether 

 this competition can be met with avocados as sucoes.sfully 

 as it is being met with citrus fruits remains to be seen. Even 

 should it be found impracticable to pack and ship thin- 

 skinned fruits to Eastern markets and have them arrive in 

 condition to sell in competition with hard-shelled fruits from 

 Florida, it is believed that such fruit should he in demand 

 in the local markets for some years to come. 



The requirements of a good commercial variety are 

 briefly outlined as follows: — 



1 . The bud of such a variety should be able to grow 

 into a vigorous, U|)right, orchard tree. 



2. It .=hould be sufficiently hardy to withstand ordinary 

 frosts. 



.3. It should be precocious, prolific, and a regular 

 bearer. 



4. It should blossom kite enough for the flowers to 

 escape heavy spring frosts. 



•J. The fruits should be of good flavour and C|uality. 



6. The size and shape of the fruit should be uniform 

 and not too large, approaching oval or round, rather than 

 'bottle-necked', and averaging 1 B^. in weight. 



7. The fruit should be well adapted to shipping. 



8. The seed should be small and tight in the cavity. 



ilany of the thin-skinned avocados are superior so far 

 as flavour is concerned, and are excellent fruits for home use 

 and local markets. Seedlings and budded trees of such 

 varieties as the Harman, Northrup, Chappelow, and Carton 

 grow vigorously and develop into shapely orchard trees. 



Touching its nutritive value, a survey of the data 

 presented in the bulletin shows the avocado to differ widely 

 in many respects from the average of fresh fruits, and proves 

 it worthy of special consideration. It is of decided interest 

 to note that the mineral matti-r in the avocado is much 

 greater than that found in any fresh fruit. The discussion 

 on this part of the subject clearly indicates that so far as 

 protein and ash in fresh fruits are concerned, the avocado 

 .stands at the head of the list, and, with reference to the 

 carbohydrates, contains, on an average, fully .50 per cent, of 

 that found in many fresh fruits. These facts aloni' warrant 

 due consideration being given to the value of the avocado as 

 a fre.sh fruit. 



Preserved Mangoes. A new industry, the preser- 

 vation of mangoes, has recently been started in Manila. 

 Although the enterprise is at j)resent on a small .scale, it 

 promises to develop to verj- considerable proportions. The 

 Philippines is the home of the mango, and for years etioits 

 have been made to prolong the use of the fruit and its excel- 

 lent flavour, the season for the mango being comparatively 



short, and the delicate nature of the fruit preventing its 

 retention for any length of time, or its export from the 

 islands. It is stated that a satisfactorj" process of preserving 

 the fruit in glass jars has been discovered. The preserved 

 fruit is to be known as mango honey. (Journal of the 

 Koyal Society of Arts, for November 12, 191.5.) 



THE BERMUDA BULB AND TUBER TRADE 



The cultivation of onions, potatoes, and lily bulbs for the 

 United States markets still continues to be the chief 

 agricultural industry of Bermuda. The principal market 

 is New York. The exportation of kitchen garden produce, 

 such as lettuce, beans, peas, parsley, celery, carrots, beets, 

 etc., to New York in the early part of the year, is increasing 

 gradually. 



There is one arrowroot factory, which is equipped with 

 modern plant, and is capable of producing a large quantity 

 of this commodity. 



Bermuda arrowroot apparently continues to hold its 

 premier place in home and foreign markets. The price 

 (retail) per ft), in London is about 2s. 6d. 



A factory for the manufacture of cigars from imported 

 tobacco was established in Hamilton in 11)06, and now 

 supplies the bulk ol' cigars h'cally consumed. This industry 

 has caused a decline in the quantities of cigars imported, and 

 a consequent loss of revenue. The value of cigars importetl 

 for 1914 as corapan.'d with 190-"), was for 190-5, £4,50S, and 

 for 1914, £2,52S. 



The potato i-rop for 1914 was large, and the average 

 price received in the New York markets was fair. 



The quantities exported were as follows: 41,12.5 

 barrels, of a declared value of £35,623. The quantity 

 exported in 191.3 was 52,675 barrels, of a declared value 

 of X38,S03. 



The quantity and value of the onions e.xported during 

 the last five years are shown in the following table: — 



Year. Quantitj', Value, 



crates. £. 



1910 134,176 31,094 



1911 187,241 42,711 



1912 140,000 31,183 



1913 6-5,074 8,126 



1914 87,279 2.5,877 



The quantity arid declared value of green vegetables 

 exported in 1914, exclusive of potatoes and onions, were 

 167,596 crates valued at £22,907, as compared with 

 141,939 grates exported in 1913, of a declared value of 

 X17,789. 



The quantity ami declared value of the export of lily 

 bulbs were as follows: 941 packages, of a declared value of 

 £1,867, as against 2,357 jjackage.s, of a <leclared value of 

 £3,470, in 1913. 



The quantity and declared value of arrowroot exported 

 in 1914 were 4 tons 5 cwt.-, valued at £530, as compared 

 with 2 tons 4 cwt., valued at £248, in 1913. (Colonial Report 

 tor 1913.) 



In an article in the Louitiana Planter on sugar and the 

 sugar-cane in the I5ritish East Indies, special mention is 

 made of a statement by Dr. I'.arber, that the key to the .Java 

 situation is organization, complete governmentAl control in 

 fav.rur of the manufacturer, and thorough chemical and 

 botanical supervision in the fields and factories. 



