Vol. IV. No. 89. 



THE AORICULTURAL NEWS. 



277 



PREVENTING DECAY OF RIPE FRUIT. 



An article in the Joiinud of the Board of 

 Agriculture (London, August 190-5), entitled 'A 

 method of preventing the rapid decay of ripe fruit,' is 

 of particular interest to growers of tropical fruits. 

 The following are extracts from this article : — 



A careful examination of ripe fruit from the West Indies, 

 intended for exhibition at the Crystal Palace iu connexion 

 with the Colonial Exhibition, showed very clearly that the 

 decay of such fruit as mangos durhig the voyage was due 

 entirely to mouldiness and fotmentation set up by fungi and 

 bacteria that were present on the surface of the fruit before 

 shipment, and not to an inherent tendency on the part of 

 the fruit to decay or to become over-ripe. 



It is common knowledge that the decay of ripe fruit 

 originates from bruises or wounds on the surface and thence 

 rapidly spreads both internally and over the surface. 

 Unfortunately, it is not so generally known, although 

 ecpially true, that the decay of the bruised or wounded part 

 is entirely due to the presence of the germs of fungi or 

 bacteria, which develop rapidly, feeding on the sugar or 

 other substances liberated from the bruised tissue. 

 Fermentation and decay follow and (puckly spread from one 

 fruit to another. 



(Similar treatment might be applied with advantage to 

 certain tropical fruits that do reach us in fairly good 

 condition, as bananas, where too frequently the unsightly 

 and injurious blackened 'skin,' caused by an external fungus, 

 could be easily prevented. Apples, pears, oranges, lemons, 

 etc., would also repay similar treatment. 



The method of treatment described below is very simple, 

 inexpensive, and perfectly free from danger. 



In the case of fruits where every part is eaten, as 

 fetrawberries, etc., the fruit should be immersed for ten 

 minutes in cold water containing ^ per cent of commercial 

 formalin (ocpial to 40 per cent, of formaldehyde). On removal 

 immerse the fruit for tivo minutes in cold water, and 

 afterwards place it on wire-netting or some similarly open 

 material to drain and di-y. 



When the fruit has a raid or 'skin 'that is not eaten, 

 the immersion in water after treatment in the formalin 

 solution can be omitted with advantage. 



The rotting or fermentation «i ripe fruit was proved by 

 Pasteur to bo due to the presence of living organisms — fungi 

 and bacteria — on the surface. 



From this starting-point it was inferred that, if these 

 organisms could be destroyed, the period during which such 

 fruit could be kept in a perfect condition could be 

 (■onsiderably prolonged ; and a series of experiments 

 conducted in the .Jodrell Laboratory at Kew proved the 

 inference to be correct. 



The fruits experimented upon were ripe cherries, 

 gooseberries, g)-apes, pears, and strawberries. The fruit was 

 not selected but purchased from shops or, in some instances, 

 from vendors in the street. 



This fact suggests that the method of fruit preservation 

 described here, although valuable in extending the duration 

 of home-grown fruit in good condition, will eventually prove 

 to be of the greatest importance in enabling our markets to 

 be stocked with many delicious kinds of tropical fruit, which 

 under present conditions never reach us. 



RICE CULTIVATION IN BRITISH 

 GUIANA. 



According to the report of the Immigration 

 Agent-General in British Guiana for the year 190-i-5, 

 rice growing is assuming greater importance every 

 year. This industry is to a'large extent in the hands 

 of the East Indian population. The following are 

 extracts from the report: — 



District 1, Berbice.— During the period September to 

 December 190-1, 2,770 acres of rice wore reaped on twelve 

 estates in this district, the yield varying from about 9,^ to 

 40 bags of paddy ])er acre. 



District 2, East Coast, and 3, East Bank.— This 

 industry is still largely on the increase, but it is to be 

 regretted that the very severe drought which prevailed 

 during a portion of the year greatly hampered the industry. 

 There are 924 acres nf land under rice cultivation on estates 

 in my district. 



District 4, West Bank and West Coast.— From the 

 returns furnished me from estates in this district it appears 

 that there _ were l,912i acres under rice cultivation on 

 estates. This, although lower than in previous years, does not 

 mean that there has been any falling off in the total area 

 under cultivation, as there has boon an appreciable increase 

 of rice farms in villages. As sowing is now proceeding, no 

 estimate can l>e made of the expected crop, but with favour- 

 able seasons the average yield should be about 20 bags per 

 acre. The estimate of last crop was unfortunately not 

 realized, owing to a spell of dry weather just when the grain 

 was forming. 



District 0, Esseijuebo.— I am glad to be able to report 

 that this industry continues to develop. It has been taken 

 up to such an extent by the people of all notionalities that 

 the estates' authorities experienced great difficulty at times 

 in obtaining their services as agricultural labourers. There 

 are three factories on the Ivssecpielio Coast, all of which are, 

 I understand, kejit fully employed during the reaping seasons. 

 The yields from the two crops reaped during the year 

 were, I am informed, very good, and the prospects for the 

 coining season are most encouraging. No fewer than 2,872 

 acres are in rice cultivation. 



TRADE BETWEEN MARTINIQUE AND THE 

 BRITISH WEST INDIES. 



The following extracts from the Consular Report 

 on Martinique relative to possible opportunities for 

 trade with the British West Indies are likely to be of 

 interest : — 



A small quantity of fiuit and vegetables, of the value 

 of £723, was imported from the neighbouring British West 

 Indies in 1904. The heavy duty on these products will, 

 however, prevent the development of this trade. 



Merchants in the neighbouring British islands who have 

 empty ale or stout casks to dispose of will find ready sale for 

 them in Martinique, where they are used for exporting rum. 



Martinique is the entrepot for the earthenware cooking 

 utensils much used in the West Indies, and known as 

 ' terraille.' Cargoes of them are received by sailing ship from 

 ilarseilles and are sold locally or shipped in small lots to the 

 British islands. This business is apparently profitable, and 

 could be taken up by Barbados, which, occupying a central 

 position and with frequent communication with the British 

 islands, seems well fitted to act as a distributing centre. 



