Vol. X. No. 247." 



THE AQRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



325 



are small and light, and can be mailed without trouble. Thus 

 the plant breeder can extend his field of operations by using 

 pollen gathered, for instance, in California, and mailed across 

 the continent. 



Pollen from almost every flower with which I have worked 

 can be stored and successfully used from these capsules, with 

 the exception, perhaps, of that from some of the Cucurbitaceae. 

 Some pollen from this family seems to be so very moist and 

 sticky that it does not readily separate from the anthers 

 when they are cut before bursting, and it does not adhere 

 satisfactorily to the capsule walls. 



The litchi is closely related to the akee (Bligliia mpida). 

 The fruit is a nut containing one seed surrounded by a fleshy 

 aril, which is the part eaten; while in the akee the edible 

 portion is the swollen aril and stalk of the seeds. 



Fifi. 14. Fruitin<; Branches of thu Lituiii (Do.miniua). 



THE LITOHI IN DOMINICA. 



The illustration on this page is a reproduction of a pho- 

 tograph taken by Mr. J. Jones, Curator of the Botanic 

 Station, Dominica, of clusters of fruits of tlie Litchi (Sf/i/if- 

 liuin Litc/ii), grown at that Station. The tree on which the 

 fruits were borne was presented to the Dominica Botanic 

 Gardens some years ago by Mr. Justice Pemberton. 



In forwarding the photograph, Mr. Jones draws attention 

 to the fact that the litchi is a native nf South China, and that 

 the fruit is much esteemed by the Chinese. The fruits when 

 ripe are bright-red in colour, and their appearance at the time 

 of ripening, together with that of the dark greoii pinnate 

 leaves of the plant, makes the tree very attractive. Mr. Jones 

 states further that, though the plant grows well in the West 

 Indies, and maintains a healthy appearance, it is eviiient that 

 the climatic conditions are not entirely suitable, for fruits are 

 produced once only in a period of six or seven years. 



THE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION 



OF CACAO, IN 1910. 



The following figures of the production and consumption 

 of cacao during last year, and in the two preceding years, are 

 taken from the Journal iV Agyiridture Trojncale for July 

 1911, p. 223, which reproduces them from Gordian, where 

 they are given provisionally. The quantities are in metric 

 tons (2,205 lb.). 



The world's production of cacao was: — 



165,140 194,870 200,59» 



