530 



A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



The onions have at times been subject to a serious fungous dis- 

 ease,* which causes great loss. A small insect, the " Onion Thrips" 

 ( Thrips tabaci) frequently causes considerable damage by biting the 

 leaves and causing them to turn yellow. (See ch. 29 and 37.) 



Tomatoes have been cultivated for a long time, and formerly were 

 exported to New York in large quantities. After 1890, the amount 

 rapidly declined from 28,830 boxes in 1890 to 146 boxes in 1900. 

 This was due partly to competition with the fruit raised in Florida 

 and other southern States, and largely to the high tariff. 



In 1871, the amount exported was 115,868 boxes, valued at 

 £13,718; and in 1876, it reached 154,350 boxes, valued at £12,755, 

 which is the largest crop recorded. Between 1880 and 1890 it 

 varied from 122,160 boxes in 1884 to 11,283 boxes in 1889. The 

 prices rapidly declined at the same time. (See table.) 



Table of Exports of Products from Bermuda, 1870-80 and 1890-1900. 



Early beets and some other garden vegetables are now shipped to 

 some extent to New York, but they have to compete with those 

 grown in Florida, South Carolina, etc., with the high tariff in favor 

 of the latter, so that this business is not a promising one, at present. 



* The onion disease in Bermuda has been discussed by A. E. Shipley, in the 

 Bulletin of the Kew Royal Gardens, October, 1887. No. 10. It causes the 

 leaves to rot at the base. 



