Vol. V. No. 110. 



THE AGKICULTUKAL NEWS. 



213-. 



SHOW OP COLONIAL FRUIT. 



The following note appeared ia the Wi'nt Indue 

 Committee Circular, of June 13: — 



It was a matter of great disappointment that not a single 

 exhibitor in the West Indies availed himself of the offer of 

 free freight to, and free space at, the show of colonial fruit 

 which was held at the Eoj'al Horticultural Hall, Westmin- 

 ster, on June 6 and 7 last. Due notice of this exhibition 

 was given to all the West Indian Colonies many months ago, 

 and their apathy was naturally the subject of considerable 

 comment, more especially as such far-distant parts of the 

 Empire as Australia and New Zealand occupied a large por- 

 tion of the hall. Natal also sent an exhibit, and the Trans- 

 vaal Government made a show of citrus fruits, including 

 oranges, limes, lemons, shaddocks, grape fruit, mandarin 

 oranges, and citrons, which led one to the conclusion that 

 the West Indies will liave to look to their laurels and show 

 a greater amount of keenness about sucli exhibitions, if they 

 are to retain their position in the home markets. It must 

 not, however, be supposed that the West Indies were quite 

 unrepresented. On the contrary, the British West Indian 



W[SIiiPi!ODIDi 



ASSOCUTiei. Lti 



Fig. 11. Some West Indian Exhibits. 

 (From West India Committee Circular.) 



Fruit Company, the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, 

 and the West Indian Produce Association, did their best to 

 make good the deficiency, by making representative exhibits. 

 The British West Indian Fruit Company showed principally 

 bananas, which were all in excellent condition and did credit 

 to the carrying powers of the second exhibitor named. 

 Bunches of claret bananas, of course, attracted a large 

 amount of attention. The West Indian Produce Association, 

 Ltd., of 4, Fenchurch Buildings, showed oranges, grape fruit, 

 limes, and their varied West Indian produce now sold under 



the trade mark ' Wipa.' A special feature was made of fresh 

 limes and lime marmalade, which was favourably reported 

 upon. The exhibition was very well attended, and, as re- 

 gards the number of colonies participating, was certainly one 

 of the best of the series which is proving very popular. 

 Cannot a combined effort be made in the West Indian Colonies 

 to send more fruit direct for the next show, which is to be 

 held on December I and 5 next ? All that intending ex- 

 hibitors have to do is to select and pack their fruit with the 

 greatest care, and consign it by Royal Mail Steam Packet 

 Company's steamer, freujht free, to the Secretary, the West 

 India Committee, the Horticultural Hall, Vincent Square, 

 Westminster. We will do the rest ! 



ORANGES ON ROUGH LEMON STOCKS. 



In reference to the note on some curious oranges 

 from British Guiana, which was published in the Agri- 

 cultural Neivs (Vol. V, p. 169), Mr. John Barclay, 

 Secretary of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, has 

 written as follows : — 



I have noticed in the A'jricultural Neivs the paragraph 

 on sweet oranges grown on rough lemon stocks where the 

 grower states that the constant result of grafting on the 

 rough lemon stocks is to produce coarse-skinned fruit. 



This may be so in British Guiana, but it is not so in 

 Jamaica. In the lowlands of Jamaica, or the middle uplands, 

 the bitter orange is the stock most used, as it is found grow- 

 ing naturally all about, but sometimes the shaddock stock is 

 also used. In the higher elevations, however, the rough 

 lemon has been often used, as there it grows stronger and 

 seems more suitable for the soil and climate. I notice no 

 difference whatever in the fruits from orange trees or grape 

 fruit trees budded on sour oranges and rough lemons grow- 

 ing side by side. The rough lemon is a much quicker 

 grower than the sour orange and seems to thrive better on 

 poor soils. Perhaps, therefore, in British Guiana the coarse- 

 ness of the fruit may have been produced by the cause you 

 name, ' adverse conditions or by excess of nitrogen in the soil.' 



CAMPHOR IN INDIA AND CEYLON. 



Steps should be taken by the Forest Dejiartment to 

 encourage the cultivation of the camphor tree. Since the 

 Japanese have had Formosa, the price has gone up at least 50 

 per cent. There is some attempt at cultivating it in Ceylon, 

 and there must be many places in India and Burma 

 where this valuable tree would thrive. This is a cultiva- 

 tion which will no doubt receive the early and serious 

 consideration of the Ceylon Agricultural Board There are 

 many reasons why the cultivation of camphor should prove 

 attractive to planters. Camphor at present has to be brought 

 a great distance to the western markets, and the supply is 

 very uncertain. Unscientific treatment of the trees has 

 caused a gradual reduction of their numbers, and a deteriora- 

 tion in quality of the produce. It is at present a monopoly 

 of Japan. The uses for camphor are increasing and as the 

 demand increases, the price will rise. A fair start has 

 already been made in Ceylon with the product. {Indian 

 Engineer 1710.) 



Goats wanted for St. Lucia. The St. Lucia 



Agricultural Society is desirous of obtaining from Barbados 

 two pairs of goats, preferably the progeny of ' Black Rock' 

 or ' Bruce.' Any persons having such animals for sale 

 should communicate with the Head Office, Imperial Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, Barbados. 



