No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 129 



The pawpaw is entirely different from our Pennsylvania fruit. 

 It grows everywhere on the island and is wonderfully prolific. 



The mango is a great favorite with the natives, and some almost 

 live on this fruit. It is frequently as large as your fist, and is 

 ■sery diilicull (o eat without getting it over you. 



The nispro, or medlar, resembles a potato or rusty peach or apple. 

 It is much sought for by the natives. 



There are six or seven varieties of palm beside the date palm. 

 It is said one native can live on the product of a palm tree. The 

 pomegranate grow'S everywhere. Some think it a fine fruit, but I 

 consider it very inferior. The rose apple resembles our apple and 

 has the odor of the rose. The fruit is not used at all. Of pine 

 apples, there are three kinds, small, large and black. I have never 

 eaten any equal to the Porto Rican fruit, and I saw there the most 

 magnificent specimens I have seen anywhere. 



The tamarind tree is one of the most beautiful on the island. At 

 a distance it resembles the ajtple. The fruit resembles our peanut 

 and is used for medicine. It makes also a refreshing drink. 



Experiments thus far made in fruit growing in Porto Rico have 

 been only in a small way and too feeble to show definite results. 

 It is hoped those who go into the work in the future will do so on 

 an extensive scale and will ascertain what can be done by cultiva- 

 tion and careful attention. 



Of the fruits we have here, I have never seen pears or apples 

 on the island. Saw grapes, but they are neglected. Peach trees 

 grow and bloom, but bear no fruit. There is no evidence of any 

 interest in fruit culture and everything seems neglected. The May- 

 berry was introduced in Porto Rico some six years ago, seems per- 

 fectly at home and does well. 



ADDRESS OF SECRETARY HAMILTON. 



The Chair. — We are fortunate in having with us this evening Pro- 

 fessor Hamilton, the Secretary of Agriculture of this State, who 

 will address us on 



'^The Necessity for Additional Legislation for the Protection of 

 the Fruit Interests of Pennsylvania."* 



Prof. Hamilton. — I think those who have just had the pleasure of 

 listening to Dr. Groff's lecture will conclude that the fruits of Penn- 

 sylvania surpass not only those of Porto Rico but of any other 

 country. I have had expert fruit men tell me that the apples of this 

 State are superior in flavor to those produced anywhere else in the 

 United States. 



*Like the remarks by Dr. Groff, those of Prof. Hamilton were not reported 

 stenographlcally, and the Secretary regrets his inability to give more than a 

 mfre synopsis of his very interesting address. 



9—6—1901 



