40 



The consumption of them has increased by leaps and bounds, and 

 every year for the past few years it has more than doubled. A 

 few days ago (says Garden and Forest) 2 barrels of small-sized 

 grape fruit realized the extraordinary price of £5 each in New 

 York ; and 7 barrels of similar fruit were sold in Philadelphia for 

 £5 los. each. Such fruit would retail at more than $1.00 a piece 

 This is probably the highest price ever paid for specimens of the 

 orange tribe. It shows very clearly how keen is the demand for grape 

 fruit, and what importance is attached to it as a refreshing and 

 healthful adjunct to the food supply of the United States. At one 

 time there was a better mai'ket for grape fruit — or, rather forbid- 

 den fruit, as it was called — in the United Kingdom than in Ame- 

 rica, but the tables are now turned. America especially 

 since the destructive frosts in Florida, has now absorbed 

 almost the whole supply from the West Indies. Sooner 

 or later, however, English people will realise the special merits of 

 the grape fruit and a demand will arise for it, to the possible ad- 

 vantage of those West India Islands which are in a position to 

 supply it. It would be well, therefore, for the people in that part 

 of the world to establish small orchards of grape fruit trees of the 

 best quality, and to be prepared to ship the fruit in such condition 

 that they may get the best price for it. This would be one way 

 of alleviating, to some extent, the depression under which they 

 are now suffering, owing to the unremunerative character of the 

 sugar industry. 



The following, containing further notes on grape fruits and 

 shaddocks, was contributed by Sir Daniel Morris to Chambers' 

 Journal of January 30, 1 897. 



Under the title of 'paradise fruits," Dr. Macfadyen, many years 

 ago, described some interesting members of the orange family. 

 Their origin was not clearly traced, but there was little doubt that 

 they had been produced by seed variation in the West Indies. 

 Their nearest relations were the common shaddocks or pumelows 

 {Citrus deciimana). These are well known as the largest of the 

 citrus fruits ; some fine specimens have weighed as much as 20lbs., 

 and measured 2 feet in circumference. According to Alphonse 

 de Candolle, ' shaddocks and pumelows are probably natives of 

 the islands east of the Malay Archipelago.' They were found in a 

 wild state by Seemann and others in the Fiji Islands and the 

 Friendly Islands, so there is little doubt of their Polynesian origin. 

 They are now distributed in most tropical countries, but, except in 

 a few localities, they are not so highly esteemed, for instance, as 

 the best oranges. Usually the skin is thick and pithy, and the 

 pulp bitter, and there is little or no demand for them in commerce. 

 The paradise fruits, on the other hand, are in great demand, and 

 they are regarded as the most refreshing and wholesome of any 

 of the citrus family. Recently in New York, some of the latter 

 were retailed at almost fabulous prices, and the demand increases 

 every year. The paradise fruits, while they fall specifically under 

 Citrus decumana, or the giant Citrus, have many points of merit, 

 not the least of which, is the keen preference shown for them by 



