54 



the Eailway revenues from banana traffic in Jamaica totalled the i-es-- 

 pectable sum of £26,306, covering the last financial year. 



" The Jamaica oranges possess a very fine texture and exquisite 

 flavour, but they are in my opinion inferior in size and appearance to 

 those ordinarily grown here, while the best of our varieties would be 

 hard to beat anywhere. 



" The greater proportion is sent to the Slates, but of late years 

 considerable quantities have been put on the English Market, and found 

 much favour there. 



"" Notwithstanding a protective duty ol' $1 50 per 70 lbs. gross 

 in the States, it seems that the Jamaica growers can still make a profit 

 out of oranges so long as the Florida and California fruit is not in 

 season. It is to the English Markets that the buyers are at present 

 looking, but the general complaint is want of more frequent shipping 

 facilities than are afforded by the fortnight lv service to Bristol by the 

 Imperial Direct Line. 



" Several Planters told me that if the Royal Mail would fit theii 

 steamers with cool storage, regular use would be made of that route, 

 thus giving them a weekly opportunity, alternating with the Elder 

 Dempster boats. 



"The large buyers of oranges pay from Is. per LOO fco as low as 

 3d. delivered at the nearest railway station, and the process of 

 grading, wrapping and packing is done very much in the same 

 manner as that followed by the Symington Syndicate here. The 

 prices realized in English Ports are subject to great variation. 

 according to quality, condition and season. 



" Last Christmas the best quality of Jamaica oranges fetched in 

 London from 12/- to If/- per box of 200. ;l statement I should myself 

 scarcely credit were it not taken from a very reliable source indeed. 



" On all sides I heard the same story, that profits or losses (as 

 with bananas) depend absolutely upon the kind of care given to the 

 selection and handling of oranges before shipment, and to the 

 maintenance of an equable temperature throughout the sea voyage. 



" Quality and condition, as with most things, will always 

 command and hold the best markets, and the Jamaica people seems to 

 be fully alive to this. 



"Budding of the choicer sorts is practised to some extent, and 

 hybridizing experiments are also being carried out with the Ripley 

 and Cayenne varieties of pines, the special object being to combine 

 the superior edible qualities ol the one with the more symmetrical 

 shape and size of the other. 



"20. In concluding this Report, it is lifting perhaps that 1 

 should oiler some explanation of its length and divergence from Un- 

 original text of my instructions. This fruit industry presented at 

 every turn so many other interesting and instructive features, more 

 or less connected with transporting arrangements, that I considered it 

 would be a profitless use of time and opportunity did 1 not enlarge 

 somewhat the scope of my observations and enquiries. 



•• Through the courtesy and read} assistance given to me by the 

 Government, including the Director of Public Gardens, the Director 

 of Railways, and the Secretary of the Agricultural Societv, I was at 



