BY J. H, MAIDEN. 757 



market for them, and hence no special inducement to the Islanders 

 to cultivate. A consignment is eaten up with expenses in the 

 Sydney market, while the arrangements for conveying fruit in 

 the steamers are very defective, and entail great loss on the 

 growers. Surely improvements are to be looked for both in 

 regard to the carriage of the fruit and in regard to the marketing 

 in Sydney. The quality of most of the fruits is simply delicious. 

 I shall ever retain pleasant recollections of Norfolk Island 

 Oranges. 



The Mandarins grow in great profusion, and colour marvellously 

 well. The quality of the fruit is good, but not so good as that of 

 the ordinary oranges. 



There are a few Citrons and Shaddocks, while at the Mission 

 Station are some Limes. The Lime is a very old introduction. 

 Lieut.-Govr. King records, under date 3rd June, 1788, that he 

 brought it with him at the/settlement of the Colony. 



Olive. — I saw a tree 5 feet through at the base. The Wild 

 Olive is abundant, and there can be no doubt that the Olive 

 thrives in the Island. But I saw no good sorts, and it would be 

 desirable to introduce the best varieties. The gathering of olives 

 (a tedious process, yet light work, suited for women and children), 

 the pickling of them or the expression of oil, seem to me suitable 

 employment for the inhabitants of Norfolk Island. 



Strawberries. — Considering the latitude of Norfolk Island, the 

 strawberry crops were a revelation to me; and their success is of 

 course to be attributed to the rich, stiff basaltic soil. What I 

 chiefly saw were a round fruit (? Keen's Seedling) and a pointed 

 one C? Marguerite). They were growing in great profusion, and 

 I feasted upon them every day. The quality was excellent, and 

 I could see no trace of disease on the plants. Yet on enquiry I 

 find that few families took the trouble to grow this most delicious 

 fruit. 



Miscellaneous. — The Passion Vine (Passifiora edulis) grows 

 freely, and is, indeed, wild in the bush. 



Mortstera deliciosa. Mr. Isaac Robinson has a plant or two. 



