South African Horticulture. 337 



lead. It so happened that Phylloxera at that time threatened the 

 vine industry, Australian Bug and Mal-de-gomma had practically 

 cleared out the citrus groves of the Western Province, and generally 

 Agriculture was unremunerative, so the deciduous fruit industry — 

 though not altogether new — received a further impetus as a probable 

 salvation, and as a substitute for discarded vines and oranges. All 

 this meant a large demand for trees, and allowed propagation on 

 systematic American methods on a scale hitherto unattempted here, 

 giving profitable business, though prices were reduced 50 to 75 per 

 cent. Then may be said to have occurred the only recent boom in 

 importation, fruit trees from America, Europe and Australia coming 

 in considerable quantity and in considerable variety. 



Fruit trees require time to develop, and it is only recently that 

 the large plantations then put down have begun to yield in quantity 

 and to show what can be done. It was freely predicted that what 

 would happen would be the annual swamping of all South African 

 markets at glut prices, and shipment of only the best to Europe or 

 elsewhere. What has actually happened has been that instead of 

 unduly pushing export, full prices have been obtained for first-rate 

 fruit in every South African market, with fair demand and few gluts, 

 and that the low-grade and badly-handled local material stands in 

 marked contrast both in quality and price to that systematically 

 handled, wherever they appear side by side. Growers everywhere 

 now realise that fruit has to be good and clean, and to be properly 

 handled and packed if it is to realise other than low prices, so, 

 thanks to easy transport, the improvement begun in the South- West 

 is now having its effect quite as much in the Transvaal and Natal 

 as in the Cape Peninsula and neighbouring districts. 



There is a demand everywhere for first-rate fruit, corresponding 

 in extent with the population of the district; that demand is met 

 from a distance if it cannot be met locally, and since the local 

 supply is ousted unless it is good enough to keep out that on which 

 freight and package has been paid, better kinds, better trees, and 

 better treatment, are coming into use much more generally, and must 

 continue to do so. 



Fruit-culture, from being a farmer's or tradesman's hobby or 

 pastime, is rapidly becoming an important industry, requiring atten- 

 tion to every detail at the proper time, and an up-to-date plant, to 

 cope with it. 



And this holds good in respect to other lines as well as to 

 deciduous fruit, for as citrus fruit and tropical fruit are easily 

 moved within South Africa, and as the best naturally secures the 

 best price, irrespective of where it has come from, improved culture is 

 forced on growers all round if they wish to sell. 



It may be said without doubt that the best varieties of all hardy 

 and semi-hardy fruits are now obtainable as well in South Africa 

 as elsewhere ; what remains to be proved is which of these varieties in 



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