340 Report S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



but the true explanation is that the prohibitive Transvaal duty was 

 removed in time for the 1903-4 trade, and the growers naturally took 

 that marlcet in preference to Europe, overdoing it, however, and 

 causing a slump for that year. But even in recent years the English 

 trade does not show such expansion as might have been expected, and 

 prices for the present year (1905-6) have not been satisfactory. This 

 may be accounted for partly bvcold weather at the time of arrival, 

 partly by unsatisfactory distribufion arrangements, partly by too high 

 expectatioi:is, and partly by the nature and condition of the fruit 

 itself, for even after all these years of experience some shippers have 

 still to learn that only certain kinds command the London market at 

 any season, and that it only pays to ship the best, and that only 

 if graded to a reliable brand. 



Since 1904 an endeavour has been made to open up a market in- 

 continental Europe, as also in North America, fruit being transhipped 

 at Southampton to prevent delay ; but thus far the demand remains 

 small, and fruit from the Argentine at the same season may affect 

 these markets in the near future. The fact that the Cape Fruit 

 Exporters' Association ships almost the whole export, and that into 

 one London office, seems to be an arrangement possibly open to 

 improvement, while, on the other hand, London Agents interested in 

 West Indian, Canary, Australian and other goods, prefer tojgnore 

 Cape fruit, lest it interfere with their own established connections. 



That the oversea export deals with only an insignificant propor- 

 tion of the whole production is proved by figures showing the destina- 

 tions of fruit sent from the Western Province Railway Stations during 

 fruit season 1902-3, as follows (Cafe Agricultural Journal, XXIII. , 



83) :- 



To Docks ... 



To stations in Cape Division 



To stations between De Aar and Kimberley, 



inclusive 

 To stations north of Kimberley ... 

 To stations in Orange River Colony 

 To stations in The Transvaal 

 To stations in the Midland system 

 To stations in the Eastern system 



Total weight to all points 



The Cape Colony naturally has by far the largest area in fruit,, 

 the figures, according to information kindly supplied by the Agricul- 

 tural Departments of the respective Colonies, being about as follows, 

 including trees and vines scattered around homesteads, viz. : — 



