269 
1923 a Fruit Shop in Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, to be run 
on similar lines to its Ground Provisions Depot, and it is con- 
fidently hoped that this will enable those who have only a few 
trees, to dispose of any good produce to advantage. This will 
encourage planting, and lead to there being greater supplies 
of fruit than are wanted for local consumption. 
“The next step should be supplying ships calling at Trinidad, 
and also exporting to Barbados and Bermuda where a former 
Fruit Committee of the Society ascertained there was a demand 
for our fruit. 
“With a still larger production, and the experience gained 
meanwhile, we should be able to place our fruit successfully 
on more distant markets, e.g., the United Kingdom and Canada, 
which with our limited supply is practically impossible at present 
excepting in casual consignments. There need not be long inter- 
vals between the first steps—the local trade, supplying ships, 
and exporting to Barbados and Bermuda, as when once a start 
is made on definite lines it is probable that the existing supplies 
will prove greater than is at present realised.” 
The example of Trinidad in this direction can be commended 
to those tropical Colonies where a lack of fresh fruit and vegetables 
is constituting a serious menace to the health of the town popu- 
lations. 
Menzies’ Journal of Vancouver’s Voyage.*—The name of 
Archibald Menzies, a Scottish gardener who forsook gardening 
to study botany and medicine, and during the latter years of 
the eighteenth century became an eminent explorer and traveller, 
is well known to horticulturists by reason of his introductions 
of trees and other hardy plants from Western North America, 
a region at that time new to European travellers. Born in 
1754 at Stix near Aberfeldy in Perthshire, he was educated 
at Weem Parish School and began his gardening career in the 
famous gardens at Castle Menzies. He afterwards entered the 
Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, as a student, where he 
commenced working for a medical degree. In 1782 he was acting 
as assistant surgeon in the Royal Navy and saw active service 
in Rodney’s victory over the Comte de Grasse. During the next 
few years he took part in several long voyages of exploration 
and in 1790 the British Government appointed him as naturalist 
to accompany Captain Vancouver in the “ Discovery” on a 
voyage round the world. The voyage extended from 1790 to 
1795, and Menzies’ duties were ‘“‘ to investigate the whole of the 
natural history of the countries visited, paying attention to the 
nature of the soil, and in view of the prospect of sending out settlers 
from England, whether grains, fruits, etc., cultivated in Europe 
are likely to thrive. All trees, shrubs, plants, grasses, ferns, 
* Menzies’ Journal of Vancouver's Voyage, April to October 1792. 
Edited by C. F. Newcombe, M.D. Publication of the Provincial Library 
and Archives Department of British Columbia, $5-00. 
