SOME OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF ECONOMIC BOTANY. 633 
[IfI.—FRUIIS. 
sotanically speaking, the cereal grains of which we have spoken are 
true fruits, that is to say, are ripened ovaries, but for all practical pur- 
poses they may be regarded as seeds. The fruits, of which mention is 
now to be made, are those commonly spoken of in our markets as fruits. 
First of all, attention must be called to the extraordinary changes in 
the commercial relations of fruits by two direct causes: 
(1) The canning industry, and 
(2) Swift transportation by steamers and railroads. 
The effects of these two agencies are too well known to require more 
than this passing mention. By them the fruits of the best fruit-growing 
countries are carried to distant lands in quantities which surprise 
all who see the statistics for the first time. The ratio of increase is 
very startling. Take, for instance, the figures given by Mr. Morris at 
the time of the great Colonial and Indian Exhibition, in London. Com- 
pare double decades of years: 
Med SS bad Se RR NE 2s perl 8 ul OF el ee nt £886, 888 
(PEG Le ee eee 3, 185, 984 
ELF 2 aa lm Mn A aE ee ere 7, 587, 523 
In the Colonial Exhibition at London, in 1886, fruits from the remote 
colonies were exhibited under conditions which proved that, before long, 
it may be possible to place such delicacies as the cherimoyer, the sweet- 
sop, rambutan, mango, and mangosteen at even our most northern sea- 
ports. Furthermore, it seems to me likely that with an increase in our 
knowledge with regard to the microbes which produce decay, we nay 
be able to protect the delicate fruits from injury for any reasonable 
period. Methods which will supplement refrigeration are sure to come 
in the very near future, so that even in a country so vast as our own 
the most perishable fruits will be transported through its length and 
breadth without harm. 
The canning industry and swift transportation are likely to diminish 
zeal in searching for new fruits, since, as we have seen in the case of 
the cereals, we are prone to move in lines of least resistance and leave 
well enough alone. 
To what extent are our present fruits likely to be improved? Even 
those who have watched the improvement in the quality of some of our 
fruits, like oranges, can hardly realize how great has been the improve- 
ment within historic times in the character of certain pears, apples, and 
so on. 
The term historic is used advisedly, for there are pre-historic fruits 
which might serve as a point of departure in the consideration of the 
question. In the ruins of the lake dwellings in Switzerland* charrea 
*«Carbonized apples have been found at Wangen, sometimes whole, sometimes 
cut in two, or, more rarely, into four pieces and evidently dried and put aside for 
winter use. - - - They are small und generally resemble those which still grow 
