FRUITS 207 



Mexico, and many companies of a semispeculative 

 nature have been organized for this purpose. It 

 requires a number of years before rubber trees reach 

 the productive age. A few of the Mexican planta- 

 tions are now nearing an age when they will begin 

 to produce, so we will soon know more as to the 

 probable outcome of these investments. 



Castilloa seems to lend itself more readily to cultu- 

 ral methods than Hevea and this is the species that 

 has been most planted. There is no question but 

 that the tree can be grown successfully under a wide 

 range of conditions. More light is needed, however, 

 as to what conditions will prove best adapted to pro- 

 moting a free flow of latex ; and more experience is 

 needed on many other points in regard to the best 

 way of managing rubber plantations. The commer- 

 cial planting of other species of rubber is proving a 

 success in some of the East Indies. 



It is not likely that the roseate promises contained 

 in the prospectuses of the speculative rubber com- 

 panies will ever be fully realized, but in view of the 

 immense demand and the high prices now prevailing, 

 there is every reason to hope that under conservative 

 management American rubber plantations will prove 

 to be profitable and the business of rubber planting 

 seems destined to be greatly extended in many parts 

 of the American tropics. 



Fruits 



Temperate Fruits 



The fruit industry has come to be an important 

 one in many parts of the South. The commercial 



