264 



The World's Commercial Products 





\w& * 



Photo by N. P. Edwards, Littlchampion 

 NATAL. 



GROWING PINEAPPLES 



for fruit traffic, and, 

 though there is still 

 plenty of room for 

 improvement in these 

 matters, those inte- 

 rested are keenly 

 alive, and increased 

 facilities may be 

 reasonably expected. 



ORCHARD 

 FRUITS 



The Apple (Pyrus 

 Malus) is native to 

 most of the countries 

 of Europe, and is also 

 found in the region 

 of the Caucasus. In 

 its wild state it is 

 known (in Britain) as 

 the crab, and from 

 this the vast number 

 of cultivated varie- 

 ties have originated. The cultivation of the apple extends to the most northern extremity 

 of Britain, and in Scandinavia as far north as lat. 65°. Whilst the apple-tree is amongst the 

 hardiest of our fruit-trees, its blossoms are very susceptible to frost, and late May frosts often 

 make sad havoc of the apple crop in this country. Although the apple exists in high latitudes, 

 its fruit there is small — not" from excessive cold in winter, but for want of sufficient heat in 

 summer. In Nova Scotia, where the winters are long and intensely cold and the summer 

 short but very hot, the '-'apples are large and of splendid colour. In tropical climates the 

 apple does not succeed, but in the temperate regions of both hemispheres it is very extensively 

 cultivated. In the northern and middle regions of the United States of America and in parts 

 of Canada, as in British Columbia, the produce is very fine. Parts of Australasia, notably 

 Tasmania, produce very fine apples, and their culture is now successfully carried on in Cape 

 Colony. 



Although apples are grown in most parts 'of Great Britain, the bulk are produced in the 

 counties of Kent, Hereford, Devon, Somerset, Worcester, and Gloucester. The apple is the 

 principal orchard crop in Great Britain, but the yield is quite insufficient for our needs, and 

 huge quantities are annually imported. In 1905 we imported 3,494,660 cwt. of apples, valued 

 at £2,065,193. Of these 2,005,428 cwt. were from foreign countries, principally the United 

 States, and 1,489,232 cwt. from British possessions, particularly Canada. 



The Pear is less hardy than the apple, and requires more sun to perfect its fruits. In 

 this country the best pears are obtained from trees grown against walls and sheltered from 

 the cold winds. Most of the best varieties originated in France and Belgium, especially in 

 gardens attached to religious establishments, and were introduced into England and other 

 countries after the Battle of Waterloo. 



The pear is now almost as widely cultivated as the apple, and shares the same regions 

 of the world. In California fruit-canning is a big industry, and everyone- is familiar with 

 Californian tinned pears. The variety used, the so-called Bartlett Pear, is none other than 

 William's " Bon Chrieten," one of the best early pears extant. 



The imports of pears into the United Kingdom in 1905 amounted to 417,919 cwt., valued 



