AFRICA 209 



and a regular trade has been established which is likely 

 to grow in importance. In consequence of the rapid in- 

 crease in the demand on the Continent, and in anticipation 

 of a continued development of the trade with Conti- 

 nental ports, fruit was contracted for at relatively high 

 prices. The exports of bananas from 1907 to 1911 were 

 as follows : 



Crates Crates 



1907 . . 2,391,297 1910 . . 2,700,352 



1908 . . 2,355,778 1911 . . 2,648,378 



1909 . . 2,782,299 



The shipments during 1911 were : 



To United Kingdom : Crates Crates 



From Teneriffe . . . 781,831 

 LasPalmas . . . 680,035 



1,461,866 



To Germany, from both islands . 732,503 

 France . 365,714 



,, Italy . 48,424 



Spain . 22,677 



Other countries . 17,194 



1,186,512 



Total 2,648,378 



The export to Germany and France continues to increase. 



MADEIRA. The Chinese banana is largely cultivated, 

 and is exported to Lisbon and Oporto. The limit of 

 production has apparently been already reached. 



AZORES. The area under cultivation of the Chinese 

 banana increases every year. 



EGYPT. In Egypt it is calculated that there are upwards 

 of 200,000 banana stools in the gardens round Cairo and 

 Alexandria. 



" Bananas and plantains * have been cultivated for 

 many centuries, especially in the north of the Delta about 

 Alexandria, Damietta, and Rosetta, near the coast rather 

 than inland. The tall-growing varieties cannot be grown 



* "Text-book of Egyptian Agriculture." By Foaden and Fletcher, 

 (" Fruits," by G. Bonaparte), ii. 617 (1910). 



