420 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



DOMINICA. 



REPORT BY CONSULAR AGENT STEDMAN 



The oranges exported from this island are of the common sweet 

 variety. The trees are not cultivated, but grow promiscuously through- 

 out the island, at altitudes varying from 50 to 1,600 feet, and are most 

 plentiful on the leeward side. The fruit begins to ripen early in Septem- 

 ber, and the crop continues until the end of November small quantities 

 can be had in December and January. 



The Seville sweet orange (which is used principally in making mar- 

 malade) ; the Tangarine and Portugal oranges are also grown to a small 

 extent, but have not been exported. 



There are a few lemon trees in the island, mostly of a poor descrip- 

 tion, but the lime tree is cultivated to a considerable extent and in- 

 creasing annually. A small quantity of the fresh fruit is exported, but 

 the great bulk of the crop is compressed and the juice exported in a 

 raw and concentrated form, the latter principally to the United States 



The trees are grown at various heights, in some places as high as 

 1,500 feet. The trees are planted at distances of from 14 to 18 feet 

 apart, according to the richness of the soil, and are propagated from 

 seed. The picking begins in July and extends to November, the height 

 of crop being in September. The juice is extracted by passing the. 

 fruit through a mill and afterwards concentrating in copper taches. 



WM. STEDMAN, 



Consular Agent. 



UNITED STATES CONSULAR AGENCY, 



Roseau, Dominica, March 4, 1890. 



JAMAICA. 



REPORT BY CONSUL HOSKINSON, OF KINGSTON. 

 (Republished from Consular Reports No. 41^.) 



In reference to the fruit circular, I forwarded by last mail a press 

 copy of Dr. Neesh's lecture on orange cultivation. The lecture has 

 since been published in one of the city newspapers, and combines a 

 scientific treatment of the subject with a long practical experience of 

 the writer. Oranges have never been regularly planted out in this 

 island as they are in Florida, all the orange trees having been self- 

 sown, mainly by the seeds being carried by birds into the brush, and 

 when the plant has grown up the thickets have been cleared away, 

 leaving the young orange trees standing in irregular groups. No pains 

 is ever taken to improve the variety, and no particular attention of any 

 is given to tfce trees, the cleared land being the main considers 



