Occasional Notes. 369 



are not wanting those who consider that an extensive 

 trade will ultimately be developed there in this dried 

 fruit. Two or three firms have taken up the matter 

 seriously, and have prosecuted the drying operation by 

 means of a pneumatic fruit drying apparatus, which 

 secures the fruit being dried at a constant temperature, 

 and thus ensures a uniformity in successive sets. The 

 results attained in this way have been remarkably satisfac- 

 tory, both in the preservation of the soft fruit and in the 

 retention of its special flavour. Owing to the difficulty of 

 transport, the trade in the fresh fruit is almost out of 

 the question in many distrifts where they can be grown 

 to perfeftion ; but the conditions are entirely altered 

 with the dried fruit, and a trade once started could be 

 maintained uniformly throughout the year, owing 

 to the constant supply of bananas. From the apprecia- 

 tion which various samples of the dried fruit have 

 met with in London from different people, it can scarcely 

 be doubted but that a profitable trade could be carried 

 on in the commodity when once it were well-known ; 

 but here the crux lies : — how to establish such a trade. 

 No doubt extensive and persistent advertising could 

 accomplish this, the more particularly if good mention 

 could be obtained from " high quarters." Pioneers alone 

 are needed: for here again lies another promising in- 

 dustry, awaiting enterprise — an industry in which the 

 pob'ior classes, and those possessing but little capital 

 could find ample employment in the growth of the fruit 

 for central drying fa£tories. 



Scale /«j-^^j.— Taken in conjun6lion with the notes 

 on these inse6ts contributed to this journal by Mr. S. J. 



