40 



COMMERCIAL BOTANY. 



Mr. Morris, which shows the increased values during the 

 forty years ending in 1885 : — 



1845 1865 1885 



Apples, Oiangea, Lemons, &o. - £158,098 £1,131,183 £3,619,788 



Nuts, Almonds, &o. - - 80,682 424,866 701,910 



Currants, Eaisins, Figs, &c. - 648,108 1,629,935 3,265,825 



£886,888 £3,185,984 £7,587,523 

 Amongst home-cultivated fruits none have increased of 



Tomato (Lycopersicum escnlentum). 



late years more rapidly, both in favour and in extended 

 culture in this country, than the Tomato {Lycopei-sicum 

 esculentuni). Originally a native of Mexico or South 

 America,- the plant has spread by cultivation into tropical 

 and temperate climates, and in England its cultivation has 

 been gradually extending during the past thirty years, until 

 the consumption has increased to such great pi-oportions that 

 it has recently been estimated at sixty pounds per head of 

 the whole population. So great is the demand, indeed, that 



