2 
be sufficiently high to cover the cost of bringing it from the Southern 
Hemisphere. Consequent upon ae interest taken in fruit shown from 
all parts of the Empire at the late Colonial and Indian Exhibition, an 
give 
Log interested in the subject may usefully refer to the article “ Fruit? # 
n the “ Reports of the Colonial and ae eg ae 1886 ” [London : 
lowes an d Sons], and to a paper on ‘‘ Fruit as a Se in Colonial 
ommerce ’ k yhlished in the “ Panes dings” of t yal Colonial 
Institute, Vol. XVIII., 1886-87, pp. 123-159 London: Sampson 
Low]. 

ROYAL GARDENS, Kew, to COLONIAL OFFICE. 
Royal Gardens, Kew, 
SIR l4th August 1886. 
I mave the honour to report, for the information of the Secretary 
of State for the Colonies, that considerable interest has been awakened 
in regard to tropical and other fruits by the display of fruits in the 
several courts at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, and by the sale of 
fresh fruit in the Colonial market attached to this Exhibition. 
The fact that excellent fruits, such as oranges, lemons, pears, 
apples, &e., can be obtained in a fr resh state from the Southern Hemi- 
rable 
chorotighly icivesti igated. 
3. The abundant character and the high qualities of the tropical 
fruits of the West Indies are well known, but it was only the other day 
the occasion of a lecture which I gave at the eri haar Indian 
Exhibition) that many people realised that these fruits brought 
to England in a fresh state and are capable ie contributing pa to 
the food supply of the inhabitants of these is 
e fruit trade in the West India Telini i is now of the estimated 
nual 50, but if suitable markets were forthcoming, 
and knowledge enlar nt on the subject, there is no reason why this 
trade should not as h rtions a 
towards brarti the peters under which these islands are at present 
labouri 
5. ike regards the actual capabilities in this a of other portions 
of the Empire, and especially of the Cape an stralian Colonies, 
little is accurately known at home; and hence ‘would venture to 
that inquiry be a summary of information publishe 
6. I enclose herewith a number of questions which I have submitted 
to Mr. iselton Dyer, and I am directed by him to convey his 
approval of them, and to suggest that a copy of these questions be 
forwarded to each of the Colonial Governments with the request tha 
the information desired be supplied as fully as possible, together with 
