23 
Preserved fruits, as peaches, apricots, pears, &e., in syrup, were 
imported in 1885 from Europe, mostly from France. But the value 
of these is mixed with confectionery; and it is impossible to state the 
value of them separately. In 1885 the value of imported confectionery 
was Rs. 45,055. 
It may be worth noticing that we receive small quantities of ripe 
grapes, pears, &c., from South Africa, where at certain seasons of the 
year these fruits, ‘grapes especially, abound. But such inpia have, 
when made, and from what [ have heard on the subject 
at the mercy of a ring of wholesale purchasers who combine to give 
their own prices. Thus import enterprise is discouraged, if not carried 
on at a loss, no matter what the demands of the publie ; may be. 
Dried fruits of. the following sorts and values were imported during 
1885 and consumed in Mauritius :—Almonds (Rs. 2201), mainly from 
Cape Colonies, India and France ; dates (Rs. 2062) from the Cape of 
Good Hope, India and Muscat ; figs (Rs. 16) from the United 
Kingdom; prunes (Rs. 948) from France; pistachio nuts (Rs. 226) 
from India and Johanna ; raisins (Rs. 3390) from the United Kingdom, 
India, * The Cape” and France; walnuts (Rs. 361) from Hong Kong 
and France; of other all sorts (Rs. 274) from the United Kingdom, 
United States and France 
XXX.—SACCHARINE. 
In the inaugural address of Sir Henry E. Roscoe, M.P., F.R.S., to 
the British Association at Manchester on the 27th August 1886, he drew 
attention to the chemical principles upon which organic synthesis have 
been affected. He stated that as soon as the chemical seb of an 
€ substance has been ascertained, or, in other words, as s 
chemis s have carefully analysed and determined the exact "coit 
ofa xiv organie substance, and the mode in which they are arranged 
within its molecule, there is open to them by a synthetie process or a 
upon certain plants. By a purely synthet rocess, chemists may. 
ultimately be able to produce artificial quinine, ar rtificial theine, artificial | 
theobromine, and artifie ial caffeine, rtificial substances 
product, and they could be produced in such quantities and at such 
prices as would compete successfully with them, there is no doubt the 
growers of cinchona, tea, cacao, and coffee, would have some reason tobe __ 
admit that theoretically it m» In most cases, be possible to produce 
artificial substances having the same chernical constitution as the natural | 
products, it is very doubtful rel the chemist will, in man 
by those artificially produced by chemists is not a large one. But fros 
sas to time we are made acquainted with some new su 
bstances 
have been discovered by chemical research, PME: properties 
