199 
in Dominiea now but for the enterprise of some Americans who 
to the island in the proper season, bought up Oranges and other kinds 
of fruit, and shipped them to the New York market. These Americans 
went the right way to work. They refused to purchase Orang es that 
did not have the stalks attached and properly cut, and in this var they 
ensured, to a great extent, the proper hand-picking of the fruit. They 
rejected. with ridieule all bruised fruit, and what they bought they 
packed carefully in suitable boxes, each Orange having been exami 
for bruises, and if found sound wrapped in paper specially imported for 
the purpose. The result wasa revolution in the desultory and insignificant 
fruit trade of the island. The Americans came back year year, 
thereby showing the people that the trade was successful, and then local 
men began to take up the matter, with the result that at the present time 
the Americans have to compete with resident shippers. 
With the exception of the Limes, which are Le hie grown in the 
island for the sake of their juice, and the Ban which are cultivated 
by the peasan s the greater part of the fruit shipped fro i dd island is 
athered from trees that have grown up, in most cases mirese in 
gardens, in corners of estates, and the roadside. Considering 
that the exports of fruit, excluding Lime juice and othe tp 
ood deal 1 r, or about one forty- 
eighth of the total value of the exports of the isla f a 
ery striking, and they are pregnant with preier for -= future of the 
trade e planters an nt w turni 
te nd proprietors ar ng 
their attention to the systematic cultivation of Cea, Shaddocks, and 
other fruit trees on a small scale, but the only estates in the island 
devoted entirely to fruit culture are those belonging to the Lime 
planters, who do vire liga ship the fruit in its natural condition in 
tity. 
rta 
export from the island, and any account of the fruit trade would be 
incomplete without some details of the industry, which was started in 
Dominica years ago by the late Dr. Imray, to whom the island owes, on that 
account alone, an everlasting debt of gratitude. The Lime, which is the 
fruit of a tree closely allied to the Orange and Lemon, » done much to 
help to revive the prosperity of Dominica; and, as the industry is con- 
stantly growing, it gives promise of great things i in the future, In addition 
to the juice of the fruit, a very fragrant essential oil, calied commercially 
o es 
is increasing, d the of article are rdingly running up 
in val Lie i juice, E cd die ce has been exported by one 
of the pl e: duri t e principal kind is that 
an 
obtained from the Pine bid Ti is shipped principally to the United 
States, and it is used for flavouring pur 
In order to give a correct idea of the fa industry in Dominica, I 
have made a careful examination of the Blue Books kept at Governm ent 
Office, but as the volume for 1880 is lost, and as no other copy n 
in the island, I have been unable to go back for more than se 
consecutive years, 
A 55172. 375.—9/88. Wt. 40. Az 
