211 
take the place of the more expensive steam- -engine, and where there 
would be a saving in the differenee between the carriage of the prepared . 
os bode raw luets. 
Date (Phenix dactylifera).-—-Habitat, Africa and Asia. This 
pe is rare in the island, but if a regular fr uit trade were irpo 
it would doubtless be cultivated extensively. The Date palm grow 
very well in Dominica, and it appears to be quite hardy. 
BROMELIACEX. 
58. Pine Apple tna sativa).—-Habitat, West Indies. The 
fruit is in season from May to September, and it occurs in the greatest 
abundance, It is not aei to any extent, but that is simply because 
d > 
n, for as a flavouring substance for ices, cooling " 
Me e like, it "edi be quickly bought up. 
MvusACEA. 
0. Banana and Plantain (Musa sapientum).--Habitat, 
me Gla and New World tropics. ‘These fruits occur in the grea reatest 
abundance, and they are always in season. They could be exported 
from Dominica in practically unlimited quantities. Many varieties are 
grown in d Boe and they are of all sizes and flavours, from the 
large and luscious Fig Banana to the small and delicate * Fig Sucrier." 
e ete arge trade in Bananas between Jamaica and the 
are put in for shade to the young Cacao plants. Thus 
there is always a quantity of fruit in excess of local wants, and Res a 
fraction of this surplus is exported to the neighbouring colonies 
Besides the above sixty fruits — others have been introduced 
into the island lately, and they are ing so luxuriantly as to indicate 
that they have found in Dominica a congenial soil and climate. Amongst 
these fruits, I would pr Worm the following which have been 
introduced from the Royal Gar 
The Mangosteen tous cinia TO Hab., East Indies. 
The Baobab (Adansonia digitata). Hab., T rópi Africa. 
Du eros 
The Monstera (Monstera deliciosa). Hab., Mexico. 
All of the fruits enumerated in the above list could be produced in 
much greater quantities than they are now if there were such a demand 
Of course many of the fruits could not be exported to Europe or even 
to North America under the present couditions of the trade. But were 
steam vessels, specially adapted to carry fruit and provided with cold 
storage chambers, to ply regularly between Dominica and New York 
and Dominica and London, all the fruits in the catalogue could be 
shipped in large and constantly increasing quantities 
