. 230 
is made through the tropics in a steamer of great heat. Preserved and 
dried fruits suffer comparatively little from such heat as would be totally 
destructive to fresh fruit. Much no doubt may be done by careful 
the value of the fruit when exposed for sale in x home markets. 
. C. SUTHERLAND. 
The following Report has been prepared by Mr. J. T. Edwards 
relative to the cultivation and production of fruit in Natal :— 
ietermaritaburg, 20th January, 1888. 
In accordance with the request of his Excellency the Governor, 
I have the honour of furnishing you with et — particulars 
respecting the cultivation of fruit in this Colon 
e fruit-bearing area in Natal may be divided into three districts, 
viz., Constland, Midland, and Upland; these distriets being defined by 
the varying altitude 
The Coast district embraces a belt of country extending on an average 
from 20 to 30 miles inland. In this district nearly ‘all the known 
tropical and semi-tropical fruits thrive. ‘Those at present most exten- 
sively cultivated are the pine-apple, banana, orange, mango, and guava. 
Fresh fruit of the two former are exported largely to the Cape Colony 
ports, also in smaller quantities to the Transvaal gold fields and to the 
Orange Free State. There are two varieties of the pine-apple grown, 
viz., the Jamaica (spiny-leaved) and the smooth-leaved Cayenne. Both 
varieties do well, but the vem of the latter is especially fine, weighing 
in many instances from 4 lb ee Ib. each. The wholesale price of the 
spiny-leaved kind is from 3d. to 6d. per dozen, and of the smooth-leaved 
from 3d. to 1s. each. Although considerable quantities of these fruits, 
both in a fresh and preserv eserved state, are exported annually, the growth 
at present is greatly in excess of the demand. All the varieties of the 
orange do well, and during late years the gor fensi- have been greatly 
increased. ‘The yield of fruit is enormous, some trees bearing no less 
than 4,000 oranges. The variety most esteemed for its fine flavour and 
ex traordinary fruitfulness is the naatje, or mandarin orange. e 
wholesale pe of the orange is from 6d. to 1s. 6d. per 100, and of the 
naatje from 1s. to 2s. per 100. The Coast oranges are in season from 
May unti! September. Of the other fruits which thrive in this district 
may be enumerated ws lime, shaddock, lemon, papaw, loquat, grenadilla, 
Brazillian cherry, Avocada pear, mulberry, pomegranate, et sweet 
sop, custard apple, &c. Also the Cape gooseberry, and a u, 
two indigenous ipia which, when preserved either as jam be botla 
sea level, p the prin aiiz fruits grown are "the apricot, peach, pear, 
apple, an d and of small fruits, the strawberry. ‘The apricot and 
peach are dicii pt xtensively throughout the district, and the yield of 
fruit is most prolific The local markets are much too small for the 
consumption of this fruit, and many tons are annually allowed to waste 
eading varieties of the apricot grown in the 
Colony are the Large Early, Moorpark, -- Turkey. The varieties ripen 
in the order named; the Large Early about the first week in December, 
3 
5 
e 
T 
& 
8 
B, 
& 
this season has been fro 
wn are very numerous, but those most in | favour are the Alexander, 
o 
Batiin, Grosse Mignon, Precoce, Royal George, Noblesse, Early 
