249 
details are well worthy the careful attention of the agents of the great 
mail steam companies at Colom 
With the exception of this supply to the ships there is practically no 
export of fresh fruit from Cey 
'The Colony is indeed an eae of fruit instead of an exporter, but 
those i mye are chiefly for the European residents. I do not know 
: it be true of the eastern tropies generally, but in | Ce eylon gm is 
ong 
re —— I cannot say, but it would EID be largely y éhtetiained, 
I much doubt if, after satisfying the curiosity which 
indt nite feel on the subject, there would be much further demand 
at home for most kinds. Pine-apples iid plantains (bananas of West 
dy w no 
e question of the export of fresh fruit, however, is not on ich 
possesses any practical interest for Ceylon. We are too dist y rom 
home endeavour to send ied xm fruit as a commerce ia 
o : 
quantities sent are all without doubt presents from residents to "friends 
at home, and have no commercial significance. The act tual values have 
been, in 1882, Rs. 280; in 1883, Rs. 102; in 1884, Rs. 239 ; in 1885, 
Rs. 296 ; in 1886, Rs. 105. 
e is no information as to kind of fruit preserved, but in all 
bti they were samples of the jams and jellies commonly made 
ere from such acid fruits as the Lovi-lovi (Flacourtia inermis), Bilimbi 
(Averrhoa sje Carambo bola (A. Carambola), or Nelli (Phyllanthus 
i re pal lly liked, but can 
emblica) atable enough and a y liked, but 
scarcely compare with the excellent jams made in Englan 
latter the im int lon must be very but as in the case. 
cannot be asc 
I cannot but think that an export trade might, however, be set on 
foot in preserved plantains and pine-apples. - These ca n be readily and 
preserved pine-apples has prung up at Singapore and might wal be 
also attempted here in Ceylon 
HENRY TRIMMEN, 
* 
