| 272 
CLXXX.—BANANA DISEASE IN FIJI. 
The cultivation of bananas in the colony of Fiji for the purpose of 
exporting the fruit has during late years made more rapid strides. 
Unfortunately a disease has appeared amongst the banana plantations. 
The following correspondence relates to the subject :— 
CoLoNiaL Orrice to RoxanL GARDENS, Kew. 
SIR, Downing Street, 10th November 1890. 
I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit ‘to you a copy of 
the Report on the Fiji Blue Book for 1889, and I am to call your 
attention to the remarks at page 28 as to the disease which has appeared 
among the banana plantations. 
Lord Knutsford would be glad if you could furnish the Governor with 
any information likely to be of use in combating this disease. 
am, &c. 
The Director, (Signed) JoHN BRAMSTON. 
Royal Gardens, Kew. 
Extract from the Report on the Fiji Blue Book for the Year 1889. 
. This year shows the highest export of green fruit, but this trade has 
not during the past year advanced in volume at the same rate as i 
" : seven years, and would make rapid 
strides but for the persistent watchfulness of the growers. No reliable 
cure for the banara disease has yet been found, but inquiry an 
experiment are still going on. 
TaBLE showing the Quantities of Bananas exported from Fiji during 
the Years 1886-1889. 
Years. 
Bananas. 
1886. 1887. 1888. 1889, 
No. of bunches - -| 261,741 359,294 517,666 531,008 
