227 
these Botanic Stations have been so promising that a strong wish has 
been expressed by the local authorities to obtain similar institutions at 
Bermuda, Bahamas, and the Seychelles. 
Fruit TRADE. 
One of the most ghee: therein in Colonial enterprise in 
recent years has been the increasing trade i nfruit. Jamaica led the way, 
largely owing to the okontre Sitas of the fate Sir Anthony Musgrave, 
by supplying the United States with bananas and oranges that hitherto 
had had no local commercial value. The Jamaica fruit trade is now of the 
alle number of vessels wholly engaged in it. The trade in fruit between 
the Southern Colonies of the Old World (the Cape and erie and the 
mother country, is another instance of commercial activity in 
direction. It is not yet ten years old, but the value of the ee annually 
imported is very considerable. The first steps in this direction were 
undertaken on the suggestion of Kew, and led to the excellent display of 
fruit made at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition in 1886. ‘This showed 
fi to this country during the winter months tha nsiderable 
effort was made to establish what is now regarded as e. 
rt an im t 
In the Bulletin for the years 1887 and 1888 will be found a summar 
of information not accessible in any other form in regard to the capabili- 
ties of various parts of the Empire for the pr oduction of fruit. This was 
brought together through the aid of reports obtained by the Seeretary 
of State for the Colonies, and is still the most tM MÁS source of 
information on the subject. The efforts now being made to ship various 
tropical fruits from the West Indies direct to this country is another 
direction in which great results may ultimately be attained. The 
popular taste for the consumption of bananas is increasing. It has been 
shown that many such fruits can ve brought to the home country in a 
fresh een and find a ready m 
rmation is also given respecting certain kinds that have been 
introduced with the aid of Kew m ihe aa st to the East Indies 
Supp 
of hill voie in India and Ceylon. On the other hand new i pnus 
of ban and maugoes, the Durian and E. Mangosteen have bee 
eastern él fr om Bis Hast’ to the West Indie 
DECADES KEWENSES. 
Under the title of “ Decades Kewenses " descriptions of plants new to 
science have reached the thirtieth decade. These are based on 
specimens contributed from every region on the earth’s surface from the 
extreme heights of Tibet fe the shores of the remotest islet in the 
Pacific Ocean. Further, owing to the increased impulse to exploration 
and commercial enterprise in Tropical Africa, it was thought desirable 
to publish at row. but in a separate series, brief diagnoses of new 
species, This has been done in the “ Diagnoses Africanze " (1894 to 
1895). 
Fronas. 
Besides these the vegetation of special regions investigated at Kew as 
the result of collections communicated by expeditions and travellers, 
A 2 
