98 



and rich, such as one mostly finds in morass lands that are periodically- 

 flooded during the wet season. 



" Rice planting was once tried in tnis parish a tew years back on a 

 somewhat large scale, but under the system of its management, there is, 

 in my mind, no wonder at the industry having failed." 



TROPICAL FRUITS IN ENGLISH MARKETS. 



The following notes appeared in the " Times" last December. They 

 show that the Banana is increasing in favour ; that the navel Orange 

 is preferred to the Jaffa ; and that pines are valuable, when well grown. 



The name of the persimmon is probably new to most people in 

 Jamaica. The fruit is a favourite one in the United States, and has 

 been much improved lately by careful selection, and by hybridsation be- 

 tween the Japanese and native American species. Seedling trees have 

 been grown at the Hill Gardens, but have not yet produced fruit. Ap- 

 plication has been made to the United States Department of Agriculture 

 for plants of some of the best varieties for experiment at Hope and Oas- 

 tleton as well as in the Hill Gardens, and a courteous reply has been re- 

 ceived from the Department, promising some plants at the next dis- 

 tribution to their own Experiment Stations. 



" This year the opening of the Christmas season in the fruit mar- 

 kets of the metropolis has been remarkable for its unusual activity. A 

 greater quantity and variety of fresh and dried fruits have been sent in for 

 sale than ever before, so that the supply is ample for all requirements. 

 The fruit markets during the Christmas week are well worth seeing, and 

 the vastly increased trade can only be properly gauged by those ac- 

 quainted with the sales in every centre. Tons of nuts are coming in 

 'laily from Asiatic Turkey; grapes from Belgium, Spain, France, and the 

 Channel Islands; pineapples from the Azores; pears from Canada; toma- 

 toes from France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and the Canaries; and chesnuts 

 from Italy, France, and Spain. 



" The fruit auctioneers have been selling continuously almost from 

 morning till night. In the river the boats have come up in rapid succes- 

 sion, and with such cargoes that it has been no easy matter to get the 

 fruit warehoused in time for sale. Among the new seasonable fruits 

 which have " come to stay" is the persimmon, that glossy deep orange- 

 hued fruit, with a large open eye, if I may term its crown, not unlike 

 the old-fashioned English medlar in shape, which now forms one of the 

 most striking features in the windows of the retail fruit shops. This 

 fruit, which some people consider a great dainty, has been improved al- 

 most as wonderfully as the tomato. The best supplies just now come to 

 us from Madeira. They are retailed as high as 4s. per dozen. Pre- 

 sently, when the trade has been properly developed and the fruit itself 

 popularised among the wide circle of consumers, enormous quantities 

 will be sent into all the English markets, from California, particularly, 

 where the fruit is grown plentifully from the size of a plum up to that 

 of a Baldwin apple. There is nothing fanciful about this prediction, for 

 the fruit can be picked when just ready to commence colouring, and 



