626 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The relative importance of these three principal industries has, however, 

 undergone great modification. Sugar during the twenty years has 

 decreased in value by more than 50 per cent., whilst Cacao has increased 

 by 100 per cent., and fruit by no less than close upon 500 per cent. 



Fio. 132.— Coc 



Regarding sugar as the staple industry of the West Indies, we can 

 indicate the relative importance of fruit in the years under discussion as 

 follows, taking the value of sugar for each year as 100 : — 



1002-:? 181)4-5 1883-1 



Sugar 100 100 100 



Fruit • 87-8 21-3 8-1 



Fruit, which twenty years ago was exported to the value of only 

 about one-twelfth of that of sugar, has increased to such an extent as 

 to be now nearly equal to sugar in value. It must, however, be remem- 

 bered that during this period sugar has fallen greatly in price, and that 



