THE WEST INDIAN FRUIT INDUSTRY. 



633 



The famous Malayan fruit, the Durian (Durio zibethinus), has also 

 been introduced into the West Indian islands, and has fruited in 

 Dominica. 



Varieties of Mangos, Bananas, Pineapples, are constantly being 

 received in the West Indies from various parts of the world, frequently 

 through the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which department has accom- 

 plished so much in successfully spreading economic plants throughout 

 the Empire and founding new industries. From this source alone the 

 Botanic Station in Dominica has received during the past five years plants 

 of some thirty of the finest varieties of Eastern Bananas. These have 



Fig. 189.— Orange. 



been grown and propagated in Dominica, and distributed thence to other 

 parts of the West Indies. 



Many of the introductions are of long standing, and some of them 

 took place in curious ways. For instance, in 1782 Rodney captured and 

 brought into Jamaica a French ship which had a number of economic 

 plants on board, amongst others the now well-known No. 11 Mango. The 

 plants so captured were cared for by the Government, propagated, and 

 distributed over the island. 



The accumulated result of the long-continued work of plant introduc- 

 tion may perhaps be best appreciated by dividing the better known of the 

 West Indian fruits into two groups, (a) native and (b) introduced plants. 

 In doubtful cases a plant has been grouped as native, but even then it will 



T 



