THE WEST INDIAN FRUIT INDUSTRY. 



639 



matured during the wet season, and the results are therefore lower than 

 those on a former occasion, when fruits which had matured during the dry 

 season were analysed. The spineless variety again stood at the top of the 

 list. 



" The merits of the Spineless Lime should be considered by shippers of 

 Green Limes to the United States, where a large coarse Lime is not 

 required. The medium-sized, smooth-skinned, almost seedless and juicy 

 fruit of this variety, containing a large quantity of acid, should be just the 

 thing required for that market. It is evident that green Limes would be 

 gathered much quicker and with less damage from trees devoid of spines 



Fig. 195.— Soursop. 



than from the common formidably armed trees. At the time when com- 

 plaints are frequent as to the condition in which Limes arrive in New York, 

 anything that would tend to save the fruits from damage in picking seems 

 worthy of attention from those interested in the trade." 



Plants are also being distributed to the other botanic stations and 

 gardens in the West Indies, and if after further trial the variety retains 

 the popularity it has already gained, Spineless Limes may ere long become 

 the "ordinary" variety cultivated in the West Indies. 



Seedless Limes. — A second desirable improvement in the Lime would 

 be the production of a " seedless " variety, as has already been achieved 

 with other fruits of the Citrus family. This desideratum will possibly be 

 obtained by work which is now being carried on at the Trinidad Botanic 

 Gardens. 



