62 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



With 150,000 more bunches of Bananas received, the Return shows a 

 reduced gross value of £2,000 compared with 1907, a pronounced reduc- 

 tion in prices. This fruit, and Lemons, show the highest increase in 

 imports, and as both are foreign fruits, the general stability of the 

 other outdoor fruits given in the Return would perhaps indicate that the 

 home orchards are keeping pace with the increasing consumption — a 

 consideration of satisfaction to fruit growers. The importations of 

 Tomatos show a stationary figure for the past eight years, but those 

 of Potatos reached a high level. The value of Fresh Flower imports is 

 lower than the four preceding years by £4,000. This is satisfactory, as the 

 four earlier years had been abnormally high in imports. 



The exports call for little comment, as the figures show scarcely any 

 or, perhaps, no variation beyond the average. The consumption of 

 Oranges fell short of the previous year (1907), comparing imports and 

 exports, by 364,000 cwt. 



Impoets and Expoets of Wood and Timbee. 



The amount of unmanufactured timber imported is necessarily very 

 high, though its value in 1908 fell short of the preceding year by nearly 

 £300,000. Again, the value of imported manufactures of wood and 

 timber increased by £50,000, while the value of the exports of this class 

 of goods fell by £151,000. This would make British wood manufactures 

 appear to be in a depressed condition, but comparing 1904 with 1908 we 

 have valued exports of £170,258 and £1,256,545 respectively — a most 

 wonderful comparison. Similarly the exports in 1903 were £179,902, and 

 in 1902, £187,755, so that the advanced export of to-day is really highly 

 satisfactory. 



