Sept. 1895.] 



FOKEIGN OFFICE REPORTS. 



197 



Frlit Culture in Germany. 



In a report on the trade of the consular district of* Frankfort- 

 on-MaiD, Sir Charles Oppenheimer, Her Majesty's Consul- 

 General at that town, refers to the efforts which are being made 

 in Germany to promote the culture of fruit and berries. Fruit 

 growing is now, it seems, fostered a good deal by societies whose 

 task it is to discuss the progress made in this field and to help 

 their members practically and theoretically in the selection of the 

 qualities and the treatment of cultivation. In the neighbour- 

 hood of Frankfort, there is especially the Royal College for 

 fruit, vine, and floriculture at Geisenheim-am-Hhein, which 

 exercises a very beneficial influence. It organises series of 

 lectures for the instruction of suitable persons, who are trained as. 

 fruit or vine growers or florists. It also sends round travelling 

 teachers, who give lectures on questions appertaining to this 

 subject, and who also give advice as to the most lucrative way 

 of disposing of the fruit crops, as to the best methods of drying 

 and preserving kernel and stone fruits and vegetables, the 

 packing of the fruit, the preparation of fruit syrups, jellies, 

 marmalades, juices, and as to the preserving of the fruit. 

 The culture of berry fruits has been especially promoted by 

 the introduction of wines and other productions, made from 

 different berries which have been brought before the con- 

 sumers by the numerous exhibitions, where, by means of prizes, 

 endeavours were made to increase the zeal of the growers to 

 produce fruit suitable for the market. 



Of late, special attention has been directed to the better 

 disposal of the fruit crops, since the cultivation itself has made 

 undoubted progress. Thus, at Frankfort a central depot for the 

 sale of fruit lias been founded which offers its services gratui- 

 tously. It accepts offers from the growers and hands them on 

 as demands arise. It likewise arranges in autumn large fruit 

 sales, at which the supply as well as the demand is very lively. 

 During the season of 1894, at the commencement of August, 

 goods had already changed hands at the central office to the 

 weight of upwards of 2,200,000 lbs., almost exclusively berry- 

 fruits. The central office gives its assistance to all interested 

 parties, to buyers as well as purchasers, entirely fres of charge. 

 It does not even ask for the reimbursement of its own expenses. 

 The enterprise is purely conducive to the public good, and is 

 intended to promote German fruit cultivation. It has been 

 successfully initiated already in a few South German cities, 

 and it is intended this summer to establish similar institutions 

 in other places after the Frankfort pattern. The wealth of the 

 population has already been advanced, in some instances in quite 

 a remarkable degree, by the culture of fruit and berry trees. 



Sir Charles Oppenheimer refers to the cherry orchards at 

 Guben, as well as to " the orchard of the capital," for such is 



