October i, i888.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
2 55 
3. (a) No fruit is exported in a fresh state. (/<) 
Tamarinds are exported preserved in treacle ; the value 
of which for five years ending 31st December lS6i> is 
as follows, viz. : — 
£. s. d. 
1381 ... ... ... 1,307 10 0 
1882 ... ... ... 1,122 7 6 
1883 ... 1,13!) JO 0 
1885 ... 2,407 7 0 
• (c) All of the above was shipped to Great Britain with 
the exception of sm:ill quantities sent to British North 
Ame rica m L882, L884 and 1885, the value of which 
amounted in the aggregate to one hundred and forty- 
three pounds ten shillings. 
British Guiana. 
Remark* on the Principal Fruits of Colony. 
Plantains. — These beiug the principal article of 
food of the negro peasantry, their production comes 
next to sugar (though insignificant in relation) - s 
one of the staple industries of the colony. They 
;ire gathered green before maturity, and used as a vege- 
table, boiled or roasted. Cut when full grown, but 
while still green, they are used by colonists roasted 
in ashes. At. this- period they have a soft mellow, 
somewhat cheese-like substance. If kept for a week 
or ten days in store when thus gathered they ripen 
anil turn yellow, acquiring a fruity character. They 
nr. then prepared tor table by baking iu the oven, 
whole, the skins having first been removed, or are 
sliced, lengthwise, and fried. In this state they re- 
Bemble ordinary baked apple, but are sweeter, with a 
much firmer substance. Were these qualities of this 
fruit known in temperate countries, 1 think a de- 
mand would arise for it. and it might be made an 
article of export tiom the Colony. For this purposo 
it would have the advantage of the greater hard- 
iness it possesses in handling over the Banana. The 
quantity of fruit prdueed and consumed in the country 
must be very great, but there is hardly any means 
of estimating it. The average number of bunches 
aumialy exported is about eight thousand, valued at 
one thousand three hundred dollars, whieh are sent 
to neighbouring countries. 
liana na,i.— The cultivation is almost confined to 
supplying the demand for local consumption, but it 
might be increased to any extent. Several varieties 
.in- grown, the smaller kinds, called Figs, being chiefly 
iu demand among the better-to-do classes. The kind 
apparently in most favour with cultivators and the 
working classes being the dwarf Ohinese; this pro- 
dnoe* large bunches and is one of the best in keeping, 
but in quality is not so good as several of the taller 
growing kinds. I um quite unablo to estimate the 
quantity or value of that locally consumed. That 
(•ported 1 estimate nt from 10,000. to 12,000 bunches 
a year, and in value from S2.000 to $2,500. For 
lull information on the subject of this fruit as an 
article oi export svu the paper attached entitled " Kc- 
garding an Export Fruit Trade." 
Mangoes.— There is no cultivation in the proper 
•Base of tho term of this fruit. From its first intro- 
duction to the Colony it was planted on the " Dams" 
of sugar ostites, and the greater part of the trees 
BOW growing iu tho country occupy those situations; 
■nd the want of drainage prevents its spreading 
~ 'amoiisly. Fewer trees aro in existence now 
than formerly, tor an abundance of Mangoes tends 
to sustain idleness among tho labouring classes; and 
partly as a oonscquenco of this " fruit walks," as 
the iiveiiu. s ol fruit tree- on the dams were eilled, 
an. not kept upon many estates now. Tho mango in 
Uuiaim Iruits precariously, a very dry year yields 
usual y a heavy crop, but in ordinary seasons thoyiold 
is light. At the former old settlements on the rivers 
very linn ( r ,e, are in many places found, but they 
rarely fruit,_tho present occupiers say only about 
OMe hi seven years, „„,l then only in an exception- 
a My .try uriuun. This tendency Ifl characteristic of 
be Mango in all countrios to which ray experience 
baa extended. The kinds grown here aro generally 
poor, and there is no tir-t-chiss fruit among them. 
Ibu Botauio GarUuua are ouUeavouriug to rtimedy 
this by propagating only good and first-class kinds 
by grafting (in-arching) aud olfering them for public 
sale at a cost to cover expenses. In good mango 
seasons all classes have an abundance of the fruit. 
At such times it has hardly any va'ue in country 
districts where trees are plentiful, and after trans- 
port to town, is sold at from one dozen to two dozen 
tor a penny. In less favourable seasons it sells at 
twice to four times this rato. None is exported. 
First-class fruit would be worth exporting, but a 
refrigerator would be required for its safe conveyance. 
No attempt, however, should be made to export the 
fruit now available, as its quality is so poor it would 
only prejudice the market. Tho difference between 
poor aud good Mangoes is as great as that between crab- 
apples, and tho choicest cultivated kinds of that fruit. 
Oranges. — Of this fruit there is hardly any real 
cultivation, nor are trees abundant. Tue soil and 
climate appear very favourable, and good crops are 
generally produced. Trees suffer from the orange 
scale pest, aud individuals often succumb to its 
ravages. The kinds grown are not all of equal merit, 
but some are very good. The cultivation might be 
carried to an indefinite extent. There is no export, 
and small quantities are sometimes imported from 
the West Indies. 
Limes. — These are not grown largely, but more 
than sufficient for local demand. In some places 
dams are planted, and there the fruit is allowed to 
a large extout to perish on the ground, as there ia 
little demand for it iu the local market, and the 
price realised docs not pay carriage to town. A 6mall 
quantity was exported on trial a short time ago to 
the United States, fresh, in barrels, upon which, 
compared to the quantity, there was a considerable 
loss. Lime-trees seem to suffer much more from the 
orango scale than Orange-trees do, and many from 
timo to time are killed from its attacks. Apart from 
this pest, the conditions here arc favourable, aud the 
cultivation might be multiplied indefinitely. Two or 
three varieties are grown, one or two of which aro 
very fine fruit. 
J'inc Ajiples. — The land of the coast region, a stiff 
clay, is not suitable for the best growth of this 
plant. Still a good many fruit are grown on the 
dams of sugar estates aud elsewhere. Sjine of the 
best of the English kinds are among these. The 
sandy land of the interior, where, by the way, the 
Vine Apple is plentifully indigenous, is specially "adap- 
ted to the cultivation. There the Indians grow this 
fruit more or less plentifully in their provision fields. 
The area of land, within reasonable distance of tho 
ports of shipment, most thoroughly adapted for the 
culture of this fruit is very large. None is exported. 
Guanas. — These are naturalised in pastures aud 
other places, aud consequently are not much culti- 
vated. The greater part of the fruit wastes on the 
grouud or is eaten by animals, but some is made 
into jelly for local use or for export. The entire 
quantity used is not however of much consideration. 
There are three or four varieties, all of which thrive 
freely on both the coast and interior lauds, aud 
might bo multiplied iudefiuitely. 
Avocado Pear. — This tree does not thrive so well 
here as in the "West India Islands, and the fruit is, 
as a rule, oxpensive. Fine fruit is, however, produced 
in some places, but is chielly consumed by tho owners, 
and that which reaches the market is little in quan- 
tity and of inferior size aud quality. In the princi- 
pal season there is a small importation from the 
\Vest India Islands. It thrives better iu the more 
humid climate of the interior, and Hue trees staud 
at some of tho old settlements on the riv. v. 
The othor fruits enumerated in tho opening table 
aro not of a quality or produced iu sufficient quan- 
tity to call for detailed remarks. 
ExTiuoiiDis.uiY Musiikoou.— Theio lias been on 
view lately, in tho window of an Ipswich green- 
grooor, a mushroom of extraordinary dimensions, hav- 
ing a cirouinforonoo of l'J in., boing li in, across, and 
weighing, 21 lb.lOoa.— Indian Agriculturist, Aug. BSD) . 
