424 
THE. TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [December x, 1888. 
purposes in keeping proper records of the progress of 
a new and growing industry, and since then that 
gentleman has entered tho fruit exports in detail in 
the Blue Books. Thus I have been able to compile 
the following interesting table, which shows the kinds 
of fruit exported during the last two years, their es- 
timated value, and the countries to which they have 
been exported. 
This table shows that a considerable trade in fruit is 
carried on between Dominica and the neighbouring 
islands — English, French, and Danish, more especially 
those lying between Dominica and the United States. 
Indeed as far as the northern Islands arc concerned 
Dominica may fitly be described as their orchard. 
The commencement of a trade, too, has been made 
with the United Kingdom ; aud, as I understand that 
the fruit shipped to London was, in most instances, 
sold at a profit, it is to be hoped that there is here the 
germ of a regular trade between the mother country 
and this fine but neglected island. As will be noticed 
from the table, nearly half of the total exports goes 
to the United States, the Quebec Steamship Company 
and their officers having clone all in their power to 
facilitate and to foster the trade, and I would here 
remark that it is to be regretted that the Royal Mail 
Steamship Company are not equally anxious to foster 
this local industry. 
Particulars of the fruit exports are given in the 
table under nine heads, but two of them, namely, 
limes and pickltd limes, are essentially the same, the 
latter being simply ripe limes packed in brine, which 
preserves them remarkably well for a long time. 
The following are the average prices from which 
the values have been officially estimated : — 
s. d. 
Bananas, per bunch - - 0 6 
Coconuts, per barrel - - 8 4 
Fresh limes, per barrel - - 7 6 
Pickled limes, per barrel - S 4 
Mangoes, per hundred - - 10 
Oranges, per hundred - - 10 
Pineapples, per barrel - - 8 4 
Shaddocks, per barrel - - 8 4 
Non-enumerated fruits, per barrel 5 0 
It must be remembered, however, that this valuation 
is for fruit properly pickled, selected, and packed, 
ready for export, and it includes the cost of packages 
and packing. In bulk the fruit can be bought much 
cheaper. Thus, selected and hand-picked oranges can 
be purchased at 9d. a hundred, and limes at 4s. a 
barrel, and it would doubtless pay some London fruite- 
rer to visit Dominica iu the fruit season in order to buy 
up fruit for export. 
Under tho head of " non-enumerated fruits " are 
included a great number of various kinds other 
than those mentioned in-the eight foregoing columns 
of the table. Perhaps, for its size, Dominica pro- 
duces a larger and more varied number of fruits than 
any other part of the tropics. I have made the follow- 
ing list of 60 kinds of fruit that are grown in the 
island ; and, in order to make the list as useful as 
possible, 1 have given the local names, the botanical 
names, aud the habitat of the plants producing the 
fruits, as well as the season during which each kind 
is plentiful, and I have added such special inform- 
ation as appeared tome to be necessary. Each plant 
has been placed under its natural order, as such a 
classification is perhaps the easiest for reference. 
Hints to Blutisii Manufacturers. — Ceylon 
tea planters continue to give attention to the 
utilisation of petroleum for fuel, and petroleum- 
driven engines are consequently growing in 
favour. Tho daily erection of tea stores, and the 
probable scarcity of wood fuel in a few years, 
make the question an important one, though it in 
likely that Siam and India will bo able to supply 
tiuitablo coal crc-lorig ; but, as already pointed out 
in this column, petroleum fuel would bo very largely 
consumed in Ceylon tea factories if tho odour, 
which ia its chief charactorifltic, could be dispelled. 
— Co Umies and India. 
SiAM. — We had occasion to remark the other day 
on the devtlopment of the internal resources of Siam ; 
how a Syndicate had been formed to open up new 
lines of railways and other enterprises in connection 
with prospecting for minerals. It any thing speaks 
well for the welfare or prosperity of a country is 
its external trade, and in this connection Siam has 
made great strides iu exports. The quantity of rice 
sent out of the country during 1887 is by far the 
largest yet on record, being 402,046 tons, the next 
being in 1881 with 274,300 tons. Teak takes the 
second p' ace among established exports. It shows, 
however, a falling off 647 tons as compared with 1886, 
the best year hitherto. Pepper shows a considerable 
increase with a total of 1,553 tons and very nearly 
brings the export up to the maximum point of 1883 
when the figures were 1,571 tons. — Indian Agriculturist. 
The American Peppermint Chop. — Mr. G. W. 
Osborn, of Parkville, Mich., U. S. A. v writes that on 
September 22nd the peppermint crop in his State had 
nearly all been distilled, and, through want of rain, 
has yielded less than was expected, 30,000 lb. being 
the highest estimate for St. Joseph, Cass, and Kala- 
mazoo counties. The prospect is that there will be 
but half the present acreage next year, and the 
planting will be confined to a few favoured localities 
on marshes and other low lands. When the price ia 
less than two dollars per lb, its production on upland 
will decrease. Iu Michigan State there are said to 
be one acre of lowland to ten oi upland soil under 
peppermint cultivation, but in the State of New York 
mint is principally grown on lowlands. With refe- 
rence to the alleged adulteration of American with 
Japanese peppermint oil, Mr. Osborn says: — The ex- 
ports of Japanese oil from Japan in 1881 were 12,0201b., 
in 1885 20,4801b., and in 1886 Sl,3301b. The first ex- 
port to the United States appears to have been in 
1885, and amounted to 665 lb., but it increased in 
1886 to 2,797 lb. This probably was the commence- 
ment of its use as an adulteraut for American oil, 
and there is no doubt but that Sl,0001b. of oil are 
being used as an adulteraut to the detriment of con- 
sumers and producers, hence the poor quality of oil 
sold to consumers since my last communication. — 
Chemist and Drttr/yist. 
Destruction of Casuarina Trees. — In a motion 
by Mr. Short, Attorney-at-law, at the High Court yes. 
terday, it was mentioned to Mr. Justice Kernan 
that the recent storm had caused great damage to 
a plantation of Casuariaa trees situated at Kunoo- 
thoor in the village of Woodundee, from 20,000 
to 40,000 of them having been broken down by 
the force of the wind. As these trees were the 
property of an insolvent named Yarlagudda Ramunna 
Naidoo and in mortgage, Mr. Short, on behalf of 
the mortgagee, applied for an order of the Court 
authorising him to cut, remove and sell them, so 
that a reasonable profit might be obtained by the 
transaction. Mr. S. Billigiri Iyengar appeared for 
Arcot Cundaswamy Moodelly, the first defendant, 
also an insolvent, objected to the hurry dis- . 
played in desiring a removal of the trees which 
could result in nothing less than great loss to 
the mortgagers whose property amounted to Rl 50,000 
whilst the amount of the mortgage did not exceed 
B20,000 and that the statements of Mr. Short were 
not borne out by affidavit. This Mr. Short denied. 
Mr. Burton, on behalf of the Official Assignee, 
argued on the same lines against the motion of 
Mr. Short. Mr. Justice Kernan said that although 
the mortgagee was in possession of the property 
still, the mortgager had every right to enter,, cut, 
sell, and do what ho liked. His Lordship accor- 
dingly passed an order that the Official Assignee 
in conjunction with the first defendant should 
appoint a proper guardian over the trees, and 
obtain tho profits whilst tho mortgagee should see 
that such profits were proporly obtained, and all 
matters connected with the accounts fairly transacted. 
—Madras Mail, Nov. 11th. 
