J"UNE1 1, i9oa.] 
THE TROPICAL AGklCDLTURlST. 
811 
The chief risk to be avoided in coffee-growing is 
that of frosts, but Mr. Skelton observed very many 
sites on well-?heltered hillsides where there would be 
little risk of injury from such a causo, — Afjricultuml 
Gatettc of N.S. W. 
« 
CULTIA ATION OF FRUIT IN FLORIDA, 
With a view to promoting the cultivation, on a 
large scale, of pineapples, oranges> etc., in Jamaica, 
Mr. Kobert Thomson, late Superintendent of the 
Government Botanic Gardens of Jamaica, has recently 
investigated the methods employed in the fruit plan- 
tations of Florida. His report to the Jamaica Board 
of Agricnltnre discloses many interesting futures in 
the cultivation of tropical fruit. For pineapples, 
which are grown to many districts, a system of shed 
culture has proved successful. Until about twelve 
years ago this fruit was grown in the open, but one 
or two severe frosts destroyed nearly the whole of 
the plants, and it was found necessary to afford 
them protection, both against frost and the tropical 
sunshine. The sheds are made of close boardmg 7 
to 8 feet high and partially covered with thin laths, 
opening being provided to admit the requisite light 
and air to the plants ; during the frosty nights 
canvas sheets are placed over the sheds as an extra 
protection. The plants flourish very well under these 
conditions, and 80 to 95 per cent, of them bear 
fruit ; about 2U0 acres ot land are under cultivation, 
and average pinery consisting of five to twelve acres. 
The cost of erecting sheds, which last about 7 years, 
average $300 per acre, the canvas costing about the 
same ; the suckers, which are planted to the extent 
of 9,000 per acre, cost $900 and the fertilizers about 
SlOO per acre annually. The first crop, which is 
taken within twenty months of planting, is calculated 
to pay all expenses ; the priee obtained per crate 
of twelve to sixteen fruits is about $3 for the best 
varieties, and less for smaller fruit, a mtle difference 
in size making a considerable difference in the price. 
Some of the growers replant after each crop, some 
after two crops, very rarely at longer intervals. 
Jensen, on the Indan river, one of the southern 
districts, contains several thousand acres of pineapple 
plantains ; only a small proportion are under sheds, 
the growers relying, as a protection from frost which 
is much less prevalent, on the very close planting 
of the suckers (12,000 per acre), and on the greater 
hardihood of the varieties they cultivate. From this 
district 200,000 crates, containing about 6 million 
fruitsj are shipped to the northern cities annually ; 
the yield of fruit per acre is about 8,000 to 9,000, 
and on occasions up to 15,000 ; the replanting is 
usually done every eight to ten years, but in Mr, 
Thomson's opinion half that interval only should 
elapse. The food for the plants is furnished by 
fertilizers. In all the districts visited, the soil was 
found to consist of 96 to 98 per cent, of sand or 
silica, one analysis showing 99*4 per cent, ot insoluble 
residue; the fertilizers are mixed by the grower to 
suit his own conditions of cultivation, they contain 
ammonia and potash and are thrown between the 
rows of plants and raked in to the top surface of 
soil. The average annual rainfall is from 50 to 60 
inches. Jamaica at present exports annually about 
65,000 fruits, the yield per acre being very low and 
capable of great improvement ; the soil is not suffi- 
ciently eandy and is too rich, but there are mauy 
parts of the island highly suitable and which are 
not under the slightest cultivation. 
Prior to 1895 the cultivation of oranges was the 
greatest industry in northern parts of Florida, but 
in that year a severe frost killed every tree and 
ruined several thousand growers, but at the present 
time many plantations ure being cultivated further 
south ; before 1895 the annual export was about five 
million orates, bat after the frost referred to it was 
iOOiUQO craioB, riaiag 15U,00U last yoar, Great care 
is given to the packing of Iho oranges, an important 
point to which insufficient attention appears to be 
piid in parts of Jamaica, which has now a much 
larger export of oranges than Florida. 
A growing industry in Orlando is the cultivation 
of cassava; ihe plant appears to grow well on the 
sandy soil, the annual yield per acre being about 9 
tons. From the cassava tubers the production of 
starch and the manufacture of tapioca and dextrine 
is to be tnken up. The cultivation will probably 
be successful, since there will be a considerable local 
demand for cassava, as a cattle food, and it will 
furnish starch to the great cotton factories further 
north, and owing to its high content of starch (17 
to 20 per cent.), and sugar (3 per cent.) and low 
fibre value (1*68 per cent.), it appears a more suit- 
able material than corn from which to maDofacture 
glucose. As a food for cattle cassava is stated to 
be better and cheaper than either cotton seed or 
corn, and it will grow under conditions unfavourable 
to other food-stuffs. In view of this Mr. Thomson 
recommends the extensive cultivation of cassava ia 
Jamaica ; it is very profitable, no fertilizers being 
needed, although a small quantity is required for 
its growth in Florida. — Imperial Institute Journal. 
OEANGE CULTIVATION IN JAFFNA. 
The efforts now being made to establish the cul- 
tivation of oranges on a large scale in several British 
Colonies, and especially in the West Indies, renders 
it opportune to draw attention to an interesting article 
on the above subject in the current number of the 
German journal Der Tropenpflanzer (No. 7. 1902, 341), 
contributed by Messrs. Aarouohn &; Soskin, in which 
a full account of the trade in, and coltivation of, 
Jaffna oranges is given. It appears that, altogether 
even varieiies of citrus are cultivated in that district, 
the following being their names and characteristics : 
Citrus aiirantium fPortugese orange). This is the 
Jaffna orange proper, and is the one so largely im- 
ported into England. It is probably a native of 
Portugal, but is now cultivated in two varieties which 
have little in common with the original stock. The 
popular in England is known locally as ISchamitti 
and differs from the second aud less common kind, 
ndedi, in being larger and having a thicker skin and, 
no seeds. 
Cinrus liigaradia (Seville orange). — This variety ia 
only grown as a stock for grafting purposes, as it has 
been found that an orange tree raised on this species 
bears fruit for a longer period than when grown in any 
other way. 
Citrus wedica (citron), — The two kinds of fruit raised 
from this species never come to England, but are ex- 
ported to the countries bordering on the Mediter- 
ranean, and to some extent also, they find a market 
among the Jews. 
Citrus limonun (lemon), — This plant is never grown 
in Jaffna for the sake of its fruit, but, like the bitter 
orange, ia used as a stock on which to graft the sweet 
oiauge. It is stated that the best and oldest orange 
trees of Jaffna were entirely raised on lemon stocks, 
but the experience of the present planting community 
is that trees so raised only bear fruit for six or seven 
years, aud are, therefore less profitable than those 
propagated from the bitter orange. 
Citrus /iinonum var. dulcis (sweet lemon. V—Thia 
species is also employed only as a gr«fting stock 
where orange trees are to be grown on the light sandy 
soil characteristic of some parts of this district. The 
trees so raised have the advantage of bearing in a 
short time. The sweet lemon itself is popular with 
the Aiabs, and is, to some extent grown st Akki. 
Citrus Xobilii (Mandarin orange). —This tree has been 
grown in Paleiiiue only for it »ho..t liiuc, but haa 
spie:id rapidly. The fruit bears oarritige well, and ia 
therefore suitable for exportatiou, whilst the (rod w 
«mall, Uiacl frai(a r«Adil;. 
