486 
TEIE  TROPICAI 
AGRICULTURIST. 
[Jan.  j,  1897 
A is  the  case  in  India,  it  is  usual  iu  Madeir  to  cut 
bananas  while  green,  and  to|allow  them  to  grauallv 
ripen. 
The  so-called  “ (’ape  gooseberry  ” is  largely  grown 
in  the  island.  This  is  the  same  fruit,  we  presume, 
as  is  grown  so  successfully  on  the  Ni'giris,  where  it 
was  introduced  many  years  ago.  The  perfectly 
globular  and  highly  polished,  amber-coloure  1 fruit 
is,  as  our  readers  will  remember,  enclosed  with- 
in a loosely  fitting  and  delicate  green  case,  and 
this  envelope  protects  it  from  insects,  and  from  the 
impurity  of  dust.  It  lends  itself  most  kindly  to  the 
manufacture  of  a toothsome  preserve,  which,  however, 
has  the  demerit  of  not  keeping  well  alter  the  atmos- 
pheric air  has  been  permitted  to  get  at  it.  In  Madeira 
also  a preserve  is  made  from  the  Cape  gooseberry, 
and  is  in  much  local  favour.  Citrons  used  to  be 
grown  on  a considerable  scale  in  Madeira,  and  a pipe 
of  citrons,  containing  about  500  fruit,  would  realise 
from  £‘20  to  t'80 ; but  the  trade  has  been  ruined  by 
the  active  competition  of  Corsica,  from  which  little 
Mediterranean  islet  Europe  draws  a large  portion  of 
the  citrons  that  she  consumes.  It  is  usual  in  Madeira 
to  pack  citrons  for  export  in  pipes  filled  with  strong 
brine,  and  a pipe  usually  holds  from  350  to  500  fruit 
according  to  their  size.  Custard  apples  have  also 
been  imported  and  acclimatised  in  Madeira.  The 
variety  in  most  request  is  believed  to  have  been 
obtained  from  Peru.  In  In  iia  the  taste  for  custard 
apples  is  acquired  with  some  difficulty,  and  only  by  a 
comparatively  few  persons.  Tna  fiuit  has  a rather 
attractive  look  when  it  lias  upon  it  the  b'oom  of 
ripeness;  but  when  tlie  gentle  griff  is  solemnly  told 
by  an  old  inhabitant  that,  according  to  well-authen- 
ticated tradition,  it  was  the  custard  apple  that  was 
the  cause  of  the  fall  of  man,  he  is  led  to  the  conclusion 
either  that  Eve  must  have  had  an  extraordinary 
want  of  good  taste,  or  that  the  Garden  of  Eden  was 
poorly  found  in  fruit.  Yet  in  Madeira  the  custard 
apple  is  a favourite  with  all  classe-i,  and  tlie 
doctors  declare  that  it  is  a wholesome  fruit  for 
invalids  when  eaten  in  a thoroughly  ripe  con- 
dition. It  grows  there  to  a large  size,  and  the 
choicer  fruit  sometimes  reaches  a length  of  6 to  7 
inches,  and  weighs  li  to  2 lb.  The  hard,  black,  al- 
mond-shaped seeds  that  are  so  disagi'eeably  pre- 
valent iu  the  variety  that  we  are  acquainted  with 
in  this  country,  seem  to  diminish  in  size  and  number 
in  the  largest  and  finest  descriptions  in  Madeira  ; 
but,  as  in  India,  the  smaller  kinds  are  little  sought 
after  in  consequence  of  the  superabundance  of  seeds. 
The  custard  apple  tree  is  not  grown  in  plantations 
or  orchards,  but  almost  every  garden  contains  it, 
and  the  largest  trees  attain  a height  of  about  20 
feet  and  the  branches  spread  from  15  to  25  feet. 
A w'ell-grafted  tree,  when  well  cultivated,  yields 
fully  200  custard  apples  a year,  and  sometimes  gives 
the  ov/ner  a profit  of  £5  in  twelve  mouths.  J3iu,  as 
with  other  fruit-bearing  ti-ees  in  the  island,  little 
attention  is  given  to  the  improvement  of  the  culti- 
vation, by  pruning,  manuriug,  etc.,  for  the  Portugu.se 
authorities  are  far  too  proud  to  condescend  to  bestow 
attention  on  such  a subject. 
Guavas  grow  readily  in  the  island.  Inis  fruit  is 
rarely  used  in  an  unripe  condition,  but  is  usually 
stewed,  or,  as  in  India,  made  into  the  guava-jelly 
of  commerce.  Hero  also  degeneration  has  resulted 
from  individual  and  official  neglect,  and  good  people 
in  London  are  tar  better  acquainted  with  the  ^uava- 
jelly  manufactured  by  Veiicatachollum  of  Popham’s 
Broadway,  Madras,  than  they  are  with  its  Madcria 
rival.  Lemons,  limes,  and  loquats  are  eiifily  raised 
in  the  island.  So  also  is  the  mango.  The  variety 
met  with  in  Madeira  w.is  introduced  from  In  li  t,  pro- 
baby  by  the  e.irly  Portuguese  travellers  to  the  Ep at, 
and  it  is  conjectured  tliat  the  first  plants,  or  seeds, 
were  obtained  from  Goa.  The  tree  grows  well  and 
Mr.  Ball  happily  remarks  that  “ wnen  heinug 
fruit  the  appearance  is  very  beautiful,  the 
foliage  being  of  smooth  dark  green  leaves  set 
very  closely  together,  and  the  fruit  as  it  approaches 
maturity  being  of  a rich  orange  colour  gradu  rlly 
changing  to  bright  crim  on  which  gives  a very 
handsome  and  imposing  appearance  to  the  tree.’ 
The  tree  is  found  in  most  gardens,  and  the  islan- 
ders eat  the  fruit  while  they  live,  and  are  enclosed 
doubtless  iu  coffins  made  from  its  wood  when  they 
die.  Unfortunately  no  attention  is  given  to  the 
production  of  fruit  of  a high  quality,  and  none  but 
small  fruit  are  obtaine.l,  owing  to  the  denial  of 
fertilising  agents.  As  iu  India  so  iu  Madeira  it  is 
found  ihat  the  stone  in  the  small-sized  and  low 
grade  mango  is  out  of  all  pro^jortion  to  the  pulpiii 
or  edible  portion.  Mr.  Bell  regiets  the  dangera- 
tion  of  the  mango,  and  considers  with  good  reason 
that  if  the  best  varieties  were  imported  from  India 
and  if  proper  attention  were  given  to  their  cultiva, 
lion,  the  local  and  foreign  demand  would  soon 
increase,  and  high  prices  would  be  secured  by  the 
planters.  It  was  hoped  that  oranges  might  be 
grown  on  a large  and  profitable  scale  in  the  island, 
and  efforts  were  made  to  improve  the  local  growth  ; 
but  the  results  so  far  have  Deen  disappointing, 
and  it  is  now  supposed  that  tlie  want  ot  calcare- 
ous matter  in  the  volcanic  soil  is  the  cause  of  the 
failure.  Large  quautities  of  Taugeriue  orauges  are 
now  imported  into  the  island  for  local  cousumpaou 
from  Portugal  and  the  Azores.  .At  one  time  Madeira 
enjoyed  a lucrative  export  trade  in  pineapples,  for 
the  truit  that  is  grown  there  is  of  large  size  and 
excellent  flavour,  but  owing  to  the  competition  of 
the  Azores  the  local  market  price  of  first  class  fruit 
has  fallen  from  a maximum  of  18s'.  each  to  one  of 
(5i.  In  addition  to  tiie  tropical  fruits  we  have 
named,  the  following  fruits  of  Europe  are  grown  iu 
Madeira  : — almonds,  apples,  aprico.s,  cherries,  chest- 
nuts, tigs,  grapes,  passion  fruic,  plums,  pears,  pitaugas, 
pomegranates,  quinces,  rose-apples,  strawberries,  and 
walnuts  ; so,  one  way  and  another,  there  is  a con- 
siderable show  of  fruits  in  tlie  local  markets  all  the 
year  roitnj. — M-  d/uiV,  Dec.  23. 
TEA  IN  RUSSIA. 
'I’wo  English  Members  of  Parliainent'  Messrs 
Kearley  and  Lougli — lately  vi.sited  Ku.s.sia  on  the 
iiivibaiion  of  General  Aiinenkoff,  a fainons 
Russian  General  and  Member  of  the  Council  of 
War.  A very  interesting  account  of  the  impres- 
sions formed  —generally  favourable  to  Russia — 
was  given  by  Mr.  Lough  during  an  interview 
with  a CViroaicfc  representative.  Mr.  l.ough 
(known  among  liis  friends  as  “ 'I'oiiiniy  Luti  ”) 
IS  coniiecced  with  one  of  the  large  City  T'ea  Com- 
panies— the  Towers  Tea  Company  if  we  remember 
rightly — and  it  is  not  impndiable  that  he  had 
an  eye  to  busines.s  as  well  as  to  general  olrser- 
vation,  during  his  visit  to  Russia.  A mutual 
friend  was  anxious  we  should  meet  to  discuss 
tlie  tea  question  ; but  time  did  not  permit  before 
we  left  England.  .Mr.  Lough,  however,  in 
answer  to  inquiry,  said  lie  was  scarcely  in  a 
position  to  give  an  opinion  on  tlie  prospects  of 
Indian  and  Ceylon  leas  in  Rns.sia  “ .All  trade 
with  that  country  i-^  carried  on  under  gnat 
ditliculries  so  far  as  1 can  find  out.”  .\t  tne 
same  time,  it  is  indisputable  that  the  big  London 
dealers  are  m u'e  and  more  turning  their  attention 
to  Russia,  Ml.  Lipton  being  a case  in  point  with 
a house  and  manager  of  liis  own  in  St.  Relers- 
bnrg  who  has  got  a firm  hold  of  the  market 
and  is  likely’’  to  extend  his  lea  bnsine.-,-,  rlir  >ngii 
out  European  Rn-isi:i, 
TE.A  Ct)dU\NI!!;S  .VAlALGAM.ATIO.x. 
We  give  will,  m ly  bo  “ llijJe^’^  new--,  bu  i' 
worth  repeating  rcspeciiiig  the  amalgain.tiion  01 
certain  Kelani  Valley  Companies  : — 
'riie  new  (amipany  is  to  ho  called  the  Yati- 
yantola,  Ceylon,  Tea  (ki.,  lal.  The  nntliorized 
Capital  being  .€‘2.')0,000  in  iierforeiice  and  ordinary 
shares.  'I'he  first  issue,  to  acijuiie  and  work 
the  A’atiy  antola  and  Weoya  Conqianies’  nroperties 
and  the  Walpola  group  is  to  he  TlOn.iiOO  — 
£30,U0U  juefercnce  and  £70,000  ordinary. 
