DRIED FRUIT INDUSTRY IN ROUMANIA. 5105 
——— — —— — —_$_——<$—$———— 

the phosphates really commenced in January, 1900, and since 
then over 30,000. tons have been exported to England, 
Germany, Japan, and Australia. With projected improve- 
ments it is believed that the output will soon be increased to 
at least 100,000 tons per annum, The phosphates produced 
are now all exported in the natural state as they come from 
the ground; but it is stated that the syndicate recently 
formed to develop the island intends to erect, its own plant 
for milling the raw stuff, and treating it so as to transform 
the phosphates into superphosphates, which are the staple 
form in which phosphates are used as a fertilising agent. 
The works for this purpose will very possibly, for convenience 
of trade, be erected in Singapore. 
[Board of Trade fournal, No. 218, 1901. 

The Curterul Financear gives the text of a bill for the 
promotion of the dried fruit industry 
Dried Fruit = which has been prepared by the Rou- 
Industry in : ae 
Roumania. manian Minister of Agriculture and passed 
by the Chamber. According to this pro- 
posal the Minister of Agriculture is authorised to advance 
money to communes and to private persons for the installation 
of ovens for fruit drying up to 60 per cent. of the value of the 
ovens. Materials brought from abroad for the construction of 
such ovens will be free of duty. These advances ate to be repaid — 
without interest, in seven equal annual payments from the 
end of the first year after the date when they were granted. 
Interest at 5 per cent. is to be charged on overdue payments. 

Exports of home-grown fruit from New Zealand have 
ranged during the six years 1895-1900 
New Zealand 
Fruit Exports etween 1,200 and 1,700 cwts., having 
been only-400 cwts. in 1894. The greater 
portion of this goes from Cnristchurch. With the view of 
i e2 
