The times., 1899-02-15
GROWTH OF THE FRUIT T-.ADE.
Effect of Our Closer Relations with
Porto Rico and the Philippines.


One of the bureaus of the Department of
Agriculture is known as the Division of
Pomology," which is in charge of all Fed
eral enquiry as 10 the fruit industry OF the
United States The Importance of this di-
vision is shown by the fact that at the last
census there were in this country more
than 500. 900 acres of land devoted TO trop
ical and semi tropical fruits. The acreage
has greatly increased since, and the 'ndus-
try generally is certain to increase still
further by the closer commercial cOnnec-
tons which the United States is rapidly es-
tablishing in the West Indies and in The
Philippines. The total value of fruits i'm
ported into the United States last year was
in excess of Sl3,GGO,UGO, and OF bananas
and oranges alone more than s.. .O00, 600
worth was imported from the West Indies
from the British West Indies chiefly.
I The American exports OF fruits, Of which
apples are the chief item, amounted last
year to nearly 81, 600 600, the chief market
for which was England, though Germany
and Canada took very large share.
Those in charge of the Division Of fo-
moiOgy are now preparing 10 meet the
extra demand which they believe may be
imposed upon them this year. In addition
to other subjects under investigation it is
intended that during the next fiscal year
a comprehensive representation worthy OF
the Importance of the fruit industry of
the United States shall be completed for
the Paris Exposition in 1900. It is be-
Iieyed that in the present state OF the
fruit industry great benefit to producers
and shippers would result from correct
understanding Of our pomo!ogical resources
and products.
The prospective increase in our fruit
! producing areas through the acquisition OF
E ayta ion gnf
! investigation 10 such territory, and such
! investigation is now under way in Wash
/ ington with a view of acquainting the
! American fruit growers with the condi
/ tions which confront them, and of the ex-
( ira efforts in cultivation which domestic
! producers Will be required to make. The
! Division of Pomology recognizes as OF most
/ Importance its obligations to fruit deal
! ers rather than to the general public of
fruit buyers, which is certainly to be ben
Gifted by the additional supply from coun-
tries heretofore under Spanish sovereign
| ty and suffering from the effects OF trade
restrictions which greatly curtailed the
! imports from them into the United States.
The island of Porto Rico has heretofore
sent fruits TO the United States to the
amount only of about 500 year on the
average. though in the year 1884 the total
was considerably higher. According to all
reports, though the Division of PomOlOgy
takes no cosnizance of the fact, Porto
Rico is rich in native fruits, but the Di-
vision OF Pomology sternly informs Amer
lean fruit growers of the danger of "ex-
| aggerating the prospective profits of fruit
culture by persons interested in the sale
of lands upon these Islands which is likely
to result in disappointment and financial
loss 10 many citizens"
These apprehensions, however, do not
seem TO be very generally entertained in
| unofficial circles. The American imports
of fruits exceed the exports at present and
have done so for number of years. The
chief market is on the Atlantic Seaboard
whereas the chief source CT supplies is on
the Pacific Coast. and no great harm has
come to American producers from Florida
fruit raising-Florida has 40. 600 acres un-
der orange trees and yields lemons and
pineapples in abundance-and an addition
al supply of fruits from the West Indies
now under American rule would probably
only result in reducing the supply import
cd from English territories