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but the true explanation is that the prohibitive Transvaal duty was removed in time for the 1903-4 trade, and the growers naturally took that market in preference to Europe, overdoing it, however, and causing a slump for that year. But even in recent years the English trade does not show such expansion as might have been expected, and prices for the present year (1905-6) have not been satisfactory. This may be accounted for partly by cold weather at the time of arrival, partly by unsatisfactory distribution arrangements, partly by too high expectations, and partly by the nature and condition of the fruit itself, for even after all these years of experience some shippers have still to learn that only certain kinds command the London market at any season, and that it only pays to ship the best, and that only if graded to a reliable brand.

Since 1904 an endeavour has been made to open up a market in continental Europe, as also in North America, fruit being transhipped at Southampton to prevent delay; but thus far the demand remains small, and fruit from the Argentine at the same season may affect these markets in the near future. The fact that the Cape Fruit Exporters' Association ships almost the whole export, and that into. one London office, seems to be an arrangement possibly open to improvement, while, on the other hand, London Agents interested in West Indian, Canary, Australian and other goods, prefer to ignore Cape fruit, lest it interfere with their own established connections.

That the oversea export deals with only an insignificant proportion of the whole production is proved by figures showing the destinations of fruit sent from the Western Province Railway Stations during fruit season 1902-3. as follows (Cape Agricultural Journal, XXIII.,. 83):

To Docks ...

To stations in Cape Division

To stations between De Aar and Kimberley,

inclusive

To stations north of Kimberley ...

To stations in Orange River Colony

To stations in The Transvaal

To stations in the Midland system

To stations in the Eastern system

Total weight to all points

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The Cape Colony naturally has by far the largest area in fruit.. the figures, according to information kindly supplied by the Agricultural Departments of the respective Colonies, being about as follows, including trees and vines scattered around homesteads, viz. :—

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Except for citrus and sub-tropical fruits which belong to the North-Eastern portions of Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal and Rhodesia, the fruit districts are located in the South-Western part of Cape Colony, where the wet winters, dry summers and rich, suitable soils, give conditions probably unequalled elsewhere, though deciduous fruits do well throughout colder South Africa. Among the districts of Cape Colony, the following is the order in which they are placed by area under fruit trees, vines and vegetables, respectively, expressed in morgen, as shown in 1904 census, viz. ::

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19 other districts between 100 and 200 and all others under

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A very considerable proportion of the fruit trees have been planted within the last few years, and are not yet in bearing, the proportion in the largest fruit districts-Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Wellington-being about half. The comparative production of

different fruits throughout Cape Colony is approximately shown by the following figures, also from the 1904 census :—

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In the other Colonies statistics are less detailed, but the number of trees standing is approximately :

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The Customs returns indicate what becomes of the Cape produce in so far as not used for domestic requirements, viz. : for 1904 :—

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But against this the imports show that there is still scope for enormous expansion in preserving, and that there is also considerable import of fresh fruit still going on, viz. (Cape Colony, 1904):

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while each of the other Colonies shows a similar tale.

The production of dried fruit in Cape Colony is, according to 1904 census :

Kind.

Weight.

Districts in order of largest production.

Raisins

Apricots

Pears

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1,838,330 lbs. Worcester, Robertson, Oudtshoorn, and Ladismith.

Paarl, Worcester, Tulbagh, and Malmesbury.

Clanwilliam, Uniondale, Calvinia, Ceres, *Ladismith, Fraserburg, Prince Albert.

East London, Clanwilliam, Ceres, Uniondale,
Calvinia.

Clanwilliam, Oudtshoorn, Ladismith, Prince
Albert, Robertson, Worcester.

Paarl, Worcester, Stellenbosch.

Paarl.

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The Natal fruit product is mostly of coast fruits, such as oranges, naartjes, bananas, pineapples, etc., and may value somewhat over £150,000 per annum, according to present methods of sale, or much more if graded, clear of pests, and properly handled.

But the import of fruit, either fresh or preserved, has been quite as much during each recent year.

Cape fruit growers have two local boards, the Western Province Horticultural Board and the Eastern Province Horticultural Board, with a congress occasionally; at all these meetings the discussion of horticultural subjects takes second place to bringing pressure to bear on the Government to do for growers much of what by co-operation they ought to do for themselves. The Cape Fruit Exporters' Union takes practical action, co-operative local sale depôts have begun to

appear at various centres, electric plant is installed in several orchards and factories, and the Harbour Board provides cold storage at Cape Town Docks pending shipment.

More co-operation, more information, more preserving, more of the best, less of the worst, and less of Government aid except in experimental work, are the desiderata in connection with the fruit business at the present time. Development of fruit export must be persevered in, even if unprofitable at present, in order to have a market prepared by the time larger crops come in; but it is also important probably more important-to have the local demand fully supplied all the year round, with good material from local sources, even by cold storage, and to oust the wretchedly bad seedlings which mainly breed pests and have no commercial value.

South Africa is a fruit country throughout, but each locality has its own possibility, and it is only by studying these, and working thereon, that success can be looked for. South Africa is meantime its own best customer, but the time is not far distant when foreign markets must be forced, at lower rates than those prevailing here, but still at paying rates if systematically handled.

VINES.

As already mentioned, portions of the Western Province are among the best vine districts in the world, the climate and soil being unequalled, and the yield per acre proportionally good. In the Eastern Province, Natal, and the Eastern Transvaal the summer rains interfere seriously, and vine culture is not likely to become a large commercial business there. Even in the Western Province the product is almost a natural one, very little trouble being taken to produce high quality, with the result that in European markets the Cape dessert fruit, despite its splendid flavour, is considered poor, through the crowding of small berries and the presence of what should have been thinned out. London agents also complain that shipments arrive in very unequal condition, fruit raised under artificial irrigation being inclined to suffer during the voyage, but probably the kind rather than the treatment has to do with this, for kinds grown in different districts vary considerably. In one English report it is stated that Cape grapes have a bad reputation now, which will take some time to do away with. According to the 1904 census, the stand of vine-stocks in the Cape Colony is 77.893,187 plants, of which 19,237,259 are grafted on Phylloxera-resistant stocks, and 58,655,928 are ungrafted. There are only two districts in which the number of grafted is more than that of ungrafted, viz. :—

Paarl
Stellenbosch

9,553,302 grafted.
5,383,423

3,986,743 ungrafted. 2,903,575

In the two vine districts next in importance the conditions are reversed, viz. :—

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