A.—3b

40

Citrus Fruits. —There is ample room for improvement in the cultivation of the orange and lime. That the climate and soil of the islands are eminently adapted to the citrus family is proved by the fact that these fruits are now growing absolutely wild. How much may be accomplished by introducing choice varieties and-extending the season by introducing those ripening late can hardly be realised. It still remains for approved varieties of lemon and citron to be introduced —the lemon both for export fresh and in brine, the citron for export in brine. New-Zealand in 1901 imported lemon and orange peel in brine to the value of £2,447. • Bananas. —These grow luxuriantly on all the islands; but any considerable increase in the area planted is hardly to be expected, as during several months of the year the New Zealand markets are so well supplied from islands outside the boundaries of the colony, some of which have a shorter sea-trip, that the price received leaves little or no margin for profit. A duty on fruit imported from outside New Zealand, or some equivalent advantage, would no doubt result in an immediate expansion of this branch of the island trade. With a view to supplying useful information to the residents, we propose to write a number of short articles —similar to the leaflets issued by this Department, which have become so popular in New Zealand —on the proper treatment of the principal crops, &c. These articles Colonel Gudgeon and the Rev. Mr. Lawrence have volunteered to translate into Maori and publish, both in Maori and English, in the Mission Journal Tβ Karere, which circulates throughout the islands, and is read by Europeans and natives alike. Many other varieties of useful plants and fruit grow readily; but these, to secure the best returns, need care and systematic work, a knowledge of which the residents are at present deficient in. Amongst the varieties noticed were passion-fruit, ginger, castor-oil, anatto, alligator pear, pawpaw, rubber-tree, and many others. The questions of utilising for papermaking the stems of bananas cut away after the annual crop is gathered, the preparation and export of coir, and many minor matters must be deferred to the future. All energies should at present be devoted to improving the quality and increasing the quantity of the staple products—copra, oranges, limejuice, bananas, and pines. Every effort should be made to induce the planting of large blocks of land with those fruits for which each island seems best adapted, so that increased-inducement may be furnished for steamers to call more frequently, and the steamship companies to supply for this trade vessels of greater speed and fitted with every modern appliance for carrying a perishable cargo in the best condition and with the least possible loss. We have not touched on the native food plants, such as the different varieties of taro, sweet potato, yam, &c, because these are only suitable for export to the northern islands of the Group ; nor have we mentioned candle-nut, the export of which has somewhat revived. We venture to suggest the following for your favourable consideration : — 1. The necessity for speedily making provision to lease uncultivated lands to Europeans of approved character who have sufficient capital to work, say, 50 acres; leases to be for ninety-nine years. Although the Natives of the islands visited will not do any steady work, we are informed that labourers could easily be secured from the less fertile islands of the Group; so that the labour question would not be a serious one. 2. (a.) The necessity for some law to prevent plants or fruit being conveyed from Earotonga— the only island of those visited found to be badly infected—to the other islands of the Group without a permit from the official at Earotonga. (b.) The necessity for che proper inspection of all imported and exported fruit and vegetation, and treatment of same. 3. The necessity for the introduction of improved, and also late-maturing, varieties, so as to prolong the season. 4. The advisability of establishing in Barotonga, as the centre of administration and commerce, Government plantations of (a) cocoanut; (b) banana; (c) oranges, limes, &c.; (d) pineapples ; (c) coffee. These to be on up-to-date commercial lines, and the products marketed in the usual way. Attached to the above should be (a) an experimental ground for the testing of new varieties and various methods of cultivation ; (b) a nursery from which plants, the- freedom from pests and the nomenclature of which are guaranteed, may be sold. The demand would probably be large. No nurseries at present exist. The land for these purposes would, we are informed, be readily donated by the Arikis. The whole to be placed under a thoroughly competent man, possibly with supervision from this Department. Advantages of Experimental Stations. —The development of the trade and resources of the islands will largely depend upon the action taken by the Government. There is every reason to believe that if plantations of coffee, cocoanut, bananas, and oranges were established and maintained on model lin»fl they would serve as object-lessons to both Europeans and Natives. In connection with these plantations there should also be an experimental ground, where new varieties could be carefully tested; and a nursery where such new introductions as proved satisfactory could be extensively propagated, and distributed throughout the Group. In experimental work there is a wide field for operations. The oranges of the island are self-grown seedlings of Tahitian origin. The quality of the fruit from Mauke, Mitiaro, and Atiu is so good that in New Zealand oranges from these islands are sold as Tahitian. Contrast these trees, and the difficulty of gathering the crop and controlling the pests, with varieties of such comparatively dwarf habit as the Washington Navel, Mediterranean Sweet, and Valencia Late, and the necessity for a model plantation and an experimental station is obvious. At present no attempt is made to apply manures. The efficacy of fertilisers could be demonstrated. Properly applied they have increased the yield of copra in Ceylon and other places by from 50 to 75 per cent. The introduction of varieties of dwarf habit producing fruit of better quality than the best now shipped from any of the islands, and the systematic planting of orchards of citrus fruits, would probably revolutionise the citrus industry of the Cook Islands; but this can only be attained by the introduction, testing, and propagation for distribution of the best varieties on a Government station and under Government supervision. There is no reason why, with the introduction and extensive planting of new varieties of high quality, Cook Island oranges and other fruits should not stand prominent among all fruit imported from the Pacific islands to New Zealand. Experimental work is essentially a function of the Government, for few individuals have either the means or the time to carry out experimental work to a definite conclusion.