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satisfactory compromise. The Agriculture Department operates citrus nurseries, banana nurseries, a fruit-inspection scheme, and a citrus-replanting scheme. It is also responsible for the proper control and oversight of the export of fruit from the Group. The arable land is used for the raising of domestic crops as well as citrus fruits, tomatoes, and other export products. The following are the estimated areas planted in the principal crops : Area, in Acres. Coconuts .. .. .. .. .. 18,000 Citrus fruits .. .. .. .. 650 Tomatoes .. .. .. .. .. 300 Manioc (cassava) .. .. .. .. 550 The quantities and value of the principal exports for 1948 are as under:— Cases. £ Citrus fruit .. ~ .. .. 38,827 36,864 Bananas .. .. .. .. 38 19 Pineapples .. .. .. .. 600 433 Boxes. Tomatoes .. .. .. .. 61,290 23,469 Tons. Copra.. .. .. .. .. 1,168 57,933 Arrowroot .. .. .. .. 76 4,665 Candle-nut .. . .. .. 171 2,562 Pearl-shell .. .. .. .. 114 13,941 Handicrafts .. .. .. .. * 654 Manufactured goods .. .. * 11,328 *No satisfactory unit of quantity. Prices for Products Per Pound Copra— d. Rarotonga .. .. .. .. .. 3f Lower Group .. .. .. .. .. 2| Northern Group ~ .. .. .. 2| Tomatoes: These returned 4s. Bd. to 225. 6d. per 20 lb. box. The variation in price is influenced by the quantities shipped and the period of the year in which shipments arrive in New Zealand. At certain seasons considerable competition from New Zealand-grown hothouse and open-air tomatoes is experienced. Arrowroot (cassava or manioc) : sd. per pound for finished product. Citrus Fruits Oranges : 19s. 3d. f.o.b. in bushel and a half cases. Return to producer is lis. per packed case delivered at the packing-shed door. Mandarines and Tangerines : 17s. f.o.b. in bushel cases. Return is 12s. sd. per case. Lemons : January to June, 20s. 6d. per bushel case f.0.b.; July to December, 14s. 6d. per bushel case f.o.b. Return to the grower varies between 15s. lOd. and 9s. lid. Live-stock The following is the live-stock population of Rarotonga:— Horses : 145 stallions ; 974 mares ; 426 geldings ; 172 foals. Cattle : 31 bulls ; 192 cows ; 15 steers ; 76 calves. Goats : 131 male ; 557 does ; 211 kids. Pigs : 197 boars ; 1047 sows ; 198 barrows ; 1,296 piglets.

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