FRUIT (Fa., Fruit ; GER., Obst, Frucht).
The scope of this article embraces only the chief foreign fruits which form objects of commerce. The extent of this commerce may be judged from the fact that the value of our total imports of fruit in 1879 amounted to about 6,750,0001. The only kinds of fruit distinguished in the Customs Returns are almonds, currants, figs, nuts (see Nuts), oranges and lemons (collectively), plums, and raisins. Of the unenumerated varieties, the imports of those preserved without sugar, in 1879, were :—From Italy, 8,597,468 lb., 52,039l.; United States, 3,592,925 lb., 51,418l.; Spain and Canaries, 1,743,863 lb., 14,876l.; British W. Indies, 751,701 lb., 7480l.; British E. Indies, 608,623 lb., 3347/. ; Sweden, 498,425 lb., 2587/. ; France, 381,218 lb., 7211/. ; Portugal, Azores, and Madeira, 195,717 lb., 3181/. ; other countries, 515,080 lb., 6253/. Our imports (in bushels) of unenumerated raw fruits, in the same year, were ;—From Belgium, 962,983, 268,914/. ; United States, 734,904, 315,814/. ; Holland, 598,952, 251,313/. ; France, 477,473, 264,902/. ; Spain and Canaries, 429,116, 252,968l.; Germany, 418,778, 131,3671.; British N. America, 213,783, 102,495l.; Portugal, Azores, and Madeira, 182,755, 105,015l.; Channel Islands, 47,034, 29,704l.; British W. Indies, 24,671, 16,552/. ; other countries, 129,502, 7892/. In the same year, our receipts of unenumerated dried fruits (in bushels) were ;—From Turkey, 252,606, 106,097/. ; Bombay and Scinde, 16,211, 11,373/. ; Egypt, 12,130, 10,076/. ; United States, 8590, 10,946/. ; France, 2231, 53341. ; other countries, 9279, 10,113/. The imports of enumerated fruits will be given under their separate heads below.
Almonds (FR., Antandes ; GER., Mandeln). —These are the fruit of Amygdalus communis (Prunus Amygdalus), a tree of moderate size. Its indigenous growth probably extended from Persia, through Syria and Asia Minor, to Algeria ; at a very early date, it spread throughout the Mediterranean region, and even penetrated into the continent of Europe in favourable localities. The fruit ripens in S. England, but frosts destroy the tree in many parts of Central Europe. The tree ascends to 3000 ft. in Mesopotamia, 4000 ft. in Anti-Lebanon, and 9000 ft. in S. Kurdistan. The fruit is of
two distinct kinds :—" sweet " (var. dulcis), and " bitter " (var. amara). No permanent botanical difference is noted in the trees yielding the two varieties, nor in their geographical distribution. The sweet almond is of numerous kinds, showing marked changes in shape, size, and firmness of shell. The most esteemed are the so-called " Jordan " almonds (a corruption of jardin—" garden "), which come from Malaga. These are usually imported without the shell, and differ from all others in being oblong and of large size. Their approximate value in the London market, when new, is 160-285s. a cwt. The other kinds best known here are " Valencia," 100-120s. ; " Sicily," about 102s. ; " Barbary," 60-90s. These sorts are all used as dessert fruits. The bitter almond also exists under several forms and sizes. The best are " French " ; next come " Sicily " ; and " Barbary," 60-85s. " Soft shell " almonds are only worth about 55s. The bitter kinds are used for the preparation of the " essential oil of almonds" (see Oils—Almond).
In 1860, we imported 19,638 cwt. of sweet almonds, and 7361 cwt. of bitter ; in 1870, the figures were 36,189, and 7618 ; in 1872, the total import had grown to 70,270 cwt., value 204,592/. Of this, Morocco contributed 33,500 cwt.; Spain and Canaries, 22,000; and Italy, Portugal, France, &c., the remainder. In 1876, the total was 77,169 cwt., value 244,078/. The figures for 1879 show a great falling off in quantity, and rise in price :—Italy, 13,615 cwt., 62,476/. ; Spain and Canaries, 12,999, 73,0621.; Morocco, 12,863, 52,1481.; Portugal, 3862, 13,594l.; other countries, 2980, 11,625/. ; total, 46,319 cwt, 212,905/. Large quantities are shipped from the Persian Gulf to Bombay. The exports from Chefoo, in 1878, were 1035 piculs (of 133 lb.), 29571. In the same year, Tangier exported 4 cwt., 12/., to Great Britain; Malaga shipped 22,099 boxes, and 3001 hush. ; Bagdad despatched to Europe and India 260 cwt., 1797/. ; and Mogador exported 3782 casks, 27,600/., to Great Britain, and 1429 casks, 9200/., to France, the total weight being 10,870 cwt. In 1879, Tangier exported 10 cwt., 30/., to Great Britain, and 8 cwt., 241., to France and Algiers.