FRUIT FOR LONDON.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 3

FRUIT FOR LONDON.

A COLD STORAGE HINT. ■ When Mr. B. Gerald (of Messrs. J. B. lnomas and Co., Covent Garden Market, London) was visiting Australasia lately.on business in connection with tho fruit export season, he gavosoine advice concerning the shmping of . pears and apples. "I would advise packers," ho said, u to place their fruit in cold stores for at least four clays before it goes into the hold of a ship, in order that the fruit may give off the carbonic acid gas, winch is generated'in it. Then, when the fruit is placed in the cold storage chainber on tho boat, it docs not generate anything like the gas of tho first few days m the cold store or\ land. If the fruit is put straight into the ship's' hold, the carbonic acid gas eats into it, and when it arrives at its, destination it is 'spent' and lifeless. Last j'ear, Australian pears and apples did not come to hand in good order, chiefly owing to the intensely hot weather at the time the fruit was packed, and because the greater portion: of it was not placed in cold storage for a few days beforo being shipped." As to the prospects of the London market this year,r Mr. Gerald spoke of them as bright. "This season," 110 remarked, "there are hardly any apples in America—pears, of course, are done with—and by tho end of March there will be none there for export. Therefore, I reckon to see bumper prices for Australian' shipments." . ,