Apple Growing.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 3 September 1891, Page 2

Apple Growing.

The returns for apples sent to London are now coming in by every mail (says the Tasmanian Maityani very valuable lessons are to be found in them. They so far indicate that a good sample well packed will * realise an average of, say, 10a a bushel this season. .This is for 130,000 bushels, sent th& year. But already foe next year a tiauch larger quantity is booked, will^neCessairily: f meanjower prices still, dnd.fia^werxT J must face the difficulty of landing ■ their fruit in Europe at [these priced, ff so as to obtain payable returns. The expenses, with the present freight of 4s 6d in the mail boats, come to about 6s 6d per case. To send large quantities this is manifestly too high, and cannot be maintained. The Port line carried tbis season for 4s, and as other lines beside the mail boats are already in the field a stand A must be made next season for a 8s rate. English retailers say that they can get through any quantity of good fruit at 4d per lb. To sell <• at this price, and allow for waste,

tA. they must buy at 8s to 10s, and - /remains for growers to keep dow freight and charges so as to suprf this&emaud and remunerate then solves. i

A deputation from the CanterbuJ Fruit growers' Association, wait« on Mr Gibbs, the Secretary of til New Zealand Shipping CompanJ oa Thursday affcprnoon. The depij tation interviewed the Company wijfl " x-the object of seeing whether sonjfl thing could be done in the way jl ; getting ft reduction in the rate ■ freights for fruit during the ensuiifl ' season. . I It was explained to Mr Gibbs thß the present rate of 4s 5d or 4s 6d pi case, in vi9w of the general averafl price of apples in the London. markeH was prohibitive, and that unless jM substantial reduction could be maifl by the Company the deputation cqJH - not see much hope for the incfl^J in the industry in question . > Mr Murphy pointed out that^^H were hundreds of acres of j^^H coming forward, and that -i^^P < couragement wore given at the • commencement a great impetus would be given to .the trade, which would in a few jearsijiyal that of the frozen meat trade. ' One of the deputation drew attention to the comparison that thirteen sheep, 601 b each, occupied a ton measurement' which; at Id per lb, came to £3 5s freight, whereas 'a 'ton measurement of apples, which meant twenty cases, cost, at the present rates £4 10s. Mr Gibbs replied that he might go so far as to soy that if substantial cargoes could be relied upon the freight might possibly be put on a footing, or nearly on a footing, with .. that charged in connection with the frozen meat trade. He also stated that a meeting of the Directors of the Company would be held, early next month, when he would have the great pleasure in laying the views of the Association before them, and no doubt they would receive every consideration. ? The deputation thaukcd Mr Gibbs for his courtesy and withdrew.