New Zealand Apples at Home.

Manawatu Herald, 12 September 1893, Page 2

New Zealand Apples at Home.

In April last, Mr William Gimblett, the well-known Christchurcb fruiterer, sent home by a departing tourist friend, Mr A. R Gray, three cases of apples, says^tho Christchurch Press. The result of the experiment will be seen by the subjoined letter : —

Mv Dear Sir,— l have now the pleasure to report to you as requested my experience with the three cases of apples you ep kindly (on April 24th last, on a few hours' notice) packed for me as an experiment to take with me to Scotland per s.s. Ruahine to London. There were five varieties, as you will remember, las follows:- "King of 1 "Lord Lennox," "New Yor'k'Pippin," " Black Prince," " Swan's Egg." : ':- t y^ : . ai Kr 1 am glad to be able to report an entirely satisfactory result; confirm^ ing most decidedly that the very disjastrous results to shippers of apples ; from all the colonies to the United, 'Kingdom from delay in passage ha^ arisen almost entirely because of the neglect of a few simple but impera; tive conditions. „,. 1 . Gathering in proper style ?of growth, not too green or. ; aqt too ripe. 3. Gathering and packing, not only dry, but in thoroughly dry atmosphere, and beyond the smell of damp weather. , 3. Handling gently before 'and after packing, and transference from ship to ship, rail or waggon to ship, so as to ;preserve the apples, r every die fruit dbtolutely i rbm bruise.*;^ 4. Every fruit wrapped in paper,. as was done with these three cases. / ■ ■ r .:[:■:.: -: c . : - : 5. A proper temperature aboard ship. IS got these stowed away in the batcher's apartments, which were cool, but no freezing of course. , The fruit, when opened here at Aberdeen, was absolutely in perfeot order save one box, which showed only several chips— less than half a dozen — of the softest sort. 1 Messrs George Pegler and Go., fruiterers to the Queen and H.B.H. the Prince of Wales, got tvfq 6f Jhe boxes, and Per Majesty being on a stay at Balmoral at the time; while the Princess of Wales happened" to be passing through Aberdeen from Balmoral on the very day, yon will have the satisfaction (if it afford you such of knowing that your growth and packing of fruit fround its way to the tables of the Queen and the Princess of Wales. I requested Messrs Pegler and Co. to send me a note to let me know wHatfthef thought of the fruit, and herewith enclose the same.

As to value at the date, viz., June 12th, they (Messrs P. and Co.) W^»« paying 12s to 18s percase in London for best Tasmanian and Australian fruit, and gave yd%s- New Zealand — the preference. Mjf opinion igf however, that you or any of the colonies will make a big mistake ■• if they expect other than a very limited sale until they are able to land the fruit at this side through reduction of freight and other oontributories, at about half the money which they consider pays at present. , A few of the classes will give 3d per lb, apd more will give 5d and 6d, but the masses won't give either at any season. As a rule the balk of Australian apples sell in their season in the United Kingdom at 3d to 4d a lb or under, and one or two bast, sorts,

Newton Pippin, dc, 4d to Gd to a very iimited extent crinpnratively. I may mention that while I should be happy at any time to do anything in my power in your interest, or in the promotion of trade between New Zealand and the Old Country — although it is general and not persouc.l interest that induced those experiments 1 do comparative V littb in fruit, although growers, &c , in Canada send me 5,000 barrels or so every season for sal( equal to about 20,000 or 25,000 boxes) and the continental people several times as much. Still if yoti like to risk some small consignments in the proper season it will afford me great pleasure to do the very best with the same. Messrs Geo. Pegler and Co. re port : -We think the fruit very choice and we would be glad to have supplies of it next season.