London Apple Market.

Manawatu Herald, 8 February 1894, Page 2

London Apple Market.

The Agent-General has forwarded ~ to the Department of Agriculture a specially prepared report by Mr S. 1t Lowe on the London apple market, and the prospects of colonial apples during the spring of 1894. Mr Lowe, writing on December 29, says:— "There are several causes why the trade in colonial apples is not as successful as it was at one time anticipated. Still the conditions prevailing to-day in Lon- t don regarding apples are as opposite to what they were last year as can well be imagined. Then we had an enormous import of American and jr. Canadian fruit of very good quality, ■+- combined with a good supply from the Continent of Europe and a fair amount of Home-grown. To day the import of fruit from abroad is very different. Last year America and Canada had sent to Great Britain up to December 9bh, 1892, a total of 838,567 barrels ; while this year, up to the same period, only 97,152 barrels have been sent, which is practically a deficiency of three quarters of a million barrels. This deficiency, great as it is, will, it is believed by the best authorities, be proportionately larger as the season progresses, for the russet varieties, which are generally kept back until after the New Year commences, are this year in as great a deficiency or even greater than the other varieties which arrive before Christmas. Turning to the Continent of Europe, the quantity of apples imported is said to be not above three-fourths of what they were lasfc year (1892). Add to this the fact that the abnormal heat of our summer has so matured both Continental and Homegrown fruit that it will not keep. By the middle or end of February it is anticipated there will scarcely bo a fine quality apple on the London market. Such are the conditions prevailing in Britain to-day ; therefore some of the more enterprising salesmen in London are turning their eyes to the colonies in hopes of securing a good supply to fill the gap between the cessation of apples, and the introduction of soft fruits from our Home-grown or Continental gardens. . . . Though the crop of Home-grown apples has been the biggest for the last 20 years, apples are dearer to-day than they have been for fully half that period. American apples, which last year were selling for 10s, are now realising 18s and 20s, while the" very finest kinds like NewtowSj^^ pippins, which last year sold for 163, » are now fetching 40s and 42s per barrel, It is not known positively in London what they are doing in ' Tasmania, but the result of careful enquiries leads to the conclusion that not more than 100,000 boxes will be sent to London in the coming season. Keeping all these facts in view there seems a very good prospect for New Zealand apples in London. Mr Love then proceeds to offer some hints on packing. He recommends that the fruit be packed in the orchard and very carefully handled ; that the apples be graded so as to be of uniform size, large being put into one lot, medium into another and small into a third lot, all the noses of the apples being I placed uppermost, and any spaee left to be filled with strong white tissue paper ; that the apples be not bruised by pressing down the lid tod tightly ; that fruit be packed in rows* and each apple wrapped in a separate piece of paper. No soft kind of apples should be sent, only hard varieties. Among the varieties most suitable for London are Sturmer pippin, stone pippin, scarlet pearmain, ribston pippin, Blenheim orange, New York pippin, French crabs, Adams pearmain, Wellington pippins, Alexanders, Prince Alfred, Alfriston pippins, Cox's orange pip - pin and scarlet nonpareil. The apples must not be gathered before , they are sufficiently matured. In conclusion Mr Lowe says :— Do not send common fruit, send only the very best. High prices may be guaranteed by sending only firstclass fruit.