London Fruit Shipment.

Manawatu Herald, 11 July 1899, Page 2

London Fruit Shipment.

Some valuable information is contained in the report forwarded to the Agricultural Department by Mr H. C. Cameron, Inspector of Produce, in regard to the shipment of fruit made by the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association for sale on its gsseount in London. The fruit, which yt&i sent Home in a special chamber of the Papanui, consisted of 1497 cases of apples and 50 cases of pears. It was carried in a special ventilated chamber which when opened was' found to be lin a dry and cool condition. The cases were all clean, and none were broken. They were most suitable, both in regard to size and the class of timber used in making them, and they were properly nailed. Mr Cameron is of opinion, as the result of the experiment, that the best apples for shipment to London are the Boston Russet, Lord Wolseley, Cox Orange Pippin (which is likely to find very great demand at high prices), Stunner Pippin (most suitable tor the market, and well liked by the trade), Claygate Permain and Adam's Permain (which takes well on the market). The varieties which he considers it will be useless to ship are Russet Nonpareils, Cockle Pippins, Golden Rnssets, Margils and Wilson's Royals. The grading was not satisfactory, and the colour of the fruit was dull, which kept prices down lower than was anticipated. The shipment proved, however, that apples from New Zealand can be delivered in London in excellent condition, and that by thorough grading for size and quality a payable outlet could be secured for the fruit.

The average price realised for the 1547 cases of apples and pears was 10s id per case. The London charges wer« is id per case, Allowing freight

at4sper case, this would leave the net price f.o.b. in New Zealand at 58 per case, leaving a net result to snipers of id per lb all round. The pears arrived all in a more or less damaged condition. Of the seven varieties forwarded only three may be considered as suitable for shipment — Winter Nelis, Easter Beurre and Superb. These arrived in the best condition, and realised, for the first from 208 to 8s 6d, for the second 18s to 15s 6d, and for the third 10s. The Claigeaus we -e completely rotten, and only realised 3s 3d to 3s per case. Mr Cameron is afraid that the risk in the shipment of pears is much to great at for shippers to take. Prices can always be relied on for sound fruit, but if one consignment arrived sound and paid, the next might be bad and prove a loss. Experts in London say that pears should never be shipped in the same chamber as apples. They should be gathered green, and sent Home in a chamber several degrees colder than that used for apples, say from 34 to 38 degrees.