STRAWBERRIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 231, 23 September 1908, Page 2

STRAWBERRIES.

THE SEASON'S PROSPECTS. By Telegraph,—Press Association. Auckland, Last Miglil. Under favorable' weather conditions it is expected that considerable quantities of strawberries will be on the Auckland market in about three weeks, j Air. i'onar, manager of the Waitcmaia Fruitgrowers' Co-op. Society, stated to-day that the society which now handled nearly all the strawberries grown locally, was endeavoring xo make special provision for supplying southern centres. .In the past consignments had been despatched to Wellington, New Plymouth, and Napier by •water, but this course had not proI ved altogether satisfactory, and with the approaching opening of the Main Trunk line tjliey were now endeavoring to get special facilities for the quick transit of such perishable fruit. They, had urged the Minister for Railways to put a special fruit van on the Wellington express, and had received a favorable reply. If this were done tire society would thus be able to get a daily consignment through to Wellington, Growers have found the lib chip box. most suitable for their purposes,- and these would be extensively used this season. The society had already an order for 200,000 such boxes, witii the lilind Institute and llles'c would be turned out by the end of the year. Hitherto the boxes had been obtained from Melbourne, so tJiat local industry was now benefitting. Asked as to what he thought tire value of Ulmv strawberry crop would be, Mr. Tonar litatcd that in an ordinary season it would run into £IO,OOO, and in an extra good season to from £15,000 to' £20,000.