FRUIT EXPORT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2683, 8 June 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

FRUIT EXPORT.

Tin: following particulars have been supplied to us of the results financially, &c., of exporting apples to England and the other colonies. Although the returns are not satisfactory in the cases before us, this may be due to a variety of causes which the accompanying experts' reports thereon may amend in the future. LONDON. Account sales of 12 cases apples ex Rimutaka from Auckland, sold at public sale in London, 25th May, 1888, by order of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited. £. s. d, 7 cases Claygate Pearmain, good showy, at 6s ... 3 3 0 3 cases American Golden Russet, and 2 do., King of Pippins soft and specky, sd, 5s Cd 17 0 4 10 C Charges. Stamp duty at 3d per cent, on policy for £ pt 37 0 0 1 Dock, wharf, and landing charges 0 !) 3 Brokerage, 2% on £1 10s Gd ... 0 1 10 Commission, 21% on £4 10s Gd ... 0 2 3 Rebate on payment before prompt 0 0 4 Total 0 13 9 £ s. d. The above gives the nett proceeds in London at 3 10 9 From this has to be deducted : l'Veight Auckland to Wellington 0 10 0 Freight in cool chambers to Loudon 2 13 9 Twelve cases at 7d ... 0 7 0 Rail carriage Waikato to Auckland 0 7 0 3 18 3 Loss 0 1 G This venture shows that freight and charges swallow up all the proceeds, allowing nothing for the fruit or for the labour of packing, which, if done in paper as recommended, is worth at least .kl per lb. To summarise : It costs 7s Sd a ease to send apples to England. Allowing cases to hold from 151b to 501b apples, aud

thut the fruit is worth Id per lb, and id per pound for tissue paper and labour, nothing less than 13s Gd per case in London will pay. The following remarks and suggestions from tho well-known firm of fruit brokers in London will bo read with interest. Extract From London Produce Letter, 26tii May, ISSS. Fruit.—The shipments per Rimutaka, in which you are interested, were landed in time to be offered for sale at public auction yesterday. Lots 440-42: 12 Cases.—The seven eases in 440 had the appearance of being fairly well preserved, but specky, and decayed fruit was found towards the bottom of some of the sascs. The sound apples were showy in appearance, and of very good flavour. Lots 441-2 : 5 cases, owing partly to the cases being slack, were in very indifferent condition, much of their contents being rotten. General Remarks. Fruit.—We call your special attention to the following points :—

(a) Packing.—The cases should be well made, but need not be so heavy as those per Rimutaka. They should moreover be shallower than those sent. We have asked Messrs Keeling and Hunt in their report to supply the dimensions most suitable. When the cases are deep the pressure upon the fruit at the bottom is too great. A division in the middle of the case is an advantage as it renders less likely any shifting of the contents. Each apple should be wrapped in tissue paper (rough thick) and for reasons set forth felon chaff or straw should ,in no case be used.

(r) Kind or Fruit to Ship.—The particular variety is not of so much importance. Assuming that it is a good dessert apple so long as it is hard and showy in appearance. A soft variety or one gathered when too ripe would not be likely to stand the voyage. Shippers will know which of the kinds they grow are found to keep best, whilst experience alone can be their guide as to the exact time when the fruit should be gathered. We may mention that Pearmain's as a class are much liked here, but an apple like, say, the Kentucky Red Streaks in lot 436, or the "Caroline Spies" in lot 437 are well calculated to attract the public. Apples are a fancy article at this season of the year, and appearance accordingly goes a long way. Best Time to Arrive" Here.—The exact period at which the highest prices can be realised will vary somewhat each year with the time at which the American shipments cease, and the point at which European and English soft fruits, say strawberries, etc., are available. This period, however, will usually bo during the month of May, and shipments should be timed to arrive neither earlier nor later than that month. This year supplies of American apples fell off rather earlier than usual, and on the other hand the season for English fruit is somewhat backward. The best sale of Australasian fruit took place on the 18th inst., when up to 22s per case was realised for fine Tasmanian in excellent condition. We enclose a copy of Messrs Keeling and Hunt's priced catalogue of that date for your guidance. You will observe that the Tasmanian fruit sold on 25th inst., per catalogues herewith realised appreciably lower rates, and that several lots had to be withdrawn. This was dne to the facts (1), that the condition of the parcels was somewhat irregular, and (2), that the shipment of similar origin disposed of bhortlv beforo had turned out badly, and had inflicted considerable las on some of tho purchasers. Had it not been for the untoward circumstances last mentioned, it is possible that the New Zealand fruit might have realised rather more money. We trust the information above supplied will provo of service to your friends in event of their electing to make further trial of our market next year. Special Produce Report. Re Fruit ex Rimutaka. — These were examined at time of sale, each single case being opened and a case where the parcel consisted of two or more. The fruit generally appealed hard but some of tho softer kiuds were specky. With regard to the packages they are not so well adapted for fruit carrying as those sent from Tasmania and Australia which are flat and made from wood peculiar to the country. Each box has a division in the centre and measures in length, 2H,- to 26 inches; breadth, 14', to lo inches; depth, 7A to 8 inches, and weigh as nearly as possiblo 56 lbs gross. Each fruit should be wrapped in fairly thick tissue paper. Straw, chaff, &c., must be avoided, as once it gets damp it is sure to spoil the fruit, and if it keeps dry it makes fruit dull. Good, hard, showy fruit only should be sent, avoiding all soft kiuds. The shippers are best able to judge these matters, they better understanding the nature and keeping qualities of the fruit from experience. At present it is practically unknown here. Pears are too tender, all that we have received this season have been landed in very bad condition. The shipment per Rimutaka inußt not be taken as an index of this market, the quantity of each sort bei.ig too small to demand tho attention of our best buyers who prefer dealing in quantities. The season is during May, when shipments from the States and Canada have practically ceased. This season it would run well into June as strawberries and other soft fruits are sure to be much later than usual. — Yours faithfully. (Signed) Pro. Keeling and Hunt. London, 28th May, ISSS. {To he conlimtud.)