FRUIT EXPORT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2670, 22 August 1889, Page 3

FRUIT EXPORT.

Iγ will be remembered that some few weeks ago a. piirueruiili appeared in this paper to the effect that samples of fruit would bo received by the agents of the 'Frisco boats, and would be forwarde.' to Messrs J. 1). Hpreckols and Bros., of San Francisco, for inspection and report. The secretary of tho Waikato Horticultural Society took advantage of the offer and forwarded a small case of sample apples, containing some twenty or thirty varieties. Tho names were givnii with each variety, but unfortunately the reference to them in Messrs Spieckols' courteous reply below,which will be read with much interust, only refers to one Isy name. Tho Yellow Pippin would probiioly bo one of the following varieties : Swiar, Newton Pippin, Schell «r White Calville. Of the red variety it would probably bo one of the following: Rymer, Iloiiiiuiite, Yutes, Hokianga [or Simmon's Winter. It is evident from tho bad order in which most of the samples reached their destination that the case must have gone aa ordinary cargo, and that to get fruit in the 'Frisco market in good order storage in cool chambers on board tho steamers will havo to be provided : — " We havo the pleasure to acknowledge receipt of your favour of 15th ult., advising shipment of a sample box of apples, which wo handed to Mr 1). O. Camariniw, 51!) Sansome-street, San Francisco, whom wo can recommend as a good, responsible dealer to whom to send consignments of fruit. In regard to these samples, Mr Caiiiarinos reports as follows :—•' Tho Cleopatras, Yellow Pippins and the medium sized red applo (which is similar to our Spitzenberg) arrived in much butter condition than tho rest; all the others wore cither entirely or more or less spoilt. If good, choice, eatable apples could be brought to this city during the months of March, April, May and June, no matter of which variety, they would always command high nn»l fancy prices, as there is no npplu, worth mentioning, in this market during those months. Special care should always bo taken in selecting, packing and shipping apples, as they are more delicate than the other fruits, consequently much moro liable to become bruised and decay. . By tho same steamer which brought your apples, wo received from Sydney samples of oranges, mandarins and lunions, and as it may be of interest to yon, we give you below an extract from tho dealer's report on same : — 'This fruit, considering the length of the voyage, and the loose manner in which it was packed, was, on the whole, in good condition upon its arrival, but, nevertheless, if Australian and New Zealand merchants desire to consign their fruits to this market, and to realize a profit on it, they must have their goods arrive in much better condition. I cannot recommend to them any particular sizes of boxes, or mode of packing, for their fruit; they must depend upon their own judgment, the hardihood of their fruits, and tho distance which it has to be shipped. I will »ay, Imwever, that all of their fruit should be packed as closely and tightly as possible, tho closer and tighter the botter, wrapped neatly in tissue paper (not paper bags), and that positively only their very choicest fruit, picked sufficiently green, should be consigned to this market. The lemons aro what delight me most; on comparing them with choice Californian and Sicilian, I found them much superior to our own, and fully as good as the famous Sicily lemon, for which they could very readily bo sold, and at very tempting figures. They should therefore, in my opinion, give more attention to their lemon* than to any other fruit, and pack them very fancily, oven gaudily, wrapped in different coloured tissue paper, in strong, neat and uniform boxes, each box to bo divided into two separate compartments, and not to weigh more than soventy-firo pounds when filled. Lemons packed thus will bring over 50 per cent, more than when improperly or carelessly packed.' With regard to tho time of tho year at which shipments should be made, Mr Camarinos adds : —'The fruits should arrive here, as nearly as possible, botwesn the following dates:—Apples, from Ist March to Ist July (a little earlier would not matter); onuses, 1«t July to Ist October (no later) ; mandaiius, during entire year, when in good condition, as they are always saleable and command good prices; lemons also during the cntiro year.' In reference to your request that we send you a sample case of our fruits, wo would say that if you will kindly communicate your wishes to Mr Camarinos, he will attend to name at tho proper season.—Yours, &c. — J. D. Sriir.cKian and Ukos.