THE SHIPMENT OF APPLES TO LONDON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2943, 26 May 1891, Page 2

THE SHIPMENT OF APPLES TO LONDON.

Mkssks H. J. Blyth and Son - , of Greonhithe, furnish us with the following particulars respecting the late shipment of apples to London, which will bo found of great interest: — It may be of some general interest, and serve to some extent as a guide to fruitgrowers intending to test tho London market next season, if we furnish a report in detail of the financial result of our shipment in February last of 100 cases of apples by the Tongariro, tho particulars of which have just coma to hand. This shipmont was consigned to Mr W. N. White, of Covent Garden, through the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, who wero at gnat pains to obtain space for us in the cool chamber, and at every stage, by means of thuir admirable organisation, did all in their power to ensure favourable results. Tho fruit wo sent was very carefully selected, anil when gathered was at once packed in cases containing about 401bs, each apple being wrapped in specially prepared paper. This consignment laboured under the disadvantage of having to be sent down the coast for transhipment at Wellington, but as care was taken to see it stowed in a secure place on deck no injury to the fruit appears to have resulted. The following is a complete statement of the leceipts, and of all expenses connected with this shipment : — i'er case £ s d 3!) cases Reinette du Canada, ISs to 10s 6.1 :(« lli 0 19 eases Cleopatra 16s 6d 1[» ti 20 cases Wellington --"'S 0 0 0 cases King of Tomkins ... 21s !) 9 0 10 cases Cox's Orange l'ippin ltis (id 8 5 0 3 cases plundered -one nearly empty 18 0 Total 11 Recovered from Shippinc Company value of fruit plundered 1 li W Total £07 13 i Less charges: per case. 100 fruit cases at Gd £- 10 0 Packing paper at 2Jd 1 '110 Local freight at 3d 15 0 Insurance and freight to London at 4s Id per case 20 12 2 Dockand wharf charges, &c. 3 7 8 Factorage at 5 per cent, on lis Od .. 4 10 7 Commission, per cent on yrOG lis 6d 2 8 3 * 36 0 (i Nett return £61 17 10 It will be seen that the fruit sold at an average of l'Js 7d per case; the expenses amounted to 7s 3d per case, and the nett return averages 12s 3d per ease. Tho fruit was landed and sold by Mr White, at Covent Garden, on the 3rd April last. He makes the following report as to tho condition, &c., of each description Cox's Orange Pippin : These apples wore packed a little before their maturity, and were consequently not of the right colour. King of Tomkins : These were very fair, and the piices very good, considering the boxes only contained 401b of apples. Wellington Pippin: These were very good indeed, and sold at a very fino price, and one that we cannot expect to bo continued, as these have been bought by our customers more for show than anything else.

Cleopatra : These wero also picked before their time, and are very green. Reinette du Canada: These wero very good. Looking at the shipment as a whole, the fruit was very fine, and the prices realised are very good, but we do not think they can be maintained. If they could, wo should have all New Zealand planting fruit to be sent here, as the prices show about €5(5 per ton, which is far more than anything made for fruit in this country. We sent a few case 3 to private friends in various parts of the country. A London friend reports that "The case of apples arrived in capital condition. The Wellington, like a large love apple, beautiful waxy skin, and delicate pink flush, is certainly most attractive, and would be highly prized for ornamental purposes. All here were surprised at the splendid condition of the fruit." One case was sont across England to a friend in Hereford, who writes : " Not a single apple was bad. The wholo caso was in splnndid condition, the apples looking as fresh as when gathered. You can imagine how we appreciated tho fresh fruit at the end of the winter. The English apples look such withered affairs compared with the New Zealand fruit. A Devonshire friend reports that "the fruit arrived in firflt-class order. Only a single apple wai bad, and apparently the fruit would go rouud the world instead of only half way."

this i 3 sufficient to show that not only can the fruit when properly packed and shipped in cool chambers be landed and sold in London in perfect condition, but that it can be sent long journeys into the country without injury or deterioration. As Mr White states, it is not to be oxpected that these high prices will be maintained, and indeed, as regards the later shipment by the Mamari, the price seems to have been reduced to an average of 13s per case (5s 8d nett), although in our own consignment by that ship some finer later-keeping dessert fruit was sent. Hut growers must bear in mind that in placing their fruit on tho London market, even at comparatively low rates, they avoid the great loss, usually from a fourth to a third of the crop, entailed by tho storage of their fruit for the later local market. The expenses averaging 7s 4d per case, are high, but we must look to see the item for freight reduced from about 4s to 3s per case when the export trade is firmly established, It is highly probable that fruitgrowers will not in the lioar future have to depend chiefly on the Loudon market as an outlet for ther produce. The Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. are now making enquiries with a view to the possibilities of opening up a market for apples in India, the results of which may lieroafter be of great importance to New Zealand growers. The outlook generally is such as to offer much encouragement to those already engaged in the production of fruit, anil to all intending to plant orchards.—Herald.