FRUIT EXPORT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2964, 14 July 1891, Page 4

FRUIT EXPORT.

'I'll I. :!;ili.-l.icti)l-y pm.v.s ill iiio.-t in-italiees oKUined for apples sent to Kiigl-md lust '■i-i'.(in Ins rai.-ed tin: h r 'J>'"< of rmr .i!'hudi-ts mil, «-r tru-l, "ill give tln'iii encouragement tu devote more attention to tliinr trees in the nntter, where r'<|uiifil, of applying suitable in urn i", and when the hivi«oii coiium on of att-ioking with regularity and vigour the dilTer.Mit pest* as they appear. Th" , iniMerymeii in thi; district report that the pre'ient season U the bet tliey have experienced for .some, years. Extensive orders indicating a largo area of land in this ami surrounding districts having boenpre],,ired for laying down Lo orchard. The gradual dying out of the pcaeh dwasc, from which this part of the colony haH Hiiirercd no miu'll during tin: ''>st ten or twelve , years, has given a great, impetus to tlii! planting of this variety of fruit. We heard ot one nurseryman who before the .season had commenced had booked orders for the whole of his utouk of peach trees amounting to some 111,000. Referring again to the reports oi the sales of apples in the English in.-irker, in looking through the nim.s ol the varieties, a good many of our ideas will have tu be modified. It is quite iippareut for tho Home market our good keeping varieties, mature too late to be available for the eeason nt homo when tho bent prices are realised, namely, in March and April. Upon this point however, there seems u> be no question, that the fruit should be showy and ■well coloured. A large proportion of the (irch.inl.s in the Auckland province arc rapidly eomiug into full bearing and there will consequently be a large surplus of fruir, available for export,auil with payable prices everything points to considerable activity in this industry. The New Zealand Loan and Mcreatile Agency Company, uow that the wool, grain, and liiizen meat trade aro firmly established, realize iu this fruit export a further field for devclopement and the care and at , tentiot:, for some time displayed by this company iu connection with this branch of their business, is certainly one of the best guarantees to fruit growers of the stability of the industry. In December laat wo published what may bo considered a letter of instruction and valuable hints to growers and shippers, and we now append the second letter of a similar character, to a large extent based upon the experiences and conclusions to be drawn, from the sale of fruit consigned through them and disposed of in the English market during the past season : New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Ageucy Company, (Limited), Auckland, Isi July, 1891. Dear Sir,—With reference to our circular of 20th December last, we beg to lay before you somo par ticulars, which may be of interest to you, received from our London oltiee iu regard t) realisation of certain trial shipments, made to London last seasou from this district, and other information obtained with respect to the general subject of Fruit Export. Any further advices which we may receive will bo conveyed to you by a later communication. Under date of ISth April and lGth May, orr London Otlice in their monthly market circulars state :—

[<'iu:rr. —In tho cool chamber of the Tongariro 211 cases of apples were shipped which arrived in good condition and were readily disposed of. We subjoin a list of tho varieties with the prices obtained : Shipped at Auckland, Wellington L'ippin, -5s ; Kiug of Tompkins, 21s ; Kei nette de Canada, 18s and I'Js 01 ; Cleopatra ami Cox's Orange L'ippin, 10s 6(1 per box. i'nurr. Ai'i'LEs. —Since onrUst issue, owing to the arrival of considerable shipments from Tasmania, prices have considerably declined. The shipments from New Zealand, per i'akeha, arrived before Tafjinaniaus were received in any (quantity, and being landed in good order, Bolil at from Us 3d to 21s perjease, according to variety. The Mamari brought forward some 970 eases, which arrived in excellent order, and the greater part being quickly placed on the market in anticipation of the discharge of the Kalliirat from Australia, bringing the abnormal supply of 2."),000 casos of Tasmaniiin sold well at from 8s to 16s per case. Total importations from New Zealand this season aggregate 53-16 cases, and from Tasmania 58,000 cases. Large supplies have also been received here from Novi' Seotia, amounting to 18,500 bushels, which has exercised a prejudicial influence on values." Messrs Blyth and Son, of Grceuhithe, published in tho New Zealand Herald, of 25th May last, the result of a shipment of 100 eases of apples they consigned throuyli this company, per Tongariro, from Wellington (the absence of a steamer leaving here at the time making it necessary to wend via Wellington), our ollice there •supervising the transhipment for our client,?. These apples were sold on the Itrd April, the net result, after deducting all local, shipping, and selling charges, being 12s Id per case. You will observe that the earlier shipment, per Tongariro, met a much better market than those per Maniiiri, owing to its arrival in Londou when the market was bare. Out (if the 531G cases shipped from New Zealaud up to the lu'th May, the Auck« land district contributed about IGOO. The following ia a, summary of the sale of ■171 caws, per Mnmari, sold by our brokers on the 13th May, tlin cases being the. " London " sizu, containing | IVoin-I'Jlbs to Ullrs each :-- Cases. I'iice. xVvge. s. d. s, d. Kibattne Pippin ... 42 12 0\ 7 11 li 1110] 2 10 0) Boston Russet ... 12 13 0\ 13 12 OMI 3 5 .0 6 I Golden Russet ... 22 12 6 3 12 0 1 10 0 1110,' 3 SO Stone Pippin ... 11 13 6) , o .„ 10 13 01 ,,, >J ? Cox's OraDgo Pippin... 10 12 0\ 1 10 0 8 If. 6 >12 Si t 110 11 12 6; Duke of Devonshire... 8 10 0 10 0 Nonpareil 4 10 0 10 0 Ci. W. Pearinain ... 7 10 G 10 6 Keiuctte du Canada ... 2t 10 6^ 21 10 OHO 2 10 9Oj Pippin f> 0 6 9 6 Rome Beauty 10 14 01 „ ~ 4 12 0/ U °- Newtown Pippins ... 8 10 0I,„ „, 3 11 9 J lO 3 T Shepherd's Perfection 6 10 0 10 0 Stansill 2 961,„ ~ 7 10 6/ iUli American Golden Russett 3 10 0 10 0 Lippiatk's Seedling ... 6 13 G 13 G Lord Wolseley ... 2 110 110 Sturmer l'ippin ... 15 96\ U 931 , 0 . 10 II Gf lo J 15 10 6j Adams' PccUinaiu .» 7 I.'! 61 ~ „ 2 iao| 13 - Symond's Winter ... 10 14 6) ~, r, io o/ MO Takapinii't Russrl ... 6 11 6i ~ 5 I'J 01 Jl "'a Golden Nonpareil ... t I-J « M 6 Morgan's Seedling ... ( 10 0 10 0 K(>yal iYaniiuiii ... - l> 6),. ~ 10 10 0 ( J U fjuurl of Wick ... 2 110 110 TAapiina Russet ... 2 10 0 10 0 Royal Russet ... ."> i) 0 9 0 Lord Burlcigh ... 2 10 0 10 0 Pear Russet 7 SO 8 0 .lohnathrm 2 12 6 12 f> Sundry 1 II li UK 11 10 6 10 f. The average gross price for 471 cases, lls Id -S7 per case. Wlien the filial account aales are to hand, we shall auvise you the average shipping and selling charges per case. On the same day ."00 cases ex "Mamari" were sold by direction of the shipper at Covent Harden Market, of which the following is a summary, The cases, how-

'i' r, were smaller, containing only about lOil:.-. DiM'Tiiitinu. Cases. I'ric-e. .« d 1;,,,,,- lenity in s i> Kyiner "-'<> s 0 CM.len K.k.-.'H '-':; 7 G Wiut-r M ■ i-tin 7 7 li Stone I'ippiu, No. 1 ... 11.,I 1 . , 11 0 No. 2 ... II 10 0 Wellington, No. I 12 l<) 0 No. <J 28 13 0 Black Warrior r> S 0 filadney's R-.d 13 10 0 Shock Icy 7 73 Kive Crown I'ippin... ... 20 0 U Stunner I'iopin 17 •' " Royal lYar'niain 31 1. , ) 0 Striped Heeling, No. 1 ... 4 12 0 ~ ~ No. 2 ... 2 !l 3 Nickajack 43 10 0 Ch.'opitra 2(i 12 0 (■rent Unknown ... ... Hi l> 0 The average gross price realised for this shipment was lOs (i'2ld per case. Hkst Variktikk for Siiii'MßNT anr> Soktini:. -Our friends can form some idea from the foregoing which are the most payable kinds ; but, .speaking gener ally, our London brokers say:—"The quality of thfi fruit was excellent and of good .size, many being equal in appearance! to the Tasmaniaus (which this season are rather small) ; but as the varieties coining from the two places arc so different it is hardly fair to draw comparisons as regards si/.c. The New Zealands this year are the larger. Tasmania sends us very few of the kinds cent per M-imaii, they yet producing few Russets or Reinotte cl'u Canada. We think more attention should be paid so sorting—say, into two sizes, the smaller ones boiug packed by themselve3, and marked No. 2 ; this only where tho parcels are of fair size as regards quantity. As regards kinds any good, showy, well coloured apple meets the best demand. At the present time, there is a demand for bold fruit green, si'.ch as Stone L'ippins and Symond's Winter, &c , which, to a certain extent, resemble the French Crabs, New York Pippins, Alexanders and Alfristons from Tasmania, and the Cleopatra—green and yellow—from Adelaide. From the latter place we arc receiving this season some good Stone Pippins. Advise shippers to send good showy fruit, well selected and packed—the smaller by themselves, marked No. 2. Cases.—Our brokers write on this subject as follows :—" Our opinion is that eases should not be made as close as possible, but that the smallest space—not more than an eighth of an inch—should be left along the sides, between sides and heads, both at top and bottom. This will allow vent to any of the natural heat or gases given off by fruit, and also allow a fair circulation of the cold air. Tho boxes should be as smooth as possible. If cleanly and properly sawn, the timber would do, and thus avoid the expense of planing. Good sawing will give wood sufficiontly good."

Boxks.—Those received per Mamari are very good, and cannot be improved upon. The size is correct, and sufficient space is left for the natural moisture from the fruit to evaporate. The piece of wood placed outside at each end is of advantage, for when the cases arc properly stowed, the outside piece of one box on the outside piece of another gives a certain space between the two boxes, and allows of a more free circulation of the cold air so necessary to fruit on such a long voyage, and passing through such a variety of temperature. Please advise shippers. Covent Garden salesmen, however, recommend tho wood being planed. We arc of opinion that kahikatea should be planed, as if sawn only, the wood has sometimes a stained

appearance. Uc are in communication villi makers as to the manufacture of cases, and will advise you later regarding prices, which, we trust, will be lower than last year's quotations.

Packing.—As to covering each apple with paper, some of our friends sent a few cases unpapered to test the market, and we arc advised on this point as follows :—We beg to inform you that the cases received unpapered, although they turned out in sound condition, were not equal in this respect to those papered. Wo must strongly advise your friends to paper each fruit in white tissue. It looks so very much better when opened as a sample for sale, and hi many cases in the event of any ships bringing their cargoes in soft or bad condition, the paper would to some extent tend to prevent the rot or damage spreading." Our correspondents do not remark upon the suitability of the paper we supplied last year, which was what is used by San Francisco packers, but you will sec they name white tissue. We shall ascertain what can be done in the way of prices for this article and advise our clicuts later.

Competition,—lt will bo seen that Tasmania is our principal competitor, but as the soason here is fully a month earlior than the sister colony, we should be able to place our fruit into London at least two or three weeks sooner than Tas* maiiiaugro were, allo wing f or theshortersca voyage and providing the shipping companies will arrange for a a mail steamer to make this her final port of departure. To this end we would recommeud fruit growers to combiue to guarantee a sufficient number of cases to warrant the sending a mail steamer hither. We fihfUl be glad as the season approaches to receive communications from growers as to the quantities they will be prepared to ship, and the dates they can despatch same, in order that we may make necessary arrangements for steamer.

Fkekiiits.—We are in communication with the Shipping Companies urging nn abatement in the rate 3 of freight on fruit and the ad vieableness of making the freight payable in London. But until we aro in a position to promise a substantial ship ment, we fear that our efforts will not avail much. These are two important matters to growers, and form additional reasons for their combining to guarantee a large shipment as we snggested above. San Francisco Market.—The experience of two or three of our clients who sent small trial shipments to California, ban, we regret to say, been very unfortunate, and ouragents cannot recommend any further consignments until the mail steamers are fitted with cool chambers. We understand that the Tasmanian shippers to that part of the world lost heavily. Honolulu is a very limited market, but our representatives there have succeeded fairly well with the fruit committed to their care. Generally speaking, we think growers may consider the experimental shipments per " Mamari" as sufficiently satisfactory to warrant further and larger consignments next seasou. specially as the increasing production will aggravate the congestion of tho local markets, and tho larger the quantity shipped, the more will this jrlut be relieved, and the less in proportion should be the expenses of shipment. Our Director, Mr Thomas Russell, formerly of Auckland, who is taking cousiderable interest in tho trade and using iiis inllueuce with tho Shipping Ojinpaniesand others for the benefit of shippers, advises tho writer as under :

—" I think this fruit trade will become a great one. Tile fruit arrives here at a time wh'ju this market is singularly bare of green fruit, and thu apples that have arrived have niado a/,'ood impression. I see they are selliug in (lie shops at priaes from to 3d each. I tliink: it U a. mistake, to send anything hero but the clioice.xt and the inostelmwy fruit—small yellow apples do not appear in favour. What is wanted is something that is really ROful and also to catch thecyn. I quitn agree that Auckland must be greatly benefited by this trade, especially the poorer land. While Nature hag punished New Zealand, in placing her at tli". Antipodes from this country it has I,'ivcn her the advantage of a magnificent climate which will ripen fruit at a time when we want it here, and the most must be. made of this, Tasmania seems thoroughly in earnest about the matter. The Ral/arat is hourly expected with an enormous shipment. Our apples have

just ljeoii disposal of in time before the Ballaratarrivea. ,,

We commend these various advices to the consideration of our fruit-growing friends and trust they will energetically assist, the development of this important tr.ide by the exerciaoof skill in tho production and selection of their fruit, taking the greatest care in packing for market ; and aid ua as much possible to procure such concession from time to time as will minimise shipping charge.— Yours faithfully, Waltkr F. Lα why, Manager.