COOL STORAGE OF FRUIT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 10

COOL STORAGE OF FRUIT.

• VIEWS OF "AN -EXPERT. . -'•For many years,past considerablyimportance'has been attached to the,coo' storage of fruit i« the United States, Canada, Australia, Tasmania, and else-, where. In New Zealand, says Mr. \V. A. Boucher, in the "Agricultural Journal," friiitgrowcrs in . general .hardly yet seem ; to- reaHse to the'full "extent..the bearing thaF' cool storage, will 'have upon• the" development of the industry, and . the marketing of fruit crops. . It. is well recognised -that the demand in the local market at any specified time must have a limit in proportion to population and some oilier conditions, and that if the supply during any part of the season exceeds the demand to any great extent a glut will follow, and the. valuer realised by growers must necessarily he unremunerative. Should this occur .'at all frequently, not only will the banking account of the grower suffer, but orchard lands will also depreciate in value, the latter especially being a very serious consideration. ... During the past', few. seasons, very extensive planting of orchards . has been carried out in the fruitgrowing districts throughout the Dominion, extending in tho -aggregate to . several thousands of. acres. Many of those earlier planted are now coming int) bearing, and'with each season the extent of bearing orchards will increase considerably. "With ■ tho I output steadily expanding season by seaI son it is now- time to develop such a method as cool storage, in. order that the industry as a whole may not suffer. It is iiot to be supposed that our markets cannot absorb at profitable . priced to growers considerably more fruit than is now available. As a matter of fact, our markets are more than half-starved over a considerable period each season." Orchard Instructors report a scarcity commencing as early as the month of May, and by July the sale of locally grown fruit has practically ceased for the season. Our imports of dutiable fresli . fruits—that is, fruits that we can produce here—cousi.-,ting principally of apples and pears, are unusually .heavy. The estimated value for the year ending September ■•30," 1909, was ••'.£47,905, for. th© annual period ending September 30, 1910, ivas A't',7l2, and for that ending September ;irt, 1911, .£'»(!,(iS7. rr These figures furnish a very strong argument in favour of careful control over the'markets during the mid-season, and the prolonging of the period of marketing by placing in'."coal storage any surplus; that would serve to depreciate mid-season values to any great extent. Annually for some years .past'-the Department of Agriculture has placed .in the cool chambers of the Auckland Farmers' Co-operative Freezing Company considerable quantities of fruit, comprising a large number of varieties of apples and pears, affording n very severe test, ,as the fruit was gathered in varying stages of. ripeness. For the most -part the results (the j.ruit in some instances being forwarded very long distances before, .being placed in the cool■ chamber) huve'ljceu in every Way satisfactory, tho friiit. after storage having been shown lit. winter shows throughout the Dominion. Important points to be noted in connection with the cool storage of-apples and'pears are—(l) That cool storage retards tho normal Tapid or fairly rapid ripening of the fruit. Consequently, most varieties should be well matured and well coloured, but gathered a little on the green side, to achieve the best results. (2) Bruised or blemished fruit, or fruit attacked by pest or disease, should not be placed in eool storage. (SV That ripe or over-ripe pears will not keep sound. O'i That immature fruits 'shrivel;''' i.i) That apples of.soft toxturo when ripe, should be gathered for cool storage before, becoming\ fully ripe. ; It is very satisfactory to note that varioties of esteemed commercial value lor Iho local trado or for export gave excellent .results-on the,whole. SHEEP-DIPPING. In selecting your dip this season, be guided by the successful growers. When you have read what Mr. G. B. Beamish, the .well-known .sheepfarmer, of Whana Whana, Ifawke's Bay, says of White's Dip, you'will liavo no hesitation about ordering .it for this ,coming, season. Mr.. Beamish, writing under date of • 26th August. 1909, says:—'Tour.. «Hp-.is. absolutely the best on the'market.. My sheep,, every year since I have started using it, have, .been perfectly clean at shearing , time. . I enclose you tho Bradford criticisms of many dips, and you will see what they say of 'Whana.' I know my sheep are clean—the.' wool experts pro : noli'nced the wool in splendid order, and I have sot the highest price for that class of wo.nl in tho sales,. Other.wools have ill i few c.'.ses made as much, but none more." „ ; Mr. Beaini-b is still an enthusiastic j user of While's Dip. and has placed his order for it. for the apni > oaehiti<! dipping. Further particulars will be cheerfully -implied bv the manufacturer. William White, Otn'ne, U. 8., or his aeents.—Advt.