THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 141, 20 June 1911, Page 2

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

EXPORTING SOFT FRUITS

Last vreklk Mr S. A. Bradley, an orchardist in the Memgam district (says the Australasian) announced that he had met with, considerable success in exporting soft fruits to the United Kingdom.- For some years he has madfe experimental shipments, of peiaches, grapes, p_eaa«,. and' other easily perishable fruits in cold storage to England! and America. By the Somerset he forwarded' 25 pases of Early Crawford peaches and 25 cases Of Williams pears to Londoii. They were landed in splendid condition, and returned him 9s a ease net profit. The case of pears weighied.22lb, and the crates of p^oach^s' contained. 120 fruit each. The expenses, which amounted to 4s 9id, are given .as fol-l6*rs:-^—The patent boxes cost Is IQid each; railage,' 2d;:commission.at this end, 3d; ocean fireight. Is 9d; dock dues, commission,veto., at destination, 9d a dase. Thi& ''cases, measured one cubic foot each, and there were therefore 40 cases to the ton. Mr Bradley intends next season to export soft fruit on a much larger scale than! hieretoiiore. He is confident that with j careful; packing iririd the regulation of temperi(l;m%' to: from 30deg. to 32dieg. he can? caa-Fy^'on an export trade the whole -year |i^^n^l. ,with sa4isff,qtory results: He now^Kas under cpusideTartion the, feo^raJ^eefment of tnade in i Ni^iinoe^ when .oheirr^es will be in Teadiness for shipping. ; Fqllojwing these consignments, apples, peai-s, peachtsis, plums, and oranges will follow m ofder 'to, keep up the succession throiighdut the 12 months. Fouar yeaa-s ago Mr. Bradley says 'hi j sent some pears to New1 York, for | which he received 17s a cais» netprdfit. I^inor to that, in 1900 he took several 1 cases of tomatoes to England, and I brought them back with him, the i cases on being opened showing the fruit on its return to be "in prime condition. On severel occasions shipmente of plums have aiTived in good condition m Australia from the United States packed in punnet cmtes1, and' it is consid'ored that there are no obstacles to prevent; similar consignments sent from Victoria arriving at! their destination in good condition. ! The carrying out of Mr Bradley Vj scheme on a more elaborate scale will be awaited with interest.