GOLDEN APPLES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 113, 17 May 1918, Page 3

GOLDEN APPLES.

COX ORANGE Is TO Is 6d EACH.

I "Bo a benefactor, and tell the public all about apples." So pleaded a retail [ fruiterer to a writer in the I,ondon i Daily Telegraph of March 23rd. It so [ happens that the many people who bei lieve in the old saving, "an aple a day." ' are beginning to find the habit somewhat costlv. Week by week the price of fruit has risen steadily, and as the season progresses the quality does not improve. The inevitable result of such a state of affairs is that the shopkeeper is maligned. All the modern terms of abuse are showered on his unhappy head; the oft-repeated "profiteer" being amongst the most popular items in the vocabulary of the irritated housewife. When in ' trouble the retailer gladly avails himself of the columns of the newspaer. He loves the nublic to know the facts when commodities are dear. In of plenty and cheapness silence is preferable": however, let justice be done whether the market rise or fall. To mat matters very plainly, apples are excedinsly scarce and abnormally dear. Supplies of the home-grown fruit are nearly at an end (a cynic might say that now i* the time to control prices), and the onlv supplementary arrivals are f'-om France. The market l'epls keenly the absence of those benntJful apples which in former davs were imported from America and Canada. Unfortunately, thev are no longer available, and, with the exception of a few French applet, the quality of which is none too pood, there is none to add to those of native origin. Under the circumstances the shortage is very great, and prices have risen strictly in accordance with the law of supply and demand. In normal times the" ' price of best English cooking apples at thi« period of the year ranged" from 10s to 1,2s a bushel. Occasionally as much as 15s was paid for anything specially fine, but that, figure cannot be quoted as the Yule. Fm-ther-more. it must .be understood that those nrices represent a fair average during the 20 year? preceding the war. A bushel of apples contains about 401b net of fruit.

At the present time the best kinds-of cooking apples, such as the Bramley's Seedling and the Wellington, are worth from 27s to 32s a bushel. It is recorded that as much as 40= has been paid recently for some exceptionally fine Wellingtons. These prices represent the lir-=t cost of the fruit to the retailer, who "must add the expenses of porterage, delivery to his premises be they far or near, working expenses, including costly paper bags, and an allowance for waste. It is clear, therefore, that tradesmen must reckon that cooking apples of the first grade cost fully Is a lit I and when a living profit is added <n that sum apples become almost luxnrious. Ordinary Sourings have realised f->m 24s to 30s a bushel, whilst Newton Wonders have changed hands for as•r.uch as 36s for that measure. Consumers will do well to bear these facts in mind when they are asked to pay hifj-h prices for apples. Retailers are heirless in the matter. They are eomnelled to bnv at current rates, and must take their chance as to whether or not 'he public think fit to reimburse them. French Russets are easily saleable at 1). rpr lb wholesale.

P'->me idea of the scarcity of apples •nritthe formed from the knowledge that hirrh-class fruiterers are selecting handsome specimens of cooking varieties, •vh'ch the pack in small round baskets ->'-><3 sell at prices varying from 5d to "VI each. Amongst those kinds is the Bismarck,, which some discreet folk Save renamed Kitchener —a doubtful compliment to the great soldier for more" 1 reasons than one. The Bismarck, although pleasing to outward appearance and a. good • keeper, has not much to recommend it in the way of quality. Offered under its true name it certainly phould not be popular in this country. Lovers of the Cox's Orange Pippin will be glad to learn that there are still a few"to be had. The cost (retail) is only Is to Is 6d each, which being interpreted works out at from 4s '6d to 6s a lb. Those fortunate people who can afford to pay the price of Cox's must make the" most of the existing opportunity, because supplies cannot last much

longer. ( > Oranges, too, are, exceptionally eost■lv. Snain is sending some perfectly de''Vhtful fruit, which is now at its best. The oranges are fully ripe, heavy with luscious juice and ' deficiously sweet. Again the rnb comes in regard to the price, which varies from 3d to 6d each, but, as a salesman pointed out. an orange is cheap compared with <■ hisky and soda, and its juice is not l-ed- <1 in strength by law. ' Yet the quantity of oranges consumed in Conve.nt-ga.rdon is not excessive, especially when the fruit is deal".