NEW ZEALAND FRUIT FOR THE ENGLISH MARKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8861, 19 July 1890, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND FRUIT FOR THE ENGLISH MARKET.

Mr J. Q. Sharpe, of Wanganui, hag given to the Herald some particulars regarding a box of sample apples in duplicate sent to England under the care of Mr 0. Burnett in March last. A small consignment was to have been sent, but I the demand for cool upaeo was so great that I they were not sent. Tha following are Mr , Burnett's remarks :— 1. Dominie—Sound, a little soft. 2. Wagner—Looked well; but bad. 3. Ribaton Pippin—Bad. ; 4. Cox's Orange Pippin—Bad. 5. American Golden Russet—Sound, a little soft. 6. Margil—One good and one very bad. 7. Jonathan—Sound and handsome. 8. Buncombe—Sound, very good. 9. Lemon Pippin—Fair, but look bruised. - 10. Ben Davis—One sound and one bad. 11. Stone Pippin—One quite rotten, one sound but soft. -12. Bismarck—Very fine indeed, firm and smooth looking. 13. Oleopatra—Both sound. 14. Bturmer Pippin—Both sound. Mr Burnett, after giving a few particulars of the trip Homej in which he refers to the great heat of the tropics, says, under date May 15, 189.0:—"Have just seen Mr John Isaacs, of Fleet, street, High Holborn, and Mr Lambs, Conduit street, recommended to me as a reliable person. He says that the apples are softand shrivelled, and he thinks not good keeping kinds. He admired some of them very much, and said that they would be saleable if in good condition. He liked the appearance of Nos. 7,12, and 14, and says they should be wrapped in paper and packed in cases of 401b, same as is done in Tasmania. The greatest demand is in May, but declines as small spring fruits come in." * Mr Burnett concludes by saying:—"! saw Tasmanian apples all over London, and near the Royal Exchange the frniterers have them in the streets in the cases just as I saw them in Hobart." Those acquainted with the several varieties above enumerated will, no doubt, be surprised to hear that a soft mid-season apple like the Bismarck should arrive in such good condition, while the sFone pippin, Ben Davis, and one or two other good keepers were bad. The latter weie probably picked a month or so too soon, while Bismarck was in the pink of condition when packed. Mr Burnett either forgot one important particular—viz., placing the box in cool chamber of steamer, or was unable to get it done;" Referring to the great heat in his oabiD, 85deg to 92deg, he says:—"My father wonders that any of them are sound, but thinks all would have arrived in good condition if placed in cool chamber." As planting season is now on, would it not be well for those who contemplate planting largely to consider careful); the varieties best calculated to give quick and certain returns. I will name a few which fulfil these conditions —Irish peach, Blenheim orange, Damme, Cox's orange pippin, American golden russet, Bismarck stone pippin, Stunner pippin, Ben Davis, Jonathan, and, to those who don't mind waiting a few years, Northern Spy. The above sorts extend over the whole apple season from January to August.