EXPORT OF APPLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16120, 8 July 1914, Page 3

EXPORT OF APPLES

HOW IT ORIGINATED. AUSTRALASIAN SUPPLIES CRITICISED. VITAL POINTS, GOOD AND BAD. Fruit growers are not usually inclined to i-xpross leelings of gratitude towards thosu vvMiosG interests are vested in the sale of meat (saye tho London- Daily Telegraph), .■jiiiitihuelii and Oovenfc Garden are indeed somewhat inimical to euch other. Meat

salesmen deplore tlio mcrcacuig tendency jf the public to usu fiuit and vegetubk&. ihe banana, they avow, is their meet potential rivul. At tho same timo Corant Jurdon declares that the meat habit in rhis country is shamefully in excess of the i-ulcs laid down by thoso iearntd in the

.science of dietetics. Both sides argue ni 'accordance with the dictates of their poci Ju'ts, and the sensible looker-on adopts a mixed dietary entirely beneficial to health. Had it not been for the enterprise of the meat trade, title importation o[ Antipodean apples into the British Isles would certainly have been deferred for a period. The "idea of sending fruit frerm Australasia to England was duo in great measure to the export of meat from New Zealand. In the curly eighties, when the various divisions of A'ustralia wero known a« colonies, tho different Parliaments enforced a duty on all produce w'hieh could be raised within their own. territories. Tasmania, which was famous for its apples, found that her industry was .being crippled by the heavy tariff charges imposed on the fruit sent into Australia. Tho only exception was Sydney, -which restricted its taxation to winw, spirits, and narcotics. THIRTY YEARS' PROGRESS. Tasmanian growers eoon determined to find a new market for their fiuit, and as usual in such circumstances, their thoughts turned towards England. Perishable meat had been sent thither. Wihy not fruit? The iirst experimental shipment of apples was sent by the Warwick in 1384. lNow, aiter 30 years' trading, the demand for Tasmanian and Australian apples is- better than at any period snee tney were first imported. Victoria, South Australia, and West Australia followed Tasmania's lead, and all aro enjoying an appreciable ehare of prosperity. Lcoking back on the oarly days of the Tasmanian and Australian apple trade, one is apt to wonder who wero the venturesome spirits so determined to persevere in the enterprise. In those days the problem of cool-chamber transit for fruit was far from being satisfactorily solved. There was much to learn, and tho knowledge had to bo acquired in the costly school of experience. The initial losses connected with the export of Antipodean apples were positively appalling, but, nothing daunted, the commercial pioneers fought their way resolutely to victory. It was well known that the British Isles were practically bare of apples in tho spring and early summer, and that a demand for the fruit existed. In thoee days -flie apple was -unquestionably tho most popular fruit in this country, and it retained that position until a formidable opponent—the cheap banana—made its appearance in tens of thousands of bunches weekly. Nevertheless there are still many faithful adherente of the apple.

EXAGGERATED REPORTS. To turn from what in these days of rapid commercial enterprise ie ancient history to tho present season, it is remarkable how exaggerated reports are circulated, and find their way into print. Thus tho public were gravely informed one day recently that a " record shipment" of Tasmanian apples had arrived at Covent Garden. This supposed heavy arrival was purely imaginary, for, in point of fact, the great London market is not sufficiently sullied with apples, for which the trade and public am clamoring. A contradiction of the inaccurate statement was printed, and there the episode may be allowed to end. There is no place whence so many "yarns" emanate as Covent Garden. Mention has been mado on more than one occasion of the habit which exists in tho market of deliberately misleading pressmen, who have no moans of testing the veracity of what is told them. Much injury is caused by tho dissemination of supposed humorous and misleading statements. In the present instance tho public have been led to believe that the market is glutted with apples, which thorfforo should be exceptionally cheap. This is diametrically opposed to the real state of affairs. /Speaking generally, apples are decidedly dear. Indeed, English growers would bo delighted if only their fruit always met with such a brisk and remunerative market ae that which now exists for Australian and Tasmanian apples. To quote one instance, tho French crab, a green cooking apple, is realising from 10s 6d to 15s a case —tho equivalent of an English bushel— wholesale. This works out at 3d to 4d a pound first cost in London, apart from tho exper.so of conveying tho fruit to the establishments of retailers, and in tho case of provincial towns the railway freight. So tho public need not expect cheap apples for a while, at any rato In regard to upplee, there is no longer such a thing as a season. As in the case of many other fruits, apples are in perennial supply," and three of the Antipodes arc especially welcome at this time of tho year. They arc best, and oortainly the freshest available in tha spring. Frequently there are many cases of American fruit held over for consumption in May. Apples from Oregon and California arc held over -to compete with the colonial fruit. This ye.ir the sum total of American apples kept in cold storage to clash with the Australian and Tasmanian shipments is merely a negligible quantity. So small is it, that its effect on tho market is scarcely noticeable.

WEST AUSTRALIA'S FINE FRUIT.

Evidently Covent Garden esteems the apples of West Australia very highly, as the best prices are paid lor the fruit of that colony. It is certainly of magnificent appearance, an attribute which counts for much in rogard to the sale of fruit. But a comely aspect is not tho only favourable feature, of West Australia's apples, which are, good in every way. Cox's orange pippins, which fetch 20s to 30s a bushel, must bo really fine, otherwise that sum would not be paid readily by those who have to resell tho fruit. Then, the Jonathans from tho same favoured part are wonderfully picturesque, being tinged with a beautiful rosy hue not often seen on apples of any variety. The Cleopatra and the Dunn's swdling are also models of perfection in apple-growing. When the length of the journey is taken into consideration, it is wonderful to note the fino condition in wliich the apples are landed in England. Tho skill of tho refrigerating engineer is marvellous. Purchasers entering a shop to buy beautiful fresh-look-ing: apples do not. stop to think of the claboratß system by which tho fruit is brought here, and offered to them with all the appearance of having been gathered in a Kentish orchard. They have a vague notion that it Iras come from fome where abroad, but Australia is the furthest thought from their minds. It does not come within tho scope of their invagination to picture apples grown iit the other end cf the world brought to their doors, full of flavour and excellence* CHANCE OF A FORTUNE. All Australian, Tusmanian. and Now Zealand apples are not perfect—that w-ou'd bo too much to expect. Bearing in mind tho poet's warning that nraiee undeserved is scandal in disguise, it may be as well to point out a few of the defects of this year's fruit. The great trouble which up to now has proved unconquerable is ''bitter pi fc '*

This is an ugly disfigurement, which penetrates from the ekin ritrlit to the core in som-o of the apples, those most affected teinsr Cox's Orange Pippins of Tasmania. It also gives nu unpleasant flavour to the fruit. Coster'nongcrs, with their characteristic sense of humour, refer to apples thus marked as being "jewelled in every hole," which ribaldry usually has the effect of irritating the salesmen who have to dispose of the fruit.

There is a small fortune —perhaps even a' big one—awaiting tho first person to rind means whereby "bitter pit" can be eradicated. Anyone in thesa isles who may bo successful in this respect can rest assured of knowing tho joys of the super-lax. Of theories and speculations on tho subject Chore are plenty. No two exports arc agreed as to the cause of tho trouble or how to do away with it. Here certainly is a L'hanco for someone with a faculty for re.'•carch.

South Australia and Victoria send much the same varieties of apples as West Auntralia, but tho fruit is not so gxxxl. Both in quality and appearance tho a-pplea of the last-named district aro easily first This is amply proved by the prices paid at Covent Garden for tho different consignments. On the market there is no other consideration than the va'.mo of tho fruit, and that which commands the most money does so because of the combined judgment of members of tho trade.

Originally the forecast for the present season of Antioodean anplee was indicative of a huge crop, but in common with many other prophecies concerning crops it lias not been verified. Drought has considerably lessened the yield of the orchards, and much of tho Tasmanian fruit is very small, in fact, to suit tho Tcquirementß of the European markets. Germany, which now imports large quantities of apples, does not appreciate small fruit. Whilst on tolio subject of complaints, it may be ajldcd that many South Australian shippers are putting tpo miieh packing and too little fruit in their cases, a practice which will never pay in this country. Tho public want apples, and not wood shavings.

At present Tasmania is the largest contributor of applies from Australasia. Although the fruit is not so beautiful as that of West Australia, the quality all roand is good. The apples are crisp and full of juice. Amongst the best and most useful varieties are New York Pippin, Ribston Pippin, Stunner Pippin, Cox's Orange Pippin, Scarlet Poarmain, Adam's Pearmain, and French Crab. Tho Now York Pippin is a kind of Newtowri, and tho others are good old English varieties, some of which are no longer cultivated in homo orchards.

New Zealand may be expected to shino in this industry in tho near future.