TASMANIAN SHIPMENTS OF FRUIT FOR THE SEASON.

Otago Witness, Issue 3034, 8 May 1912, Page 14

TASMANIAN SHIPMENTS OF FRUIT FOR THE SEASON.

A TOTAL OF 945,104 OASES. Those who imagine for one moment that it is possible to overdo the fruit-growing industry should study the shipments for the season from Tasmania. If the Tasnianians can make a success of the industry surely our fruitgrowers can do the same. The recent shipment of 5000 cases from Wellington shows that if once the export of fruit was put on a commercial basis —and it would pay the shipping companies to make suitable provision for it, there would be no difficulty about getting the fruit Home in good order. Fruit-growing must be an important factor in the prosperity of

Tasmania, and it is not many years since the initial stages to ship fruit to the Home Country were taken. The market seems to bo assured for the quantity now sent away, and, like that for frozen meat, it is capable of great expansion to the Continent and elsewhere. Shipping facilities will improve and freights decrease with the development of the industry, and if fruitgrowers would associate themselves together to promote shipment and secure united action there is no reason why the rapid expansion of the trade should not be accomplished. The total quantity of fruit exported from Hobart this year to all ports has already reached the huge aggregate of 945,104 cases. The number ot cases sent away last year up to the end of April was 798,674, but these figures will be eclipsed by 146,430 cases, which is the visible increase, not including a shipment to be sent to Sydney. During the season 21 special steamers have called, and two vessels have taken fruit to South America. The quantity shipped to the United Kingdom to date is 638,340 cases, which, compared with the figures for the corresponding period of 1911, is in excess by 106,839 cases. The Liverpool portion of the Tasmanian apples forwarded by the White Star liner Persic realised from 7s to 8s 6d per ease in London on April 21. The Persic sailed from Hobart on February 23, and shipped for London 41,067 cases of apples and £9l packages of pears. For Liverpool—s 292 cases of apples and 179 packages of pears.

THE COST OF AN ORCHARD

The Tasmanian Mail gives the following figures of the cost of an orchard in Tasmania on the basis of returning interest on £2000: 25 acres at £2O per acre £ SOO Fencing, packing-shed, and cottago .. 850 5000 trees at 70a per 100 173 Planting 25 acres 15 Five years' cultivation, pruning, etc., at £i 10s per acre 560 Interest on outlay for five years at 6 per cent, compound interest 370 Unforeseen expenses 30 The returns from the fifth to the seventh year may fairly be calculated to pay orchard expenses and interest on the outlay. From the seventh to the tenth year the orchard rapidly increases its yield. From the tenth year onward the annual return from the orchard should be. at least 6000 bushels. These at the very moderate estimate of 2s 6d per bushel on the trees give £750; deduct £225 for working, this is calculated at £9 an acre, which will cover cultivation, spraying, etc., leaving £525 from which the annual interest on £2OOO has also to be deducted and there would be a clear income of £425. It must not be forgotten that a bona fide settler gives his own work, and in the above calculations he would by working himself save £BO a year; in addition, if he has £2OOO oapital ho would get the interest on the amount invested, or an average of £74 per year, giving him £154 to live on until the orchard came into bearing. It must also be borne in mind that a conservative estimate has been placed on the average yield. Successful growers and those in specially favoured localities obtain more fruit than 240 bushels per acre. Yields of 1000 cases per acre are by no means unknown some seasons on small areas up to four acres,' but these are exceptional, and it would be safer for intending growers to' estimate their returns at 300 bushels to the acre, which at 2s 6d per bushel net gives the handsome profit of nearly £4O to the acre. The average price is given above as 2s 6d per bushel on the tree, but many successful growers by careful attention to packing, etc., and good judgment in marketing, realise higher prices on the average, y c t 2s 6d is the price a scepulator who expects to make his profit will purchase at in the country. If an investor has not as much capital as £2OOO, the area planted may be reduced to even 10 acres.

As a result of tho visit to Hastings of Mr J. E. Bosken, of Buenos Aires, for tho purpose of buying apples, the Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Association will ship 500 cases of apples by the Remuera, leaving Wellington on May 14. The fruit will be packed and graded in the company's shed under the supervision of the Government officer. Thus is a sample shipment, and it is probable that there will be a large export to the same market next season.