EXPORT OF APPLES

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 12

EXPORT OF APPLES

AUSTRALASIAN SUPPLIES CRITICISED. VITAL POINTsT'GOOD AND BAD. Fruit growers are not usually inclined to express reelings of gratitude towards those whose interests are vested in the sale of meat (says the London Daily Telegraph). Sm.tihfield and Covent Garden are indeed simewhat inimical to each other. Meat salesrnerr deplore tho increasing tendency of tho public to use fruit and vegetables. The banana, they avow, is their most potential rival. At the same time Covent Garden declares that the meat habit in this country is shamefully in excess of the rules laid down by those learned in the science of dietetics. Both sides argue in accordance with the dictates of their pockets, and the sensible looker-on adopts a mixed dietary entirely beneficial to health. Had it not been for the enterprise of fhe meat trade, the importation of Antipodean apples into the British Isles would certainly have been deferred for a period. The idea of sending fruit from Australasia to England was due in great measure to the export of meat from New Zealand. In the early eighties, when the various divisions of Australia were known as colonies, the different Parliaments enforced a duty on all produce which 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. The only exception was Sydney, which restricted its taxation to wines, spirits, and narcotics. EXAGGERATED REPORTS.

To turn from what in these days of rapid commercial enterprise is ancient history to the present season, it is remarkable how exaggerated reports are circulated, and find their way into print. Thus the public were gravely informed one day recently that a “record shijiment “ 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 supplied with apples, for which the trade and public are clamoring. A contradiction of '.he 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 made on more than one occasion of the habit which exists in the market of deliberately misleading pressmen, who have no means of testing the veracity of what is told them._ Much injury is caused by the dissemination of supposed humorous and misleading statements. In the present instance the public have been led to believe that the market is glutted with apples, which therefore should bo exceptionally cheap. This is diametrically opposed to the real state of affairs. Speaking generally, apples are decidedly dear. Indeed, English growers would be delighted if only their fruit always met with such a brisk and remunerative market as that which now exists for Australian and Tasmanian apples. To quote one instance, the French crab, a green cook-

ing apple, is realising from 10s 6d to 13s a case—-the equivalent of an English bushel—wholesale. This works out at 3d to 4d a pound first cost in London, apart from the expense of conveying the fruit to the establishments of retailers, and m the case of provincial towns the railway freight. So the public need not expect cheap apples for a while, at any rate. In regard to apples, there Is no longer such a thing as a season. As in the case of many other fruits, apples are in perennial supply/ and those of the Antipodes are especially welcome at this time of the year. They are best, and certainly the freshest available in the spring. Frequently there are many cases of American fruit held over for consumption, in May. Apples from Oregon and California are held over to compote with the colonial fruit. This year 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 the 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 for the fruit of that colony. It ds certainly of magnificent appearance, an attribute which counts for much in regard to the sale of fruit. But a comely aspect is not the only favourable feature of West Australia’s apples, which are good in every way* Cox’s orange pippins, which ietch 20s to 30s a bushel, must be really fine, otherwise that sum would not be paid readily by those who have to resell the fruit. Then,. the Jonathans from the 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 seedling are also models of perfection in apple-growing. When the length of the journey is taken into consideration, it is wonderful to note the firie condition in which the apples are landed in England-. The skill of the refrigerating engineer is marvellous. Purchasers entering a. shop to buy beautiful fresh-look-ing apples do not stop to think of the elaborate system by which the 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 has come from somewhere abroad, but Australia is the furthest thought from their minds. It does not come within the scope of their imagination to picture apples grown at the other end of the world brought to their doors, full of flavour and excellence CHANCE OF A FORTUNE. All Australian, Tasmanian, and New Zealand apples are not perfect—that would be too much to expect. Bearing in mind the poet’s warning that praise 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 pit.” This' is an ugly disfigurement, which penetrates from the skin right to the core in some of the apples, those most affected being Cox’s Orange Pippins of Tasmania. It also gives an unpleasant flavour to the fruit. Costermongers, 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 the first person to find means whereby “ bitter- pit” can be eradicated. Anyone in these isles who may be successful in this respect can rest assured of knowing the joys of the super-tax; Of theories and speculations on the subject there are plenty. No two experts are agreed as to the cause of the trouble or how to do away with it. Here certainly is a chance for someone/with a faculty for research. South Australia and Victoria send much the same varieties of apples as West Auetraliaj but the fruit is not so good. Both in quality and appearance the apples of the last-named district are easily first. This is amply proved by the prices paid at Covent Garden for the different consignments. On the market there is no other consideration than the value of the fruit, and that which commands the most money does so because of the combined judgment of members of the trade. Originally the forecast for the present season of Antioodean apples was indicative of a huge crop, but in common with many ot,her prophecies concerning crops it has not been verified. Drought has considerably lessened the yield of the orchards, and much of the Tasmanian fruit is very small, in fact, tcT' suit the requirements of the European? markets. Germany, which now imports large quantities of apples, does not appreciate small fruit. Whilst on the subject of complaints, it may be added that many South Australian shippers are putting too much packing end too little fruit in their cases, a practice which will never pay in this country. The public want apples, and not wood shavings. At present Tasmania is the largest contributor of apples from Australasia. Although the fruit l is not so beautiful as that of West Australia, the quality all round is good. The apples are crisp and full of juice. Amongst the best and most useful varieties are New York Pippin, Ribston Pippin, Sturmer Pippin, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Scarlet Pearmain, Adam’s Pearmain, and French Cr;d>. The New York' Pippin*, is a kind of Newtown, and the other's are good old English varieties, some of which are no longer cultivated in homo orchards. New Zealand may be expected to shine in this industry in the near future.