APPLES FOR EXPORT.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12749, 22 March 1910, Page 1

APPLES FOR EXPORT.

INFORMATION FOR GROWERS. 3 , During last week Mr Hallam, or- ! chard inspector, made a tour or the I district giving growers instruction in the uietliod of grading and packing apples for tlie coming shipment per v s.s. Paparoa, which leaves A'elsou ■this week for London, Meetings ot fruitgrowers' Associations have been held at Riwaka, Lower Moutere, Ngatimoti, and Stoke. Mr HaHaiu also visited Sandy Buy and other outlying districts where associations are not yet in existence. Mr Hallani had a case of Tasmanian (Jonathan) apples, which he used to demonstrate to growers how apples are graded, and packed at Robart. He impressed *>■ on shippers the necessity for providing ventilation in the making of the case so that space is left for the cool air to pass through the fruit. The Fruitgrowers' Associations are taking up the matter of export very keenly. Splendid gatherings ot growers were held at each place. Mr Hallam imparted valuable information gained during his recent trip to Tasmania. The method of packing a case of apples is as follows : — About a quarter of a pound of wood wool is used to each case, half (2oz) of which - is placed in the bottom of the case. The apples are wrapped in special paper cut to proper size, lOin x lOiu for large and 10 x 7£ for smaller. The E first two tiers. of apples are packed . "e3'es" down; after that "eyes" up, c until the case is filled. Sometimes it s is necessary to pack the apples sides ways: this all depends on the size and shape. Another 2oz of wood woo i is placed on top, and the lid naile< r on. When the case is opened uj . to show the sample in the market . the wrapping paper is brushed of i with the Jiand, and shows the fruii j "eye" upwards to the best advantage . Mr Hallam recommended growers t( , grade the fruit as near as possibh . from 2s, 2£, 2f to 3 inches. This ap plies to desserts ; cookers can bt shipped larger. Mark the case witl the size in inches, and use the let ters A. B.C. for quality, and pack eacl size in separate cases, as only firstclass fruit is being shipped. - The A grade will bo much in evidence. The Tasmanian dump case is being usec throughout the shipment. Our whitepine boxes have a much more attractive appearance than the Tasmamau -hardwood, which stains very easily, The marking will be stencilled on, ci that everything will be uniform. Some Associations Jiave had the district in which the apples were grown stencilled on the lids of the cases. This is in addition to the requirements of the English Commerce Act, which only requires the.namo of the couutry where grown. As an instance the Ngatimoti Association's cases are branded "One Bushel Choice Apples, Grown by Ngatimoti Association, Nelson, New Zealand." The Riwaka and Lower Moixtere Associations have adopted a similar brand. The grower's initials or name of the orchard and w-triety of apples are neatlj stencilled on one end of the case. Mi Hallam informed growers that the case of Tasmanian "Jonathans" exhibited by him were the best he had seen in Tasmania at the time of hir visit. -The apples, while being about the right size, 2£ to 3J, have scarcely any of the red colotSr of the Jonathan, the local fruit being far superior in that essential quality, 'flufollowing are the principal varieties of apples comprising the shipment: — Jonathans, Cox's Orange, Munro's Favourite, Cleopatra, Five Brown or London Pippin, Golden Reinette, Rymer, Brownlee Russett, Alfriston or Glory of the South, Stunner, Rome Beauty,. Northern Spy, Baldwin, i Sharp's Late Red, John Sharp, Hoover, Scarlet Non Panel, Springdale or Glen Foilc. Rcnnet-du-Canada, Sheppard's Perfection, Pride of Australia. Some growers are also trying tlie market with a few cases of Epps and other varieties of seedlings, bu\ these do not carry the Government guarantee of Id per pound. Pears will also be shipped as an experiment. These should be packed in trays, but probably "half dump" cases will be used. The "Lomas'' apple grading machine which Mr Hallam brought back with him has been used at Stoke, and is at present in use at Mr H. Everett's orchard in Riwaka. This machine has proved a great success, saving a considerable amount of time in packing, the. various sizes being dropped ink* separate canvas shoots, thereby saving time and picking over by hand. At the Stofe meeting, Mr F. 0. Hamilton attended, and gave growers an account of his trip to Tasmania. He showed photographs and explained several matters in connection with fruit growing, packing, shipping and methods his firm intended, adopting for marketing the apples in London. Mr Fred Hill, representing Messrs JS. Buxton and Co., Ltd., accompanied Mr Hallam on his trip round the country, giving information as to shipping, branding, etc. Messrs E. Buxton and Co., Ltd., have received complimentary references at each meeting for the manner in which they have worked this shipment up. The growers have waited on from time to time, and every assistance given them by this firm. A case of Tasmanian apples, which was imported by the firm, has been shown in each of three business places in Motueka, this being done so that growers can see for themselves the quality of the fruit, also Jiow tlie apples are packed, etc. Fruitgrowers were rather backward it giving an assurance of support in the earlier part of the season, otherwise a second shipment could have boon now under way. This season has boon an exceptional^' good one for ipples. In fact a movement was onr oot by Messrs Buxton and Co., Ltd., u jo ship another 4000 to 5000 cases next month, but owing to such short notice they were unable to secure ;teamer space in time to reach the London market at a good time. The Paparoa will arrive in. Nelson rom Picton on Thursday. Mr Halam, orchard inspector, will be sta;ioned at the Motueka wharf to inspect the apples as they arrive for shipment, and Mr Harnett, an officer if the Agricultural Department, will ict in a similar capacity at Nelson. Che method of inspection is to open a :ase here -and there, and when passid the cases will be branded with a ;rown and the words "N.Z. Departnent of Agriculture." So far the ipples inspected havo been very satsfactory.