82 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



and half box in comparison with the barrel. The necessity for wrap- 

 ping was strongly brought out, however, as the actual net gain due 

 to wrapping, ascertained by deducting the cost of paper and labor, as 

 nearly as could be determined, amounted to 2 per cent with barrels, 

 62 per cent with boxes, and 63 per cent with half boxes on fruit of 

 exactly the same quality. The prices realized for the wrapped fruit 

 were very satisfactory, indicating that with proper ocean service the 

 exportation of Bartlett pears in seasons when that variety is in sur- 

 plus will be worthy of the attention of growers and shippers. 



In sharp contrast with the marked beneficial results of wrapping 

 Bartletts were the negative results on Kieffer pears obtained in a test 

 shipment of that fruit made from Winchester, Va. Ten barrels of 

 this fruit were forwarded by ordinary freight to New York early in 

 October, and thence in common stowage to London, via Southampton. 

 Part of the fruit in this shipment was wrapped with white print 

 paper, part with parchment paper, and the remainder went unwrapped. 

 The account sales showed no difference in price, indicating that with 

 this pear, for immediate sale, at least, wrapping is unnecessary. The 

 price realized on this shipment — $5.84 j)er barrel in London, netting 

 $3.57 per barrel at Winchester, Va. — was verj'" satisfactory. The 

 outlook for j)rofitable exportation of well-grown and well-colored fruit 

 of this widely planted commercial penv appears good. 



A small shipment of Bilyeu j)eaches was made in October from West 

 Virginia, with a view to testing the demand for late fruit in London. 

 It was packed in 6-basket carriers, each peach being wrapped, and 

 was forwarded by express to New York without ice. Through the 

 courtesy of the steamship officials space was secured for the shiijment 

 in the steward's refrigerator on the steamer Si. Louis from New York, 

 October 16. The shipment reached London October 25, and was sold 

 at auction on the same day. The fruit was reported to show some 

 discoloration on arrival, but sold at an average price of $5.48 per car- 

 rier containing about 3 pecks, netting at the shipping i^oint about 

 $4.50 per bushel after all expenses were paid. As late peaches of 

 good size, color, and shipi)ing quality are largely grown in the Alle- 

 gheny and Blue Ridge peach districts, the opportunity for a profitable 

 outlet for their product in this direction is encouraging. 



In vegetables the experimental export work was confined to the sweet 

 potato. In cooperation with the Bureau of Animal Industry a series 

 of semimonthly shipments of this vegetable were made from Virginia 

 and New Jersey during the autumn and early winter. One lot of 100 

 barrels was shipped and stored in London to determine the storage 

 durability after shipment. It was demonstrated that from points con- 

 veniently situated as regards railroad transportation to the seaboard 

 this vegetable can be safely shipped direct from the field in ventilated 

 barrels and forwarded in common stowage. Later in the season wrap- 

 ping with i)aper appears to prolong the durabilit}^ and therefore to 

 lessen the risk. Though this is comparatively an unknown vegetable 

 in British markets, London dealers are of the opinion that a gradually 

 increasing trade can be developed there. At the present time prices 

 are high and the consumption is therefore necessarily restricted. 

 Leaflets on the uses of sweet potatoes in cooking are distributed with 

 the product, and the effort to familiarize consumers with its merits is 

 believed to be worthy of continuation. 



