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The development of Ihe tropical fruit trade between Hawaii 

 and the mainland depends in the first place upon the quality of the 

 fruit offered ; second, the style and method of packing for ship- 

 ment; third, upon the efficiency of the transportation service be- 

 tween Hawaii and the mainland, and fourth, upon advertising, in 

 order to brmg hom.e to buyers the merits and excellence of the 

 Island products. 



The Hawaii Experiment Station inaugurated shipping experi- 

 ments in 1904 with alligator pears and mangoes. A number of 

 crates of both of these products were shipped in cold storage to 

 New York City, the larger portion arriving in marketable con- 

 dition, although some were a complete loss. The commission 

 merchants who received our fruit stated that the pears which 

 came through in good condition were of better style and quality 

 than alligator pears sent to the New York markets from the 

 West Indian ports. Another shipment was made to the Philip- 

 pines per Government transport and these were reported as hav- 

 ing been received in sound condition. Although experiments 

 were repeated in 1905, only a small part of the pears reached 

 destination in good condition. On August i, 1906, Mr. J. E. Hig- 

 gins, horticulturist of the Station, shipped about five tons of pine- 

 apples, papaias, bananas and alligator pears to San Francisco, 

 him.self accompanving the sliipment, in order that he might make 

 personal studies of transportation, packing, handling and market- 

 ing Hawaiian fruits. I have just received a report from Prof. 

 C. C. Georgeson, director of the Alaska Experiment Station, 

 acknowledging the receipt of a case of pineapples. This particular 

 case did not reach him in very good condition, but he expresses 

 surprise to find out that the Alaska market is only 25 days from 

 Honolulu. Other crates of fruit were shipped to Portland, 

 T'acoma, Seattle, Spokane, Helena, Reno, Salt Lake City, Denver, 

 Omaha and Washington, D. C. Practically the entire consign- 

 ment was marketed and distributed outside of California. With 

 the exception of the Alaska shipment favorable reports have been 

 received in regard to the condition of the whole consignment. 



Upon Mr. Higgins' return he will undoubtedly be able to re- 

 port to you in greater detail in regard to the practical points con- 

 nected with the shipping and marketing of Hawaiian fruits. 



The creation of a demand for fruit is of as great importance 

 as the economical production of the fruit itself. When we con- 



