Cold Storage for the Local Fruit Trade. 57 



Estimated Quantity of Apples in Common and Cold Storage, 

 1898-1900 Inclusive. 



YEAR. COMMON STORAGE. COLD STORAGE. 



Barrels. Barrels. 



December 1, 1898 .. 400,000 800'000 



December 1, 1899 .. 634,500 1,518.750 



December 1, 1900 .. 792.000 1,225,000 



This system of storage in America has produced much the same 

 result on apple growing as the export trade in this country. At the 

 time when supplies are heaviest large quantities are withdrawn from 

 sale, and in this way the price of good, sound fruit has been 

 appreciably raised, a distinct advantage fi'om the point of view of the 

 grower, and the supply spread over a much longer period to the 

 benefit of the consumer. 



The extent of the benefits that may be reaped here remains to be 

 seen, but there can be no doubt but that there is a very good opening 

 for the adoption of similar methods. In the local market, from July 

 to September, good varieties of apples, in sound and attractive con- 

 dition always command a high figure, almost, if not quite as good as 

 the average obtainable in London. It is recognised, of course, that 

 the market is not so extensive, but that is not a sufficient reason for 

 total neglect. If it pays the Californian grower to ship apples and 

 pears to arrive in Sydney and Melbourne in the early spring it would 

 surely pay local men to store. The charge at the Government Freez- 

 ing Works is 2d per case for the first week, and l^d. per week there- 

 after, so that for finiit placed in store in the middle of March the cost 

 would amount to 2s. 3d. by the middle of July. A system of pack- 

 ing less expensive than is required for the export trade could, with 

 safety, be adopted, though the use of the ordinary export case might 

 be advisable on account of the saving of space. It would seem then, 

 that the. only requisite to ensure the development of a business of 

 considerable magnitude is the provision of adequate accommodation in 

 cool stores, and the great waste that now takes place in storing at 

 ordinary temperatures would be largely avoided. 



