Victorian Fruit in London. 149 



VICTORIAN FRUIT IN LONDON. 



Bij J. M. Sinclair. 



The "Arcadia" Shipment. 



lilt' first (•onsignment of Victorian fruit for tlir season, consisting 

 of 2,206 cases of apples and 41 cases of pears, arrived by the Arcadin. 

 The fruit was lauded in good condition, although some of the apples 

 had the skin slightly shrivelled. Both apples and pears were generally 

 small in size some of them not being fully grown, this being the 

 case especially with the pears, which were of poor quality. The pears 

 were packed in single layers with wood shavings in shallow trays, 

 three of these being cleated together, a system of packing which I have 

 strongly recommended from the first. They were stowed separately 

 from the a})})les, near the air trunk shoots in the ship's chamber, and 

 were landed in sound condition. Some of the apples were affected 

 with the bitter pit, referred to last year as black spot, which always 

 detracts h-ova their value. If possible, it is not advisable for growers 

 to pack any fruit having this blemish, as buyers on this market do not 

 care about purchasing it, or, if so, at such a price as will result in a 

 loss to the Victorian exporter. 



Of the consignment referred to, 1,600 cases were sold at Covent 

 Garden Market, and, considering the medium quality of the fruit, made 

 excellent prices. The prices realised were as follows : — 



Cleopatra 

 Jonathan 

 F"ive Crown 

 Rome Beaut> 



Vicar of Winkfield 



ApI'LES. 



Peaks. 



d. 



The Vicar of Winkfield pears realised from lOs. to 15s. per case of 

 three trays ; had they been of good quality at least double this value 

 would have been obtained for them. The remainder of the apples 

 were sold at the Monument market at from 10s. to 13s. per case, 

 although for a few cases of Ribstons and others in which the fruit was 

 small, and affected with the spot mentioned, as low as 4s. to <)s. had to 

 be accepted. It is to be hoped, however, that the next consignment, 

 per Omrah, will prove to be of finer quality. There are still consider- 

 able (piantities of American apples on the market and satisfactory 

 |»rices will only l)e obtained for Australian fruit which is sound, well- 

 graded and of good qunlity. 



The "Omrah" Fruit. 



• This steamer brought 4,860 cases of Victoriar. fruit advised by the 

 Department and 12,000 cases of Tasmanian apjiles. The Victorian 



