748 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[9 Dec, 1907. 



The object of the list is to indicate how the better-known export 

 varieties of apples and pears sell in the different markets at various 

 periods of the export season. It will be noticed that the average em- 

 braces a wide range of figures from 4s. 3d. to i6s. for apples and from 

 3s. 4d. to 22s. 6d. for pears. 



The varieties for which the best average prices were obtained were 

 Cleopatra, Munroe's Favourite, Jonathan, Cox's Orange Pippin and 

 London Pippin. The Rome Beauty, although such a favourite export apple^ 

 brought on the whole rather disappointing prices. One contributing 

 factor to this unfortunate result was the extreme sappiness of this variety 

 which adversely affected its keeping qualities. The extreme humidity 

 prevailing in many apple-growing localities last season was pi^obably 

 responsible for this so far as the London market was concerned. The 

 chief cause which affected the price on the German market was the dis- 

 taste which the Germans entertain toward apples possessing such a sweet 

 flavour as the Rome Beauty does. Cleopatra, London Pippin and Jona 

 than seem to command good figures both in the London and German 

 markets. A noticeable feature is the fine prices obtained for Munroe's 

 Favourite. This apple is justly coming to the fore of late years and 

 is from many points of view a most desirable apple for export, being 

 a good keeper with an attractive appearance and very free from disease. 

 It will be noticed that prices rise from the beginning to the middle of 

 the season and then fall off as the season nears completion. 



The prices realized on the German markets have, on the whole, been 

 in advance of those obtained on the London markets. This is probably 

 due to the fact that the quantity sent to the latter exceeds the former 

 out of proportion to their different demands, because the bulk of the 

 Tasmanian fruit is sent to London. Most of the shipment sent in the 

 s.s. Somerset went to Germany, being transhipped from London. Of 

 course it is not meant to infer that the prices obtained on the German 

 markets indicate in any manner that those prices would be maintained if 

 much larger quantities were shipped there. Any rash increase would 

 probably mean a big slump in prices. The method of sending fruit in 

 large quantities to markets where good prices have been obtained without 

 fully ascertaining the requirements of those markets has been the bete 

 ndire of the fruit trade in the past. "First find your markets and their 

 requirements and then supply accordingly" should be the maxim to 

 follow in building up our export trade in fruit. 



