766 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Nov., 1911. 



" The heavy drop in the price of the finest tpialities of Vostizza is a great 

 disappointment to the growers of this excellent fruit — it brings home to them 

 the conviction that it does not now pay to grow fine fruit. The experience gained" 

 during the closing season confirms the view that the public revolts against high 

 prices. They will buy fine Vostizza at 4d. per lb., but they will not stand it at 

 ^d. and 6d. They bought it eagerly in 1909-10. They let it alone in 1910-11. 

 it can now be stated as an axiom that when the fine growths of currants can be 

 bought in the market at 3s. to 5s. i)er cwt. over the price of the Provincial growths, 

 but never much above 30s. duty paid, they will be the first to go into consumption 

 in the United Kingdom, and inversely, that when the difference is over the 5s. 

 limit, they will be the last. 



A large quantity of small fruit has gone into consum])tion during the season, 

 at all prices, from 38s. down to 27s. per cwt., duty paid. The 56-lb. bag has 

 grown into favour. The dry condition in which the last crop was gathered has 

 prevented the marked deterioration of the fruit during transit, which had occurred 

 during former years, when bags had been imported. 



We adhere, Tiowever, to our opinion that the bag is an unsuitable package 

 for currants, except, perhaps, the very smallest and dried siftings, and that 

 the deterioration of the quality and loss in weight render the saving more apparent 

 than real. 



The popularity of currants in the United Kingdom has suffered very 

 little by the high prices, the decrease in clearances, as compared with the 

 previous season, being only 2 per cent., while tlie price paid was increased, 

 on the average, by 30 per cent. 



The decrease in Commonwealth imports i.s given as 2,000 tons, the 

 w'riter's remarks being scarcely complimentary to our rapidly increasing 

 currant industry : — 



It ap])ears that the heavy protective (lut\' of £.2% per ton, ecjual to more than 

 J50 per cent, on the prime cost, levied by the Con\monwealth of Australia, is 

 fostering the production of some sort of currants in the States of Victoria and 

 South Australia, and this accounts mainly for the restriction of the iniportation 

 of the Greek article. 



Seeing that a sample of Angaston (South Australia) currants, equal to 

 Mildura standard (3 crown), were valued in London, some three months 

 back, when prices were not at their best, at 40s. per cwt., they are surely 

 worthy of being described as something better than " Some sort of cur- 

 rants." 



In all countries, except France, there has been a decrea.se in the im- 

 portation of currants ; that country, however, imported over five times as 

 many currants in 1910-11 as in 1909-10, the bulk of them being for manu- 

 facturing purposes.* 



The imiversal consumption outside Greece has been about 114,000 tons, against 

 118,000 tons in 1909-10 and 113,000 tons in 1908-9. The visible universal stocks 

 at the end of this month are estimated at 6,500 tons, excluding stocks in Greece, 

 but including cargoes of old fruit afloat, against 6,000 tons in 1910 and 4,000 tons 

 in igog. 



As regards the 191 1 crop, forecasts have varied a good deal. At first, 

 after-effects of downy mildew during the previous season were feared ; 

 then drought; then heavy rains. Messrs. Burlumi estimate that it will not 

 exceed 155,000 tons. Forward sales for September delivery have been 

 made since as early as January last. The quotation on 23rd August last 

 for g.a.s.d. Pyrgos was 22s. per cwt. -c.i.f. London. No business has 

 been done in, and no quotations are in the market for, the finer qualities. 

 Large forward sales have been made to Germany, chiefly of "cleaned 

 Amalias," at prices ranging from 25s. to 20s. per cwt. c.i.f. Hamburg; 

 it now (23rd August) stands at 22s. 6d. Common Provincial in i-cwt. 



* No doubt converted into wine. Tlie official figures sliow a large increase in the quantity of wine 

 made from dried giiipes in France in 1910; viz. 203,302 gallons as against 6,380 n 1909. In 1890 

 France manufactured 94,4-12,700 gallons of wine from dried grapes. From that time until last year the 

 uantity had steadily declined. See Hevue de Viticulture, 31st August, 1911. 



