S Feb., 1908.] Packing Fruit for Export. 75 



When to Export. 



The first fruit-carrying steamer usually leaves about the middle of 

 February, and is followed by the regular mail-boats every week, with 

 •extra steamers every few days at irregular intervals up to the beginning 

 of May. After then it is not good business to send fruit, for the soft 

 fruits begin lo come in on the London markets, and apples could not find 

 any but tne poorest of prices against them. 



^Miscellaneous. 



Cost of Cases, etc. — Inquiries are constantl\ being made by intending 

 •shippers, as to the total cost of packing, shipping, selling. &c., of fruit 

 sent from this State to London. At the present time the cost may be 

 stated roughly at 5s. 3d. per case. This is worked out as under : — 



Cases, best kauri planed ... ... per case ... is. id. 



Wrappers ... ... ... .. ... id. 



Grading, packing and nailing ... ,, .. 2d. 



Rail freight ... ... ... ., ... 3d. 



Ocean freight ... ... ... ,, ... 2s. lod. 



Insurance and commission ... .. ... yd. 



Supervision ... ... ... ., ... 3d. 



Total ... ... per case ... 5s. 3d. 



It will be noted that there has been a considerable advance in the 

 cost of cases. This is due, so the case makers say, to the operation of 

 the tariff and the recent increases of pay granted under the Wages Boards. 

 The above charges, however, are capable of slight reduction here and 

 there. For instance, rough pine cases may be obtained for at least id. 

 less. Bv using our native hardwood, the cases mav be put up for 31:1. 

 less ; bv obtaining them at the forest sawmills a saving of sd. may be 

 made. Should the grower decide to use the local hardwood, he must 

 insist upon well -seasoned timber being u.sed in every case. The charges 

 for ocean freight, as shown above, are those quoted by the " Blue Funnel " 

 line and the regular mail steamers. These latter boats provide for carriage 

 and delivery under a fixed weekly time-table, with obvious resultant 

 advantages. Bv shipping per certain outside liners a saving of 4d. per 

 case mav be gained. Further reductions are promised, in the near future, 

 under the new Federal contract. The item " supervision." given in the 

 abo've list, refers to agents' charges. This may be cut out altogether if 

 the grower attends to his own work of forwarding, writing nut export 

 entries, notifving Customs officials and Inspectors, &c., &c. Manx growers 

 have tried to do this, but the result has not been too' satisfactory and 

 they have, after the first shipment or two, abandoned it in favour of the 

 agent who makes a speciality of the work. 



Grapes. — It will be noted that but little reference has been made to 

 fruits other than apples ■ and pears. These fruits have given the best 

 results, so far. Grapes have not been sent in any quantity of late years, 

 and are not likely to be until some better system is de\-ised by which they 

 may be landed in such condition as will command higher prices than have 

 formerly ruled. It is regrettable that only limited success has attended 

 our efforts to place grapes on the London market in sound condition, for, 

 at the time of the year Australian grapes would reach the English market. 



