ij Oct., 1909.] T lie Fruit Export Trade, Season 1 gog. 



617 



in most instances at temperatures far higher than those which experiment 

 has demonstrated to be the most suitable for retarding the advance of 

 decay. 



The few facts above quoted of course traverse but a small portion 

 of the problem connected with the successful transix)rt of fruit. The 

 growers and exporters themsehes in man\ instances may not be whollv 

 free from blame in the matter of their fruits arriving on the oversea markets 

 in an unsaleable condition. The prevalence of Bitter Pit does not alto- 

 gether account for the large p>ercentage of decay which occurs. Much of 

 this is undoubtedly due to injuries which occur to the fruit during its 

 pre-shipment handling. The want of up-to-date methods in cooling fruit 

 prior to shipment, caused by lack of cool storage accommodation in the 

 various fruit-growing centres, and the dearth of ice car transport on the 

 rail, must also bear their share of the responsibility. However, the fact 

 that Bitter Pit development " en vovage " does largelv take place, and that 

 its presence in our fruit is the chief cause of decav during transport, seems 

 quite established. Therefore, the matter of transporting fruits at lower 

 temperatures than hitherto should receive prompt attention by the various 

 shipping companies. The discovery of a remedy for Bitter Pit may not 

 eventuate for years ; but, in the meantime, its evil effects on our fruit 

 export trade may tie greatly mitigated by adopting the practices outlined 

 above. 



A pleasing feature of this season's trade has been the large increase 

 in the export of cases manufactured from locally-grow^n hardwood timber. 

 These cases, besides giving local employment to many timber getters, saw- 

 millers and others, possess the additional recommendations of costing but 

 little more than half the price of soft-wood cases and being in some respects 

 more efficient as they afford better protection from external pressure and 

 injury by reason of their greater rigidity. The following are the relative 

 quantities of the two kinds of cases exported : — 



Hard-w^ood cases 

 Soft-wood cases 



These figures include cases exported to South Africa and other oversea 

 countries not mentioned in this report. 



00^ 



Variety of Fruit. 



Prices Realized. 



Per Mooltan (London), sailed 

 (Arrived in good condition. No 

 ture.) 

 Apples. 

 Adams' Peamiain 

 Allan Bank 

 Annie Elizabeth 

 Australian Star 

 Blenheim Orange 

 Chronicle 

 Cleopatra 



Cox's Orange Pippin 

 Dumelow's Seedling 

 Emperor Alexander 

 Fearn's Pippin 

 Gravenstein 

 Hubbardston's Non- 

 such 

 Jonathan 



16th Feburary 

 record of tempera- 



11 6 



10 6 



11 1 

 10 6 

 10 6 



12 

 10 9 



12 



8 11 



Variety of Fruit. 



Kentish Fillbasket 

 King of Pippins 

 Munroe's Favourite 

 Norfolk Beaufln . . 

 Pomme de Neige . , 

 Pi'ince Bismarck . . 

 Purity 



Reinette de Canada 

 Ribston Pippin 

 Rome Beauty 

 I Winter Permain . . 

 Winter Queen 

 Various . . 

 Slack Cases 



Pears. 

 Beurre Clairgeau . . 

 Beurre d'Anjou 

 1 Vicar of Winkfield 



Prices Realized. 



