] ouniaL of Agriculture. [lo Aug., 1910. 



THE FRUIT EXPORT TRADE TO THE UNITED 

 KINGDOM AND EUROPE. 



Review of Season 1910. 



Ernest Meeking, Inspector under the Commerce Act, and R. T . Booth. 



The season under notice has been, from many points of view, the most 

 satisfactory since the inception of the trade. Tlie quantity exported was, 

 with the exception of 1909, the heaviest on record. The average prices 

 have been the highest yet reaUzed, and the fruit arrived, generally, in 

 better condition than ever before. 



These results are particularly gratifying, coming as they do after 

 the rather unsatisfactory returns of the past two seasons and especially 

 so to those who have been wise enough to stick to the business in spite 

 of discouragement. These have realized that in this, as in most other 

 lines of business, the bad must be taken with the good and that the man 

 who perseveres is the one who usually comes out on top. It behoves 

 all who are interested in the fruit export trade to discover, if possible, 

 the reason or reasons why the returns this season should have been so 

 much better than those of preceding years, in order to maintain a con- 

 tinuance of this desirable state of affairs throughout future seasons. 



It would appear that the success attained has been chiefly brought 

 about by more careful attention to the following : — 

 Harvesting and packing. 

 The elimination of undesirable varieties. 

 Handling and transportation. 



In addition, there has been a marked diminution of '' Bitter Pit," 

 the quantities shipped have been more judiciously distributed throughout 

 the season than has been the case formerly, and the fruit has appeared 

 to be of unusually good keeping quality. 



Harvesting, Packing attd Grading. — Evidence of improvement in 

 these respects has been afforded the Departmental Inspectors, during their 

 examination at Port Melbourne and Williamstown, by the absence of 

 " slack " cases; the uniform grade of the fruit in the various packages; 

 and by the small percentage of over-ripe, under-ripe, bruised or otherwise 

 damaged fruit which has come under notice. Even in the selection of 

 wrapping paper and the manner in which the fruit has been wrapped, 

 evidence of the display of greater care has been abundant. The paper 

 has generally been of better quality and the wrapping has been more 

 neatly executed. These show that the importance of attention to matters 

 of detail is becommg more widely appreciated among the exporters. 



The Elimination of Undesirable V arieties. — This is shown by a glance 

 at the varieties set out in the list below. It is well that the exporters 

 are realizing the necessity of shipping only the more profitable and proved 

 varieties, as sending varieties unknown to the consumer at the other end 

 is, at best, only an experiment and one which, moreover, is often not worth 

 the labour and expense involved. The profitable varieties do not number 

 more than half-a-dozen at most. 



The manner in which the Jonathan variety has more than upheld its 

 high reputation is a noticeable feature of the season. This old favourite 

 so far surpasses all others in its consistent profitableness that it stands in a 

 class by itself. It brings equally good prices both in the Briti-sh and Con- 

 tinental markets and is, moreover, one of the best cold storage apples. As 



