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The Foreign Apple Market. 



Messrs. L. H. Williams, of Liverpool, write 

 under date August 14 : — 



Apples. — In the Home Country on the 

 whole the crop is exceedingly light, and from 

 the Continent some few districts report fair 

 crops, while others are a complete failure. 

 Altogether we believe the total yield will be 

 considerably below average ; but as the ap- 

 {)les grown here do not compete with your 

 fane stock, we can strongly recommend sliip- 

 ping in moderate quantities right through the 

 season ; and while we would advocate your 

 sending prime fruit, we would most strongly 

 discourage exporting inferior grades. 



Messrs. J. McKittrick & Co., of Liverpool, 

 write : — 



We have delayed our Annual Report this 

 season until we have had some information 

 from 3"our side as to the piobable size and 

 (juality of the apple crop, as this is in our 

 opinion of more importance to the probable 

 course of prices, than any shortage or abund- 

 ance of our home and continental supplies. 



We are now told that the crop in the 

 States is below an average, and that the 

 largest supplies are in the west, which will 

 curtail to a certain extent the quantity avail- 

 able for export. From (Janada we are told 

 that prospects are not of the brightest, and 

 that Kaldwins will be decidedly short, while 

 blight and worms have made considerable 

 havoc among the best orchards. 



As to the European crops, we have to report 

 that North (lermany has a good crop of early 

 apples, but the remainder of the Empire is 

 very short. 



l)utch and Belgium fruit is fairly plentiful 

 and will be early on the market. 



As to our home crop, the early fruit is 

 fairly plentiful and cheap, and now on the 

 market, and to give an idea of values, Wor- 

 cestershire growers will sell any quantity of 

 choice apples at 90/ to 100/ per ton. At the 

 present moment the market is full of these 

 apples, and the few small lots arriving from 

 New York sell at low prices, being of inferior 

 quality and in poor condition. 



Last season the imports were close on 'i 

 million barrels, of which only 120,000 went 

 to the continent. Of the remainder, upwards 

 of H millions came to Liverpool. Although 

 there were times when prices here ruled low, 

 still, we feel confident that less money was 

 lo t here than elsewhere. 



Of the continental markets, Hamburg ap- 

 pears to be the best port for the article, and 

 we made some very good sales there, and we 

 are advised that the fruit is now very much 

 appreciated and red stock will do well. 

 Greenings do not appear to be in favor. 



To sum up we think the prospects are de- 

 cidedly favorable, and those who have made 

 the businoBH a study, and can put up suitable 

 fruit in a way which will enable it to stand 



the long transit to this side, have this year a 

 better opportunity of making money than 

 ever before. 

 Messrs. Jas. Adams' Son & Co., write :— 



Throughout this country there appears to 

 be a very light yield of apples, owing, it is 

 generally supposed, to the spring frosts and 

 drying winds, and it is very doubtful if the 

 cjuantities to be marketed will prove sufficient 

 for trade requirements, even in eaily vaiie- 

 ties. From the Continent our reports are 

 very meagre and unsatisfactory, and we find 

 it difficult to express an opinion, but it \v> uld 

 certainly seem as if the general condition of 

 things was more f.ivorable there than with 

 us, several of the northern sections reporting 

 moderate to full crops, and altogether we 

 think it reasonable to assume that fair quan- 

 tities will find their way to the various 

 markets in this country. These, however, 

 will not last very long, and what is more, 

 they are but little appreciated, as compared 

 with American and Canadian growths, so 

 that for fruit of fair size, and of really good 

 quality, prospects, in our opinion, are fairly 

 encouraging. Uy this we do not mean that 

 all grades may be shipped to advantage, as 

 some shippeis unfortunately concluded last 

 season ; in fact we would recommend the 

 same care being given to the grading and 

 packing in a light season as a heavy one, as 

 poor apples are rarely, if ever, wanted on 

 this market. 



London. 



Messrs. Garcia Jacobs & Co., write : — 



According to all reports the crop of apples 

 on the Continent of Europe will be a little 

 below the average, not so much in the matter 

 of quantity as quality, the latter being below 

 the normal. It means that a more than usual 

 quantity will be packed and shipped to the 

 ditt'erent markets, and lots of it will find its 

 way to the English ports of distribution, to 

 come into competition with local supplies 

 there. 



The crop in the United Kingdom is esti- 

 mated by the best authorities as follows : 

 Out of three hundred districts or points of 

 production, ten districts show more than the 

 usual average, seventy an average crop, and 

 two hundred and twenty districts under an 

 average cro)). Our reports cover the ground 

 fully, and our a<ivices received only yesterday 

 indicate that the quality, as a rule, will be 

 inferior. It all means that the usual call will 

 be made upon America for su|>plies, and that 

 the latter must be good in quality to com- 

 mand satisfactory values. 



Beginning with Nova Scotia and following 

 the great St. Lawrence Valley to the Ukes as 

 far a3 Michigan, the crop of a]>ples will be 

 below the average of ordinary years, and the 

 ([uality will not compare with last season. 

 In the great fruit belts of Canada our reports 

 indicate a very largely increased quantity 

 over what is generally being published, and 



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