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probably one of the very few articles of commerce which has not 

 moved on somewhat proportionately to the development of the 

 country. We have heard over and over again from farmers of 

 the glory of the former orange groves in the West, and how 

 wagon loads of oranges used to be taken into Cape Town, bring 

 the grower between one and two shillings per hundred, and at 

 these prices many farmers cleared between 500 and 1,000 per 

 annum for their groves. To-day we know the demand for 

 oranges to be excellent, and that it will be an increasing one we 

 are sure. 



Export. In regard to the export at the present time we are not 

 prepared to give an opinion. However, that oranges can be 

 landed in London in excellent condition we are sure of, because 

 we have done it ourselves, and our idea is that a trade can be 

 worked up if found necessary, but it will be many years before 

 there will be any occasion to go outside our own country for a 

 market. The following, cut from the "Daily Chronicle," will be 

 of general interest as showing, the enterprise of Australian growers. 

 We very naturally should be able to do infinitely better if we 

 manage our business properly. *' Oranges from Australia ? Yes 

 and capital fruit 100, and lemons, which are regarded as the com- 

 plement of oranges perhaps because they grow under similar 

 conditions. This is another step in the direction of an all-British 

 .fruit supply, and, for that reason, to be recommended. The first 

 shipment of oranges from ' down under' has just been sold at 

 Covent Garden, and one may now eat the juicy product of trees 

 grown on the Mildura settlement, Victoria. Hitherto, with the 

 exception of a single shipment of lemons to England seven years 

 ago, the growers have been content with the home market. But 

 now they are eager to conquer the old country, and to that end 

 500 cases of oranges and lemons arrived on Wednesday, and 

 another 500 will reach here in a fortnight. The first sale was 

 osmewhat of a disappointment. The prices fetched were low, and 

 Mr. Pickering (brother to Mr. F. W. Pickering, of Mildura) 

 thinks there is a prejudice against Australian fruit of this descrip- 

 tion. He assured us that it is selected and packed with the 

 greatest care the motto of the exporters being ' No rubbish.' 

 The average of damaged fruit in a case of 150 or so after its 

 long voyage has been three. In future it is proposed to have a 

 sorting warehouse, so that even these three may be eliminated. 

 The season for Australian oranges will be approximately from the 

 beginning of August until the end of September, which is just 

 the time when a really good orange will be most agreeable to the 

 English palate. At present the fruit has been sent by water to 

 Adelaide for shipment, a distance of about 300 miles ; but the 

 Government have decided to build a light railway, and the work 

 will shortly be taken in hand." 



For lemons the demand is a steadily and increasing one, and 

 we have no doubt at all that there is room for a largely increased 

 acreage. In the proper curing will be the solution of the ques- 

 tion as to what extent the business can be increased. 



