The Canadian Horticulturist. 229 



PACKING FRUIT FOR LONDON. 



(Extract from " British Trade yournal." June i, i8go.) 



\ OW that powerful corporations are busying themselves with the culti- 

 ^1 \ vation of fruit in the Colonies and in Central America, with a view 

 of shipping direct to London, general interest attaches to the result 

 of the competition in fruit packing recently instituted by the Victorian 

 Government. A prize was offered for the best packed box of apples consist- 

 ing of twelve varieties, eight of each kind, to be shipped from Melbourne to 

 London, the prize to be given to the firm or the fruit grower whose con- 

 signment should arrive in the finest condition. The boxes were addressed 

 to the Agent General for Victoria in London, Sir Graham Berry ; and on 

 the igth ult. they were opened and examined. Unfortunately the competi- 

 tion was limited to two boxes, one having been sent by Mr. S. A. Nielson, 

 of Richmond, Victoria, and the other by Mr. Draper of Arthur's Creek. 

 Sufficient, however, could be gathered from the two methods of packing 

 adopted to afford a valuable lesson to all engaged in the trade. The first, 

 Mr. Nielson's, was undoubtedly superior, and generally successful, although 

 the selection made as regards the variety of fruit was not happy. Of the 

 ninety-six apples which he sent only five were decayed ; in four of these 

 (Adams' Pearmain) the decay was but slight. The apples were gathered on 

 March the 15th last, and packed on the 20th, and dispatched in the cooling 

 rooms of steamers. They were first placed singly in ordinary paper bags. 

 They were arranged in layers in the boxes, and the intervening spaces were 

 carefully filled with paper shavings, a sheet of paper being laid between each 

 layer. The box was in two compartments, divided by an upright partition, 

 preventing too much lateral pressure when tilted on its side. Thus there 

 was little risk of crushing or bruising in course of transit. On opening the 

 case the apples were nearly all found in an admirable condition as far as 

 appearance went ; and the color was remarkably bright ; but the flesh was 

 in many cases very dry and tasteless. The " Jonathan " variety was one of 

 the best. It is of a rich crimson color, and fairly crisp and pungent in 

 flavor. On the other hand the " King of Pippins " was juiceless and insipid, 

 and of poor quality, unfit for an eating or dessert apple. The " Hoover " 

 seems a good baking apple, which, if imported cheaply, would sell well during 

 the early summer months. The " Ben Davis," though rich in color, has a 

 pulp quite too rich for the English palate. " Rymers are also uneatable on 

 their arrival here, however mellow and palatable they may be at the 

 Antipodes. " Chamberlain's late Scarlet " turned out well, being juicy and of 

 good skin and bright color. Another apple arrived much like wool. The 

 second box had the apples wrapped separately in tissue paper and that was 

 all. The result was that not a single specimen came out uninjured, and in 



