IV PROCEEDINGS, APRIL. 



could be utilised for carrying fruit. A serious difficulty existed in the 

 fact that the fruit season lasting so short a time meant that only a 

 single trip of each steamer in the year was available for the trade, and 

 the fruit being so susceptible to taking up foreign flavours, as well as 

 liable to damage other things, no other article could be carried in the 

 same hold, so freight could only be secured by guaranteeing to fill the 

 whole of the cool chamber in each boat carrying fruit at the high rate 

 of 90s. to 100s. per ton freight, growers taking all risks. The knowledge 

 gained by so many years of patient inquiry and experiment had 

 established the following facts : — 1st. That at least three kinds of 

 apples of excellent flavour, appearance and keeping qualities could be 

 produced in greatest abundance and perfection, especially in the Derwent 

 Valley district, and that the supply could soon exceed the demand of 

 colonial markets. 2nd. That an almost unlimited market existed in 

 England for this class of fruit, and owing to the difi'erence in season, 

 could be landed in London at a time of year when it would not have 

 the competition of either home grown or American growth, and con- 

 sequently good prices might be expected for the quality of fruit produced 

 here. 3rd. That the fruit would keep in good order for at least double 

 the time required for the voyage, provided the right condition of 

 temperature and ventilation could be secured. 4th. That the yearly 

 increasing number of ocean steamers fitted with cooling apparatus 

 provided the means whereby a very large quantity of fruit could be 

 carried. It now became necessary to secure the co-operation of growers, 

 so that a sufficient number of cases could be collected to fill the cool 

 chambers of some of the ocean steamers. By this time growers had so 

 much confidence in the knowledge gained as to induce them to risk 

 enough fruit to make the experiment. Accordingly in 1888 the first 

 shipments on a large scale were made, although small experiments in 

 shipping had been made tor many years with varying success, and it was 

 thought if they could only be kept cool enough through the tropics, 

 there would be little danger in the venture. These first large ship- 

 ments, however, only served to show the number and magnitude of 

 the difficulties. In the first place the refrigerating machinery was 

 designed for carrying meat, the essential condition of which was that 

 it should be kept below freezing ; but freezing was ruinous to apples, 

 and some cargoes were nearly all spoilt by this cause and even when 

 saved from frost the great amount of condensation of cold air from 

 machine coming in contact with the damp air in the hold was very 

 injurious, and in addition to this the want of proper ventilation in 

 parts of the hold favoured a fungoid growth that spoilt the flavour even 

 when it did not cause rot, and the rough handling of the fruit by steve- 

 dores unaccustomed to such easily bruised articles, was, and still is a 

 serious loss, as the short time allowed for the loading makes careful 

 handling very difficult. Improvements are gradually being made in 

 tempering the air entering the cool chambers to prevent freezing and 

 excessive condensation, and in thoroughly ventilating every part of the 

 hold to prevent mould ; and a new system has been proposed, adapted 

 for ordinary holds, by fixing an exhaust fan to draw the air from every 

 part of the hold by a reticulation of fixed pipes, and passing the inlet 

 air through a chamber (supplied with cold air from the refrigerating 

 machine) by a series of small pipes, so as to cool the air in passing 

 through, and also to condense the moisture in the air before coming in 

 contact with the fruit. It appears probable that the fungoid growth 

 found in "she holds on some of the fruit is anaerobic, and therefore fresh 

 air should be constantly passed through all parts of the fruit to prevent 

 its growth. It is found that the fruit when landed in London is very 

 much riper than similar fruit kept till the same time in Tasmania ; this 

 cannot be caused by temperature alone, as the records of temperature 

 of holds are almost identical with recorded observations in Tasmania for 



