267 
cases, boxes, and half-boxes. ‘The quantities sent to the United Kingdom 
are comparately small :— 
| | In Centimetres. 
oe Oranges. | Lemons. | T. 
" Length. Depth, | Breadth. 
aaa LE ed IS. EP tc Lr eot ES 
Number. Number. | Lbs. 
i | 44 1 
Half boxes - - 80 to 180 a ] | 55 | 70 18 or 25 35 
U 66 
Boxes - -| 100 . 300 240 to 490 88 70 ?97 29 35 
Cases —--*.].490 490 240 490 132 70 or 80 30 38 
| i 
Boxes and cases are spoken of as 16, 25, 30, 36, 42, 49, &c., according 
to the number of oranges or lemons in each layer. The fruit that goes 
to the United Kingdom is in cases, and that for the United States in 
boxes and half-boxes. They are carefully stowed in tiers, one above the 
other, in the vessel’s hold, in such a way as to prevent injury to the fruit. 
Half-boxes only contain two layers of fruit. Boxes, four and sometimes 
five. All, whether oranges or lemons, are wrapped in tissue paper, with 
paper shavings to fill up interstices, and ripen on the voyage. Naturally 
this fruit can never be as good as that which ripens on the tree. Durin 
the last few years fears have been eet that this trade to the States 
will eventually suffer considerably on account of suitableness found in 
imate and soil of Florida and California; where the trees have been 
: 1 
5 
e 
© 
fruit which has not run the risk of deteriorating on a long sea voyage. 
Unfortunately, the orange crop in Florida was destroyed by the 
m severe cold experienced in December last. This will 
n an advance of prices in the States the effect of which will be to 
Mese the trade in Sicily in 1895. 
The growth of this trade has only been mon within the last 40 
Lai. and since the introduction of steam it is four times or more 
s great as it wss in the days of sailin craft: ; OMtiana cat with 
this increasing demand and prompt disposal of cargoes, the value of 
fruit in this country has been enhanced, and this consideration, in the 
of my report of 1893, induced ee ers to raise their prices, and 
there followed temporarily a marked decrease in the demand. Fruit 
then was shipped at exporter's risk und this failed to answer, agents 
were sent over e the States to med! exporters' interests as it 
was gee even this measure was ineffectual, for it was found 
that the former r indtibed dipoe who had not their own agents 
in 2e country to send their supplies to them, under green of greater 
facilities, &c. In this emergency the ortos system of money 
advances to nope sprang up, in order to shipments, and fruit 
n t on board unfit to stand the varie 
Shipowners, in some cases, are known to have id into contracts 
with shippers for certain supplies to be put on board their vessels during 
the fruit season in consideration of this advance to be accounted for on 
settlement of freight. 
