Edible Products. 



152 



placed in cold storage some comes out in perfectly sound condition, while the 

 remainder will be completely decayed. This lack of uniformity in the keeping 

 qualities is probably due to the different degrees of maturity at which the fruit 

 is picked, and to the conditions to which it has been subjected in transit, it 

 being very difficult to detect such differences from the outward appearance of 

 the fruit. As to the best temparature, amount of ventilation, method of pack, 

 ing, etc., little is known. Dybowski states that shipments have been made in 

 cold storage from the Antilles to France, and that a temperature of 2° C. (35 5° F.) 

 was found the most satisfactory. He recommends that the fruit be wrapped in 

 paper and packed in excelsior. Shipments made in this way are said to reach 

 France in good condition. 



MARKETING. 



The market for avocados is at present a limited one, the fruit being still 

 somewhat of a novelty. It is, however, steadily increasing, and from present 

 indications will keep pace with the supply. The fruit is already fashionable, 

 and if uniformity in the supply both as regards quantity and quality could 

 be secured and the prices somewhat reduced, as could well be the case were 

 large quantities of the fruit handled, its popularity would rapidly increase- 

 Lack of classification is perhaps the greatest hindrance to the development of 

 a regular market. Fruits more widely different than " Ben Davis" and " Northern 

 Spy" apples are all classed as avocados without further distinction. This lack 

 of classification is accompanied with a corresponding lack of uniformity, and 

 must seriously hinder the growth of the trade. Not only may two shipments 

 of avocados be totally unlike, but the individual shipments often contain distinct 

 forms of a widely different character. Plates VI and VII (not reproduced) show 

 two samples from the same box. These fruits, so distinct in form, were no less 

 different in flavour, and both were very inferior. The size and external appear- 

 ance, as well as the price (35 cents a piece), would lead one to expect that he 

 was purchasing fair specimens of the fruit, but if an opinion was formed from 

 such specimens as these, it could hardly be other than that the fruit was insipid 

 and in no way worth the price asked. In sections where the fruit is unknown 

 a demand is more rapidly created by inducing hotels, clubs, etc., to include 

 this article in their menus than by merely exhibiting the fruits in the markets, 

 for while many might be led to purchase samples of this strange fruit if seen 

 in the market, they would frequently be ignorant of its use as a salad, in which 

 case they would probably pronounce it insipid and might be deterred from further 

 trials. On the contrary, anyone tasting for the first time the prepared salad would 

 usually be pleased and would be likely to investigate the source of the new dish. 



In Washington this fruit has sufficient admirers to warrant the frequent 

 insertion of a notice in the papers, by dealers, to the effect that a shipment 

 of avocados is on hand. The shipments, though small, are fairly regular, and 

 there are one or two places where the fruit can usually be found during the 

 season. In the present state of the market there is nothing like a fixed price 

 for avocados. In New York and Washington the usual retail price may be said 

 to be about 25 cents for good fruit ; 60 cents is, however, frequently asked for 

 fine fruit, and fair specimens can sometimes be purchased as low as 10 cents. 

 This low figure is, however, never reached except in cases where large shipments 

 have failed to be disposed of and the fruit is in serious danger of spoiling. 



With reference to the San Francisco market, Alexander Craw states :— 

 Sound " avocado pears " always meet with a ready market in San Francisco, and 

 at good prices, at times ranging from $2 to $5 per dozen retail, for good fruit. 

 Occasionally there is a heavy drop, owing to the arrival of overripe or badly 

 packed fruit. In selecting avocado pears for distant markets see that they 



