254 Fruit Trade in the Metropolis, [june, 1910. 



moderately warm season these out-door cucumbers are extremely 

 useful for mixed pickles. When ^4 a ton can be obtained for a 

 fair sample of these, after taking away a few of the best-shaped 

 specimens for sale separately, they may be considered a remunerative 

 crop. 



Marrows. — Marrows at this season are grown under glass. They 

 arrive at market in white-handled baskets, and are worth 45. to 6s. 

 per dozen first hand. At these prices they are profitable, but when 

 cultivated widely in the field, they quickly become a drug in the market. 

 Unlike cucumbers, they are of little value except for the purpose for 

 which they are produced, and when large marrows touch the level of 

 15. 6d. to 25. 6d. per tally, or five dozen, they are not worth carriage. 



Apples. — The apple is the most important fruit that ripens perfectly 

 in Great Britain, when both its culinary and its table value are taken 

 into account, but, unfortunately, apple orchards have been rather 

 neglected in this country. Considering the general demand for this 

 fruit, it is surprising that even those who have suitable situations and 

 facilities for raising them, have not taken their share in providing our 

 markets with choice apples. The result is that other countries have sought 

 to meet the needs of our population, and a continuous stream of apples 

 arrives from abroad during many months of the year. A perfect 

 system of cold storage enables exporters to send fruit, not only across 

 the Atlantic, but also from Australia. 



The secret of success with the apples sent from Nova Scotia, Cali- 

 fornia, Oregon, and from our own Colonies, is the superior method 

 of grading and packing. Growers in England, on the other hand, 

 often send the fruit to market as it is gathered, small and large together, 

 or, worse still, add the windfalls which they pick up off the ground. 

 These bruised, worm-eaten, defective apples deteriorate the sample and 

 lower the price of the whole. Windfalls should be sold at home at a 

 nominal price or given to pigs, and should never be mixed with better 

 fruit, as they only add to the cost of transit, market and commission 

 charges, without themselves yielding any return. Retailers often prefer 

 barrel or box apples from abroad to those grown at home, because the 

 delivery is so much better. The box or case apples are each packed 

 separately in paper, and thus reach the consumer in prime condition, 

 with extremely little waste. Oregon apples have fetched capital prices 

 during January, February and March this year, the figures ranging 

 from 125. to 165. per case of 40 lb. net weight, or, roughly speaking, 

 about qd. per lb. wholesale ; Californian apples hardly come up to the 

 Oregon supply, the price for the corresponding period being from 75. 6d. 

 to 105. per case. 



At this time of year the markets are supplied with apples from 

 British Colonies, South Australia and Tasmania taking the lead. Prices 

 vary according to variety, Cox's Orange Pippin fetching 115. to 145. 

 per case ; Ribstons, Munro's Favourite, Cleopatra, Jonathan, are all of 

 first-rate quality and range from 85. 6d. to 105. 6d. or us. per case. 

 Sturmer and Scarlet Pearmain, and other kinds, make rather less, say 

 85. to 105. per case. 



