368 



THE FRUIT CROP OF 1896. 



[March 1897. 



the fruit, besides being uniform in size, the apples are good in 

 colour and shape, and their flavour generally has greatly 

 improved. Some of the Australian apples are brilliant, though 

 somewhat lacking in flavour. 



Really well-grown and selected British apples of some varieties, 

 such as the Cox's Orange Pippin, for example, are better in 

 flavour and general quality than any of foreign production. In 

 this last season graded Cox's Orange Pippins of the best shape 

 and colour — and their colour was exceptionally fine — easily 

 made 10s. per bushel. 



Pears were not a good crop, and their prices were not satisfac- 

 tory, as the fruit in many instances was not very well grown. 

 They ranged between Is. 6d. and 4s. 3d. per half sieve net to 

 the grower. The imports of this fruit in 1896 were large, 

 amounting to 483,823 bushels, valued at 206,674?,, or about 

 8s. 7d. per bushel. 



Filberts and cob nuts were low in price, from 3d. to o\d. per 

 pound. Prices of this fruit are now much depressed by the 

 increasing importations from various countries, where the 

 cultivation of these nuts, once peculiar to Kent, is rapidly 

 extending. 



