January  ],  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD 
CO  TTA  GE  GA  RDENER. 
5 
Fresh  Fruit  for  Kew  Year. 
There  are  perhaps  few  things  more  remarkable  in  the  food 
supply  of  London  than  the  growth  of  late  years  of  tlie  foreign 
and  Colonial  imirort  trade,  and  the  consequent  displacement  to  a 
very  great  extent  of  the  home-grown  commodity.  A  West¬ 
minster  Gazette  ”  representative,  with  a  view  to  learning  .some¬ 
thing  of  this  trade  and  the  position  of  the  fruit  market  genei’ally 
at  this  .season  has  had  a  chat  with  the  head  of  the  firm  of  Garcia, 
JacobS)  and  Co.,  a  leading  firm  of  importers  in  Covent  Garden. 
A  large  crowd  of  eager  buyers  stood  round  the  firm’s  .stand  at  the 
time,  and  rich-looking  ‘‘  Pines.”  luscious  Oranges,  and  p.sy  Apples 
were  being  knocked  down  b\'  the  case  Avith  lightning-like  rapidity 
amid  a  babel  of  tongues.  XewtoAvn  Pippins  were  in  great  de¬ 
mand,  and  Baldwins  appeared  to  come  next  in  point  of  popularity 
in  the  market. 
American  Contribution. 
But  they  Avere  all  from  America  and  Canada,  and  in  reference 
to  this  Mr.  Garcia  said  :  “  The  groAA'th  of  Apples  in  xVmerica  in¬ 
creases  yearly,  and  all  the  Aiants  of  Great  Britain  can  be  supplied 
apart  from  the  crop  in  England.  This  season  English  Apples  are 
inferior ;  on  the  other  hand,  the  Americans  and  Canadians  ha\'e 
an  abundant  crop.  From  the  commencement  of  September  until 
now,  the  shipments  of  Apples  from  those  places  tO'  Great  Britain 
liaA'e  aAmraged  130,000  barrels  per  Aveek.”  Improved  methods 
of  cold  .storage  and  better  facilities  for  .shipment  are  great  factors 
in  the  constant  increase. 
“Of  later  years,”  continued  Mr.  Garcia,  “  a  very  important 
addition  to  the  Apple  supply  has  been  the  .inclusion  of  California 
as  an  Apple  groAving  country.  Originally  the  famous  NeAvtoAvn 
Pippin  AA'as  groAvn  on  the  Hudson,  and  in  Virginia,  but  the  Cali¬ 
fornians,  seeing  the  money  there  AA^as  in  it,  took  to  the  business. 
Last  .sea.son  California  shipped  to  England  of  this  variety  alone, 
no  less  than  30,000  bushels.  This  .season  the  ci’op  is  not  so  large, 
but  the  average  quality  is  far  superior,  and  the  estimated  ship- 
juent  Avill  be  about  half  the  quantity.  On  the  other  hand, 
Oregon,  alive  to  the  demand  for  this  particular  Apple,  has  in¬ 
creased  its  groAAing  capacity,  and  though  the  shipments  at  pre¬ 
sent  average  from  10,000  to  15,000  boxes  only,  they  Avill  in  the 
Amry  near  future  assume  larger  proportions.” 
What  does  this  all  portend  for  the  English  groAver,  Mr. 
Garcia?”  “Well,”  Avas  the  reply,  “every  one  of  those  facts  i.s 
a  lesson  for  the  English  groAver.  The  Englishman  lacks  adapt¬ 
ability  to  the  market,  and  the  effort  to  meet  the  public  Avant  and 
the  public  ta.ste.  Instead  of  devoting  himself  to  AA’hat  is  in  de¬ 
mand,  he  goes  along  in  the  old  groove,  and  groAvs  so  many 
A'arieties,  many  very  inferior,  that  they  are  difficult  for  the  sale.s- 
man  to  di.spose  of.  All  groAvers  in  England  avIio  are  up  to  date 
are  making  money  cut  of  Apples,  in  spite  of  their  complaints  and 
the  loAV  prices  iJrocured.” 
Oranges  and  Where  They  Come  From. 
“What  about  Oranges?”  remarked  Mr.  Garcia  in  ansAver  to 
a  question.  “  The  quantity  this  .season  is  unprecedentedly  large 
and  the  quality  exceedingly  good.  The  pi'incipal  district  for  our 
.supply  is  Valencia,  and  the  quantity  arriAung  in  England  from 
there  is  from  100,000  tO'  120,000  cases  per  Aveek,  and  that  rate  of 
.supply  Avill  continue  until  the  end  of  May.  We  expect  the  Cali¬ 
fornia  crop  in  this  AA'eek,  and  then  there  Avill  be  a  regular  supply 
from  there  also.” 
Alluding  to.  that  delicate  little  Orange  the  Tangerine,  Mr. 
Garcia  gave  its  history,  and  said  a  large  trade  AA’as  done  in  the 
A'ariety.  :This,  and  the  Mandarine,  he  explained,  AA'ere  one  and 
the  same  Orange.  The  Moors  originally  brought  it  from  China 
and  called  it  the  Mandarine.  They  then  introduced  it  into  Spain, 
AA’ith  the  Olive  and  the  Pomegranate,  and  to  this  day  it  is  knoAvn 
in  Valencia  and  Mei’cia,  Avhere  it  i.s  groAvn,  as  the  “  China  Orange.” 
But  in  England  it  became  the  Tangerine.  Tlion.sands  of  cases 
come  to  this  counti'j^  eAmry  season,  and  Covent  Garden  is  noAV 
.sAveet  Avith  the  odour  of  the  golden  fruit^ — the  Tangerine  in  silver 
paper — the  so-called  Mandarine  “  naked.” 
Of  Pineapples  there  Avere  veritable  pyramids,  but  all  foreign. 
“Yes,”  remarked  Mr.  Garcia,  Avhat  could  you  have  better? 
The  English  ‘Pine’  cannot  touch  these  for  flaA’our  and  quality, 
and  yet  at  one  time  no  one  could  compete  Avith  the  groAvers  in 
this  country.  The  cases  of  Pineapples  you  see  here  come  from 
St.  Michael,  in  the  Azores,  and  they  are  all  groAvn  under  glass. 
It  is  the  same,  place  as  the  once  famous  St.  Alichael  Orange  came 
from,  but  the  Spaniards,  Avith  their  usual  lethargy,  did  not  re¬ 
plant  the  Orange  tree.s  as  they  became  old,  and  the  crop 
diminished.  At  the  same  time  thej^  discovered  the  profit  in  the 
Pineapple,  so  they  have  let  the  Orange  go,  and  here  to-day  you 
see  the  residt,”  pointing  to  the  roAvs  upon  roAvs  of  this  most 
luscious  of  fruit.  “  The  quantity  that  comes?  AVell.  anything 
from  30,000  to  50,000  single  fruits  per  Aveek.  And  they  realise 
from  2s.  to  5s.  each,  according  to  quality.”  In  Covent  Garden 
the  A’arious  auctioneers  can  hai’diy  knock  the  cases  doAA’n  fast 
enough  at  these  prices.  Each  ca^^e  contained  six  to  eight  Pine¬ 
apples. 
Choice  Fruits  from  the  Antipodes. 
“In  reply  to  a  que.stion,  “Cape  and  Australian  fruits,”  said 
Mr.  Garcia,  “  do  not  get  here  in  time  for  our  Christmas.  But  Ave 
shall  liaA’e  Grapes,  Peaches,  and  Apricots,  all  outdoor  groAAU,  to 
say  nothing  of  Apples,  in  February.  It  is  a  groAA’ing  trade,  the 
value  and  importance  of  aaIucIi  is  hardljy  realised  yet.  With  the 
improved  cold  storage  facilities,  shipments  are  continuing  to  in¬ 
crease,  and  then  the  public  generally  aaIII  get  the  benefit.” 
Ruling  Prices. 
Amongst  the  prices  ruling  in  the  market  last  Aveek  a  feAv  Avill 
be  .of  interest:  NeAvtoAvn  Pippins  realise  from  9s.  to  12s.  per 
case  of  401b;  barrels  (1201b)  of  BaldAvins  and  other  Apples,  12s.  to 
20s.  ;  Valencia  Oranges,  8s.  to  10s.  per  case  of  420 ;  Jaffa,  7s.  to  9s. 
per  case  of  200 ;  and  Tangerine.s  9d.  to  Is.  Gd.  per  box  of  tAventy- 
five.  There  is  a  profusion,  of  Nuts  in  the  market,  and  prices  rule 
fully  25  per  cent.  loAAer  than  last  year. 
- - 
Vegetable  Notes, 
Preparing  Material  for  Hotbeds. 
As  good  beds  of  heating  material  fonned  inside  brick  frames  or 
pits,  or  built  as  beds  in  the  open  on  Avliich  Avooden  frames  and 
lights  may  be  placed,  will  .soon  be  required,  it  is  desirable  to  pro¬ 
ceed  AA’ith  the  collection  of  fresh  horse  manure  and  leaA’es.  Horse 
mamu’e  may  be  a  mixture  of  short  and  long.  Leaves  should 
consist  of  Oak  and  Beech,  but  Sycamore,  Ciie.stnut,  and  Plane 
tree  leaves  Avill  do.  In  preparing  the  materials  for  finally  form¬ 
ing  intO'  hotbeds,  mix  eciual  quantities  of  leaves  Avith  manure, 
throAving  all  together  into  a  heap.  In  a  short  time  this  Avill  com¬ 
mence  to  heat  briskly,  Avhen  it  should  be  completely  turned. 
Fir.st  throAv  the^  outside  into  the  centre,  fiui,shing  by  having  the 
hot  centre  on  the  outside.  Shake  the  particles  as  loose  as 
possible,  and  repeat  the  proce.ss  of  turning  tAvo  or  three  times, 
or  until  the  fierce  heat  has  been  expelled.  After  this  it  is  ready 
for  forming  into  the  beds.  Beds  built  in  the  open  Avill  require 
linings  of  fresh  material  from  time  to  time  to  sustain  the  tem¬ 
perature'  inside  the  frame.  Soil  is  required  to  cover  the  beds, 
Avhatever  is  to  be  groAvn.  This  should  be  in  readiness.  For 
Potato  groAving  a  thickness  of  9in  is  required.  Four 
inches  depth  is  .sufficient  for  Badishes  and  Carrots.  A  mixture 
of  loam,  rough  decayed  leaf  soil,  a  little  manure  and  Avood  ashe.s 
forms  ail  admirable  mixture  for  most  things.  Mix,  prepare, 
and  keep  it  dry  until  Avanted. 
Roots  in  Store. 
Bad  Aveather,  Avhen  AAork  outside  is  at  a  standstill,  should 
be  taken  advantage  of  to  look  over  Potatoes  in  heaps,  bags,  or 
boxes.  If  stored  in  damp  corners  the  tubers  may  begin  to 
sprout,  or  if  damp  and  cold  decay  may  set  in  and  destroy  a  large 
number.  Any  disease  in  the  tubers  may  also  spread  and  ruin 
many.  The  be.st,  course,  therefore,  is  to  overhaul  the  lot,  and 
completely  dispose  of  all  the  bad  and  diseased  sepciipens  by 
burning. 
Onions,  too,  should  be  kept  dry  and  cool.  In  moisture  and 
Avarmth  they  Avill  make  groAvth,  Avliich  has  a  deteriorating  effect 
on  the  bulbs  as  regards  their  fitness  for  use. 
Carrots,  if  stored  in  a  dry  place,  take  but  little  harm,  but 
under  the  influence  of  moisture,  and  the  roots  laid  in  moist  soil, 
sand,  or  ashes,  rootlets  Avill  push  and  top  groAvth  commence.  All 
this  should  be  cleared  off  at  once. 
During  mild  Aveather  roots  still  in  the  open  ground,  such  as 
Parsnips,  Artichokes,  Turnips,  and  Horseradish,  should  be  taken 
up  in  such  quantity  as  Avill  give  a  supply  OA*er  seAmral  Aveeks  in 
case  of  frost. 
Parsley,  Mint,  and  Rhubarb. 
Strong  and  healthy  clumps  of  Parsley  ought  either  to  be  pro¬ 
tected  Avith  a  frame  and  light,  or  seA’eral  lifted  and  planted  in 
a  frame  or  in  pots,  .so  that  leaves  may  be  readily  obtained  in  good 
condition  Avhen  required.  A  rough  protection  Avith  boards  or 
dry  leaves  during  a  period  of  frost  is  better  than  nothing. 
Young  shoots  of  Mint  are  in  demand  at  an  early  period,  so 
an  opportunity  should  be  taken  to  lift  some  roots  and  place  in 
shalloAv  boxes  Avith  soil,  and  introduce  into  heat  and  moi.sture. 
Lift  and  place  in  a  heated  structure  a  further  lot  of  strong 
roots  of  Rhubarb.  Tlie.se  are  more,  readily  forced  than  roots 
bi'ought  in  earlier.  A  temperature  of  55deg  to  GOdeg,  Avith 
ample  moi.sture,  Avill  ca.u.se  the  eroAvns  to  SAvell  steadily.  A  semi¬ 
dark  po..sition  seems  to  suit  Rludiarb  best  Avhen  making  groAA  tb, 
encouraging  the  production  of  Avell-coloured  and  succulent  stalks. 
Seakale. 
Strong  roots  of  Seakale  Avith  bold  croAA’iis  may  be  placecf  as 
thickly  as  po.ssible  together,  AA’ith  soil  betAveen  them,  in  a  bed 
in  a  forcing  house,  or  in  pots  or  boxes.  Keep  the. soil  moist, 
and  the  croAvns  covered,  so  as  to  blanch  the  gro.Avths  as  they  rise. 
A  temperature  of  55deg  to  GOdeg  is  ample. — E.  D.  S. 
