The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-19
The Daily News.
THURSDAY MORNING, JULY -, 1866.
Tropical Fruits.
From the ". !. Tim

IFrom the ". 7. Times1
FINEAppLEs, pANANAs, ORANGES, LEMONS, ETC.
WHERE THEY COME FROM, THE QUANTITY BROUGHT,
AND WHERE THEY 40 TO.
The market is now glutted with tropical fruits
OF all kinds. visit to either ono OF tho largo mar
kes lying upon the river will prove OF interest to
carried on In foreign fruits. Piles Of pine-appes,
quantities of bananas, boxes Of oranges and
lemons, lie about the docks ut those points, with
out regard to regularity or ownership, all await
ing transportation. The amount of money invest
ed in this trade is immense, yet it is carried on in
such loose, detached manner as almost to pre-
statistics in reference to it.
The men engaged in the business are not Of the
class one would suspect OF conducting great en-
terpriscs, or of directing capital to successful re-
suits One of tho largest dealers in tropical
fruits is tho proprietor Of modest stand in
Fulton Market, where only a few specimens Of his
fully ono.half the importations and shipments are
made: He owns several vessels wnich are en-
pioIyed in this trado exclusively, and has, in
addition, cargo upon cargo consigned to him to be
idlsposed or Ho has, as have several other deal
ers, accumulated fortune in the trade vet no
one OF these individuals is able to give an approxi-
mate idea OF the amount OF capital invested in the
puaness, It's extent, nor any statistics which the
curious would like to know. From various
sources VIC succeeded in obtaining few facts,
which we present:
Pineapples are mostly obtained from the West
India islands. They are brought here principally
py Engllsh yossels, which, at other seasons, are
transformed into wreckers and coasters among
the islands. Large plantations there are given
up almost exclusively to the cultivation OF this
tas a F ~ a. a9a are in snSh uant
them away. Tho masters Of these vagabond
schooners, failing in speculations elsewhere touch
at these various ports aud load with this fruit,
which they purchase from the planters at from,
twenty-five to fifty cents per dozen, in gold. The
few American schooners engaged in the trade
for their cargoes, and often take out in payment
cargoes OF sugar. -four, tea and rum.
Large numbers OF pineapp!es are lost on the
is usually kept busy in sorting over the fruit
The loss, however, on all cargoes will average
about Is per cent from the time it is taken on
cd there at so cents per dozen, in gold, they
tail here at the present time for s15 per dozen
yet the dealers claim that but little profit is made,
on account Of the great number which spoil. The
pineapple season lasts from the 1st Of May to the
last OF July. There have arrived at this port this
season about fifty eargoes OF this fruit, each cargo
quantities as may be desired. This season the
fruit i has been Of good quality, and the market
half crop, owing to threo months drouth, and
what was saved was of an inferior quality.
at the eastern extremity Of the Island Of of ouba, %
and are brought here by the same vessels which
bring the pineapplcs, the cargo generally o1nbra
are about tho average amount brought by each
schooner. This season there have been about
2OO, QUO punches in market. They are purchased
for about half dollar in gold per bunch, and sell
nero at from one to two dollars per bunch. The
per centage Of loss is about the same as with
pineapples. Bananas are in season from March
till the last of July. While many of those we re-
ceive are OF natural growth, the finest are cuti-
waited expressly for thd market.
oranges and lemons are obtained from several
|diderent places, and constantly arriving
fresh. The West India islands furnish us our
winter supply, the islands Of the Mediterranean
fills up the interim The largest supply of oranges
and lemons is obtained from the ports Of Palermo
and Messina, in the Island Of Sicily. They
are now IN season, and usually considered the
finest brought to this market. About eighty car
goes OF oranges and lemons have arrived this
year, averaging 6000 boxes to the cargo. They
sell here at from 81 to Sc. The fruit brought
early in the season requires no handling before
delivery to retailers, but that arriving Low has
all to bo sorted over. Fully ten per cent. Of all
arriving during the summer months is spoiled.
Havana oranges are considered excellent but the
supply is limited, LINES come with the oranges
and lemons; large quantities being disposed of in
the large cities.
Cocoanuts are brought from Baracoa, Ruatan,
Brazil and several other places. The supply is
regular and the demand steady. All fruit vessels
bring cocoanuts in greater or lesser5 quantities
and many are also brought in regular merchant
vessels. 1t is impossible to spproach an estimate
OF the quantity broughteto market, in conse-
quence of this irregularity in their arrival. The
fruit sohooners bring hundreds OF thousands Of
them every season. They are used principally by
,confectioners, in the manufacture Of candy, and
by pastry cooks, who use largo quantities in the
making Of pies.
CnMME