The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-08-18
The Trade in Foreign Fruit.

The Trade Ill E0ft1gn Fruit.
j. II. Bostacick United States Inspector Of Gus
toms, IN Neac York Times.
The facts with regard to the trade
in foreign fruit at this port are inter
esting as showing the details OF a
large business, and one serving, in
greater measure than is generally
supposed, 10 assist in swelling the
government revenue. In the follow
ing report, which is from the pen of
a gentleman whose position and ex-
perience give additional Importance
to what he says, some OF the more
suggestive and striking statistics are
given. The report is the eleventh
annual one prepared by him, and re-
lates to the foreign fruit received at
this port during 1879. He says:
In the present report there is to be
observed an increase, generally small,
in most of the imports OF fruit from
the West Indies, and a greater in.
crease, in the quantity of fruit im-
ported from the Mediterranean. The
revenue derived by the government
from the trade, OF course, shares in
the increase. The liability to loss
and damage resulting from the un-
certainties OF a sea voyage forms an
important factor in the conduct OF
the fruit trade, and serves TO make it
extremely hazardous from year to
year. The importation of Mediter-
ranean fruit at the port Of New York
during the, year 1879 consisted OF
10S cargoes by steamers and titty-tour
by sailing vessels, and comprised
SSe,729 boxes and cases of oranges
s ssEe. geo 1855; 5es Of tehons, sho wing an
increase of twenty-six cargoes by
steamer and twenty-four by sailing
vessels, and Of 1885, boxes and
cases over the importations OF 1878.
The number of oranges was 239,65l,-
255, of which it is asserted 1882
627 persisted on the voyage: loss OF
so per cent. The number OF lemons
was 315,176,750, of which it is as.
serted 113, 463650 persisted on the
voyage, a loss of Sc per cent. Total
number OF oranges and lemons, 554,-
927, 975; boxes and cases OF oranges
and lemons 1,7S1,234. There were
44,365 barrels and 56,721 half barrels
OF grapes imported last year at loss
OF 25 per cent, slight decrease COM
pared with the imports OF the pre-
ceeding year.
The trade In Mediterranean fruit
during the past year has been disas,
trous to the parties engaged IN it.
especially to the producers. The
price OF box fruit was as rule very
low, particularly in the case OF oranges
imported from Cantania and Palermo.
These were seriously affected 10y a
parasite which greatly impaired their
value. A large portion OF the fruit
arrived in bad order. The writer,
who has had large experience IN the
successful cultivation and manage
ment of all varieties OF fruit trees.
suggests TO the producers OF oranges
and lemons very simple remedy to
insure speedy extermination OF this
destructive insect. This remedy con-
sists ID thoroughly securing the
bodies and large limbs Of the trees
with common hard soap and sharp
sand. One or two applications will
entirely eradicate the parasites. and
render the bark of the trees perfectly
smooth and healthy. Had this
simple process been applied to the
orange trees OF Matanzas, West
Indies, many years ago, they would
not have been destroyed by this
dreaded pest. The writer would
simply add that he has successfully
destroyed untold millions OF parasites
by the application of the remedy
above suggested. The writer again
desires TO express the obligations he
is under to Mr.. Frederick 5. Robin
son, OF this City, for valuable intor.
nation received in relation TO the
quantity OF Mediterranean fruit i'm
ported into New York during the