The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-29
Oranges and Lemons.

oranSoS ana Lemons.
"Are oranges and lemons plentlful2'
| asked a prominent fruit dealer in New
York.
"Well, no." SAID the dealer in answer,
"for the simple reason that the fruit has
not commenced to arrive III great quanti-
ties as yet"
"When docs the fruit Gomez" asked the
reporter.
"a steamer Is expected this week; after
that they will come on al average of two
or three steamers per week. That does not
seem much, does IT. But when you count
from 20, 0CO to 80, 900 boxes each steamer,
as there are, you really see the great amount
Of fruit they contain"
''WiIl next weeks steamer be the first
this season." asked tho reporter.
Yes, that will be the first regular arri-
at present, but they ar5 grceiand very 1'o#
of them fit for use. AS to oranges, there
arc none except what have been stored
away by dealers last season; those are dry
and lnsipld, but bring a big price as there
are no others IN the market"
"Whcro 10 the oranges and lemons come
from2"
"They come chiefly from Mcsslna, Paler-
mo, CaLanla and Sicily. All the fcuit is
brought to this country in steamers and
sailing vessels; these latter hold about
5000 boxes. 1t takes the steamer about
twenty days to come here if the weather is
favorable, bnt III stormy weather they
have often been two months. As to the
sailing vessels there is no certainty what
ever, the fruit often coming IN dccayed
and selling for less than tho cost of freight
age"
''ThL., 're Florida oranges, aud to-day
they are Of the bust oranges grown.
The SKI 4. very thin, and the fruit is
sweet and juicy; there arc several varieties
Of these oranges, the choicest being the
Indian river; another kind known as the
russct, on account of the color Of the skin,
| while 1t sells at less price than the Indian
| river, ls nevertheless just as sweet fruit.
| The Florida oranges have ready sale and
| command good prices; for instance, when
| the ordinary Palermo oranges sell at So 90
per box, tho Florida fruit brings &c. 90
| readily"
"How about Florida lcmons2" was then
asked.
"Wcll, the experiment of raising Florida
lemons has been tried, but a hard, thick
skinned lemon is the result that cannot be
compared 70 tho juicy, thin-sklnned Mes
sina lemon"
''Arc there not largo profits IN the busi-
ncss2"
"Ycs, there are large profits," said the
dealer, ''and," with significant look,
"bg losses also. AS you probably know
the fruit is sold at auction to the highest
bidder. On a steamer of 80, 900 boxes,
there may be 200 different brands or fruit.
Well, sample, that la, one or two boxes
Of each Kind, Is shown at the sale, and the
buyer has to bid according TO that. When
the ship Is unloaded that IN tho bottom of
the chip may be damaged: this, however,
is oil the buyers loss, 80 you see there ls q
risk IN buying. Are there any heavy buy,
crs2 Yes, know Of one dealer who buys
about 5000 boxes at every sale.
''ScYeral years ago when lemons were
very high, had sold completely ont, and
was IN dilemma to replenleh my stock.
Luckily managed to buy twenty boxes
from wholesale dealer who had some
stock on hand. paid hlm $6 per box fol
them, buying them more for the accommo
datlon OF ny customers than with thu
intention of making a profit on them
Three days after purchased them, solo
; them back to the same man l had bough
them of for 50 per box. On anothe
occasion purchased fifty boxes at auction
for 81 per box. thinking them cheap, bu
they turned out completely rotten, and
+ did not get fifty cents out Of the who'll
+ lot."
"How are lemons selling now2"
"aood lemons are worth 81 per box
: aud you can get them as low as 80 pc
+ box"
0 "How are oranges9"
D 'Florldas are commencing to come no'
| and are bringing about $5 per box. Their
0 are also a great many Havana oranges In
L Good day."
d The sale OF liquor is now prohib
i ted, in whole or in part, in seventy -on