Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-10-22
American Apples for England.

As many of our Maine apples find
market at different points in Great
Britain, the following particulars re-
earding the sorting, packing and snip
mept of apples across the water, from
the Rural New Yorker, will be of inter
est:
1t is Just as easy to ship apples to
Europe "a to ship them to New York.
j. C Houghton q Co, Liverpool and
London, and James Lindsay 4 Son,
Glasgow, Edinburgh aud Leilh, are ex-
tepsive dealers in American apples.
Otto G. Mayer & Co, Z, . and II Bridge
street, New York, ship immense quaint
ties annually. Mr.. Josiah Rich, who
has Charge If this branch of
the business, has had many years
experience and gave our representative
information that cannot but prove OF
much value to appl growers during the
present season The prices of apples
are depressed here at present owing to
the competition with the earlier fruits
and to the large quantities that have
been hurried to market before there is
any demand for them The demand from
abroad is boon to our apple growers
| this year.
Any good keepers will do to ship. 1t is
folly to send apples that will not keep
sound during the time required for
VOYAGE Kings, Baldwins and similar
apples have sold for the highest prices
this year. Whatever the variety, they
must be carefully assorted; and only
the fair, smooth. sound ones should
be selected. The barrels must be
new and clean. preferably with 1G J
or I7-inch heads No wormy or bruised
apples should he used The apples
should be faced in the barrel the same
as for the American market. but there
should not he too great a difference be
| tween the size at the head and the mid
die of the barrel, aud every barrel should
| be good for they are sold in lots. a bar
rel being taken from each lot and emptied
out to show the character OF the lot
| The apples must be well shake into the
| barrels while filling and the barrels
should be filled as full as possible, care
| fully headed, well nailed and hoops be
nailed around both heads inside the chine
to make all secure. The barrels shoJld
be marked plainly with the name of the
variety and the name or brand of t. g
shipper. This last should never be used
on inferior fruit, as. il one continues
shipping, the brand becomes known and
| the apples are sometimes sold from the
brand alone without examination; Il sim
gle barrel of poor apples would COM
pletely destroy the reputation gained for
a brand
Now let us follow a lot OF apples read y
for shipment. Lots of less than 10 bar
rels are not desired. Load them on the
cars or boat, consigned TO the Arm above
mentioned. and send notice OF shipment
by mail if practicable. That ends the
| shippers work till he receives his check
The apples reach New York. The con
signees procure shipping permits, pay
the freight aud carriage. obtain bill Of
lading, copy of which is sent to the
shipper, and see that the apples a;e
safely and carefully put aboard the
steamer If the shipper desire, in'uT
ance will be effected on his shipment.
There is quite a lively competition
among steamship lines for the
apple shipments, hence rates are
low. The apples are sold at auction i'm
mediately upon landing, aud the deliv.
erg is made within "A hours of sale. Ac-
counts of sales are made up Immediately
after delivery, and the net proceeds Of
each parcel is cabled to the American
agents, less five per cent. commission for
selling The same day on which the
cable is received, check is sent to the
shipper for the amount less the commits
sion, freight and cartage. This is ger
orally within II days OF the date Of sail
| ing OF the vessel, and Mr.. Rich informs
us that he has often made returns within
II days. This is much quicker than it is
possible to get returns from some
| spectators and commission merchants
| in this city. The freight from
New York to Liverpool is about 30. or
ABOUT y cents to Glasgow about IS. Cd.
or 81 cents, there is dock charge of Is
| cents per barrel The commission for
selling is five per cent. The carriage in
New York amounts to but few cents
per barrel. The freight to New York
| each grower can learn for himself. Put
these together and figure out for your
self whether it will pay you to ship to
Europe Our own opinion Is that 1t will
pay to ship prime apples, but not in'eri-
or ones Mr.. Rich says that the price
will probably decline little under the
present heavy shipments but not mate
rally.