The morning call., 1892-11-13
FOREIGN LEMONS.
Success of the Australian
Shipments.
TIMELY HINTS TO GROWERS
a Plan to Make San Francisco the
Distributing Center for the
United States.

Inc experiment was recently tried OF
pringlng shipment Of Australian lemon s
| W this market for consumption. 1t was
| consigned to ID. G. Camarnos of this city
and The result has proved highly success
| full
The first consignment consisted of 400
ooxes aud the second of 600 boxes.
Doth were quickly disposed of at paying
ne only fault that Mr. Camarinos found
win the shipments was that they could
nave been packed in better style, so tha.
Wnen they reached here they would be
equaiiy as good as the Italy lemon.
"A. INC most important point" he says,
iof 'he steamship com panes to consider is
tue TACT that all of the fruit must have
| proper ventilation and must be kept per-
| lec'iy cool. The steamer Australia is well
n'ted Tor doing this particular class of busi-
ness. lie other steamers, however, OH the
australian route and those OF the Pacific
| Mail running to Mexico can be greatly im-
proved. and the benefit will be of consider
| able Importance.
| There is not a steamer on the Atlantic
| ont what Is properly fitted for the accommo-
datlon OF fruit of ali kinds. There is no
| satisfaction in a merchant of.this city bring
ing goods by the steamer if on the trip to
'his port they are not, properly cared for.
1T does not encourage him by any means
20 Try II second time. and he cannot be
piamed. IL the steamship companies W i'll
| improve their vessels you will find that In a
very short while New York will not prove
| saen great distr ibuting center.
| would make San Francisco the dis
ulDullng center. and while many persons
| may think that such plan could never be
carried out. there is nothing difficult about
tne undertaking. and our positions eau
easily be explained. We are in a position
| 10 receive goods that are as good as those
that come fIom Spain or Italy. We can re-
celye them IN much shorter time from Aus
trala than they can be sent from Messna.
| Catan!a and other parts of Italy. The price
Is greatly lesseDed. What must follow?
| . AS soon as a steamer arrives at once
qlspateh the lemons to any point In the
United States. and 1t will not be long be-
| fore San Francisco will become the dis
| trlbuting point. When you can receive
| goods quickly and in frst-class shape, and
| dispatch them promptly at price consider
| ably below what was heretofore paid for
| an article that is no better, success must
/ follow"
| Mr.. Camarinos' idea is TO keep the home
product always in the front rank, and when
forced to secure the same class of goods in
| other localities To do SO IN manner that
| will give general satisfaction and which
| Will In no way prove detrimental TO the
| product of California.
When California's supply gives out. as it
| did short tiIue ago, there would be no
| necessity Tor depending on the shipments
| from Italy and Spain. Australia could send
a lemon equally as good as the Sicily lemon
and al a cost much below what has to be
| paid for the goods that come by water and
| rail.
But the steamship companies must assist
| in the undertaking, and the Australian
4 growers must learn 10 pack their goods in
| better shape. The trade need not be re-
stricted to lemons, but may include to all
| tropical fruits.
| As an evidence Of the importance of the
| lemon trade il might be stated that the
| United States imports yearly between two
| and three million boxes of that product
from Malaga Spain, Messina, Palermo and
| Catania. Italy.
The Sicily lemon reaches this market in
| perfect condition, owing to the excellent
manner in which the fruit is dispatched TO
| this country. In the first place, IL Is prop
erly cured--a most essential point-and. in
the second place. when the lemons are
| packed ready for shipment the work is done
| In the very best manner possible.
| California growers generally" says Mr..
| Camariu0s. "have not known how u prop
| erly cure the lemon for consumption, and,
| In consequence. they often lose their fruit a
week or SO after SHIPMENT to market
| Among the principal growers in South
| err California who thoroughly understand
the process are Mr.. johnson and Mr
| Blanchard, of Santa Barbara: also e. w
| average grower has not been successful in
this branch, and his product has proved a
failure.
"My idea Of making San Francisco a dis
tributing center Is simply to benefit the city,
| and believe it can be done in the way in
dicated. But would not favor such a plan
| il 1t should prove in any way detrimental to
| sur own product"