The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-09-08

A London House Gives Advice to Amer
lean Growers and DenIers-Large APP
pie Crop.

London House Gives Advice TO Amer
lean Growers and DenIers-Large APP
pie Crop.
Messrs. j. I. Libby & Co., of this city
have received from The Fruit Auction
Company, of London, an interesting let.
ter dealing with conditions OF the apple
trade as they see it at this time. The por
tions of the letter of interest here are as
follows:
Covent Garden Market, London,
Eng. Aug. 2Sth, 1900.
Dear Sir
We have pleasure in handing
you our first annual report on crops on
this side of the water, and hope the infOr-
nation contained herein will prove ben
efciaI to you.
We are sorry to have to note that we are
face to face with one of the most difficult
years on record in the fruit trade. Heavy
crops of fruit are to be found in every
European country, and we are Informed
1t IS the same on your side of the water.
Everything, therefore, leads us to believe
that prices will be low all round.
England With regard to our home
crops, although it is rumored that, on
account OF the drought of July and early
part OF August, and the severe gales of
the past two weeks, the crop has been
much diminished, WE would point out
that this may be true to certain extent.
They are still, however, very plentiful, in
fact, the crop is one of the heaviest on
record, and there will be, in consequence,
an abundant supply at low prices from
England herself.
France, on the other hand, has such an
immense crop this year that she wi II
certainly not need apples from any other
country, If, Indeed, she can consume all
her own, For the last four or tive years
this country has had no crops of apples,
but this year such is not the case.
Holland and Belgium-Large crops are
reported ana both countries are open to
export.
Germany Is still also reported to have
ample crops OF apples. The varieties
which will be in better demand viii be
table apples which are not so album
dant as other qualities. Therefore, at low
prices, this country viii be open to take
q fair quantity of good cOlOred fruit,
Through our agent Mr.. August Sitter,
Of Hamburg we are prepared to deal
with all cOnsignments which you may be
DESTROYS of sending there, and we will
keep you constantly informed as to the
state OF that market.
Italy, this year, is prepared to send
any amount of apples both to Germany
and England II required. All reports
tend to say that Italy will be a large ex-
porter OF apples this season.
Spain also reports that she has plenty
of apples, not only for her own consum D.
ton but for export also.
The slightest sign of rise in prices
on the Engl 1sh markets would immedi-
ately bring a flood of apples from the
continent. The key of our market of
course, lies as usual, in the hands of the
American shippers, who, if they deal in
Jud1ciOus way, may see the season over
with fairly satisfactory results. $ OF
course, we do not think prices will be
high, hut the remedy is in the hands or
shippers, who should buy at very low
prices There is no reason, whatever,
why operators should pay high prices this
season, On this side of the water we eX-
peet to see common classes of apples sell
for next to nothing, until the glut OF
home grown stuff is off the market. 1t
is, therefore, necessary that all those who
Intend shipping to Europe should, this
season more than any other, make a
point OF sending only good prime stuff,
well colored and we'll packed We ad-
wise shipments Of choice and fancy
sorts
Shippers must not forget that they pay
the same freight and expenses on poor
stuff as on good quality, but that the sale
results between good and bad are vastly
different. In sending good fruit there
is chance to make money, we never get
too much best fruit (eYen in full market. }
This season. therefore, we say keep the
inferior stuff at home.
One point is in favor of our American
and Canadian friends and that is that
the crop OF Valencia oranges, this winter
Will be very short, this Will help the
consumption OF apples to q great extent
Mr. Turner Berry of this city, who
buys and ships to England, has Just re-
turned from tour among the apple
growers in this region. lie says that in
Rockingham County, n. H., which is a
great apple region, the crop far exceeds
the 1885, which was the heaviest ever
known at that time This year the crop
is one third in excess of that of 1896, Mr..
Berry says. In Maine the crop IS gener-
ally heavy. York, Cum berand, Oxford,
Franlin, Kennebeo, Penobscot and SOM
erset all have heavy crops.