Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-04
A N { rio AN FRUIT
Good Work of the Agricul-
tural Department.
SHIPPED TO LONDON
EXPERIMENTS WITH APPLES,
PEACHES AND PEARS.
Tea Grown in North Carolina Success
fully Marketed at a Good
Profit.
SHIPPED TO LONDON

tary Wilson, is furnished by the report just
received from London regarding the ship
ments of fruit to that market. A careful
observation Of the London fruit market re-
vealed to the department officials the fact
that, while Australia and Tasmania fur
nished an ample supply of apples for the
London trade during the early summer
and the native crop began to arrive I'm APP
probable numbers in August, the period
from July 10 to August l was. In the Lam
guage Of the trade. a bare season" With
a view of extending the market for Ameri-
can fruit the department made a careful
canvass of the supplies reaching the New
York and Philadelphia markets during that
period, and determined that certain varie-
ties of southern apples could be shipped to
London at a material profit.
Weekly Shipments Begun.
This view was discouraged by many large
shippers and by several English buyers
who come to the United States to purchase
supplies OF the longer-keeping winter ap-
pies. but the department persisted and
made weekly shipments. beginning July
and ending August .. In each instance a
portion OF the shipment was sold on the
New York market, the remainder being sent
to London, and in this way basis for
comparison was afforded The apples ar
iiNcN ih tSohhbh III ebob tbrhitlofi, WIKI the
exception of some particularly soft varie-
ties, and the returns showed gratifying re-
suits. The cabied reports on the last ship
ment showed that one lot of apples. which
Melted the shippers y cents on the New
York market, Melted 81. 10 for the portion
shipped to London. Another. which Melted
the same price for the portion sold In New
York, Melted the shipper 81 81 for the por-
ton sold in London. and a shipment of
peaches made at the same time Melted s1GO
for the portion sold in New York and s2.43
for the London shipment. In all cases the
"siX-basket carrier" containing six four
quart baskets. was the unit Of comparison.
Although the experiments already con-
Quoted warrant the conclusion that this
trade may be profitably cultivated, further
tests will be made for the purpose of de-
termining whether II pays to wrap each
fruit in separate paper. as WAS done In
this instance. and also what form Of pack
age will prove the most suitable IL is also
probable that some experiments will be
inaugurated for the purpose of ascertaining
II suitable apple for the London trade
can be grown at some point further south
than is now the custom. This year il was
impossible to procure apples in proper con-
dition for shipment before July ., and for
that reason advantage could not be taken
of the first week of the bare season., but
apples grown further south might ripen
early enough to do so.
Bartlett Pears.
Last year an extensive grower OF Bart
lett pears was induced to make an ex-
detrimental shipment to London, the de-
partment guaranteeing him against loss
The fruit was divided into two lots, in one
of which each fruit was wrapped in oiled
paper and in the other no wrapper was
used. The shipment Melted gratifying
advance over the American market, and
the wrapped fruit brought a net advance OF
60 per cent over that not wrapped. Next
month a carload of Bartlett pears will be
shipped to London under the direction Of
the department and will be divided into
two grades Part will be wrapped and
part will go unwrapped, and at least three
STYLES of package will be employed. so that
the most economical may be determined
upon.
American Tea.
Another instance of the practical work
being done by the department is furnished
on the New York market at 81 per pound.
The first experiments in growing tea in
the United States were undertaken during
the administration of President Hayes, Mr..
LIE Due then being commissioner of agri-
culture. These experiments, conducted at
Pinehurst. n. c., were subsequently discon-
tinued, the results obtained not being con-
sidered of sufficient Importance TO warrant
their continuance. They were taken up.
however by Mr.. Charles u. Shepard, who
has continued them up to the present time
and with exceptional success. Finding IL DIFF
ficuIt to secure the necessary labor at the
proper time. Mr.. Shepard instituted a school
for colored children, permitting them to
pay for their tuition by picking the tea
leaves. This scheme has worked satisfac-
torily. Another difficulty encountered was
the deficiency of rainfall, which Mr.. Shep-
ard surmouuted by the breeding of varie-
ties which would Withstand somewhat pro-
tracted periods of drought. He further de-
termined that tea could be grown in compe-
tition with the cheap labor of China and
Japan only on condition that the highest
-,ri- lE,, a1
sales on the New York market bear ample
testimony of the success which has attend
ed his efforts in this direction.
Congressional Assistance.
Soon after Mr.. Wilson became Secretary
of Agriculture he grasped the Importance of
the tea industry to the United States. and
secured from Congress a small appropria-
tion for the purpose Of cooperating with
Mr. Shepard. At the last session Of the
Fifty-sixth Congress $1,000 was appropriate
ed for the purpose of enabling the Secre-
tary to continue his Investigations to
whether tea-growing could be made prof
liable industry for the southern states, and
the appropriation for the current fiscal year
amounts to $4,000 A portion of this sum
will be expended in an experiment calcu-
lated to demonstrate whether deficiency of
rainfall can be supplemented by irrigation.
1t is the belief of the experts who have in
yestigated the possibilities OF tea growing
In this country that eventually the annual
expense In establishing tea gardens can. apart
from the fixed charges, be reduced TO -
cents per pound. from which IL can be seen
a handsome profit will be realized. one OF
the secrets of the high price paid for the
American grown tea is the fact that It is q
green tea of the most delicate flavor and
perfect color. produced without the use OF
chemicals. AS is well known, the ordinary
Japan tea is colored by the use OF blue
stone and other injurious materials and the
perfection OF a system by the scientists OF
the Department of Agriculture whereby the
same color can be produced by perfectly
natural means Is regarded by Secretary
Wilson as one OF the triumphs OF his ad-
ministration.