The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-09
DEMAND FOR APPLES
IS Worldwide NOW.
Supply Not Sufficient to Fill
Orders Here and
Abroad.
FRANCE. e.. Ct IS IN THE MARKET
Reasons Why Product for Export
Should Go in Half
Barrels.
FRANCE is in THE MAR KET
ny WALTER EDWARD HARRIS

WASHINGTON. D. c., June. SIN
line with the editorial in The Times
Dispatch OF Wednesday on the importa-t
ton of Australian apples into this
country, is q report to the Bureau Of
Commerce and Labor by Consul John
G. Covert, of Lyon, France. The re-
port shows thatth demand for apples
in France is very great, which, coupled
with the fact that apples are being1
dicate that the demand for apples is
worldwide, and greater than the sup.
ply.
Consul Covert recently recommended
that apples for shipment to France be
packed in half-barrels instead OF whole
barrels. This appears to have caused
some comment among fruit growers Of
this country, and the consul explains
his reasons therefor:
1.-The wholesale fruit dealers say that
when packed in barrels the lower tiers
of fruit arc often bruised during the
long voyage by rail and sea. and the,
dealers assert that they could sell q
great many half-barrels to people who
would not buy whole barrel. and that
in their auctions sales It is not COM
venient for them to sell by the peck
or tho half bushel. In the Lyon CEN
trail market-house. fruit vegetables and
game are sold every day at auctions.
Such articles ore also sold at auction
in about twenty wholesale houses
throughout the city. The purchasers
always sell these goods again ut retail.
Apples and various vegetables arrive
at the stores or the central market
from Algeria, Tunis and different parts
Of France. packed In large baskets and
willow orates and they are knocked
a ~, ri t.
they reach tho market. They are mover
sold otherwise by these wholesale
dealers than In the original packages.
TN every city and village In France
small shops abound. where vege tables,
fish, olive oil. game and fruit are sold
at retail These little shops are dis
tinct feature OF Fronch trade They arc
generally owned by women who have,
economical q few thousand francs
| (franos, 1913 oents) in domestic service
and who seek this means of placing,
themselves In an independent position
for the rest of thet lives, VI Their only
experience In business has been gather
ed from buying in these little shops for
the families where they were employed
They will buy a half bnrrel or small
box of apples every day or two. while
1 g. whole sDlrrel IS DeyOnu tHelf means.
Apples from Italy come in small boxes
weighing from fifty ono hundred
i pounds, and they sell readily.
"The freight on merchandise shipped
in crates Is less than when shipped In
4 barrels or In close boxes. III order
to enjoy the lower freight rate tho fol,
1 lowing French words must be marked
on the top OF the box: Tarif 10 plus
rebuilt en- caisse clair vote. pommes
a la pello," which. literally translated
means "the lowest tariff In open boxes
i apples by the slloveiful" This state,
ment must also be made in tho invoice
or bill OF lading. Isl
IT have inquired why the freight Il
lower when the boxes are thus mark
ed. and the only answer i have receiyet
Is that the quality Of the merchandise
Is thus known and 1t is intended to
favor farmers by lower freight rates
It Is recommended to place two thick
nessos of paper between tho apples ant
the sides Of the box or barrel. and yont
thickness between each layer Of apples
d Tho custon Jdu ty on apples is three
francs l67.9 3cents) ma xilnuu, and TWO