Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-21
FRUITS AND NUTS.
Business Through Our Ports in Ten
Years $458,OOO,OOO.

Washington, July 19-Fruits and
nuts valued at Sass, 1000, 900 have passed
through ports of the United States dur
ing the last ten years. OF this amount
$28o,0OO,O00 represents the value Of i'm
ports from foreign countries, sl56, 0OO,-
600 exports to foreign countries, $12,-
100000 receipts from non-contiguous
territories of the United States, and
*3,000,O0o shipments to those territories.
the value OF fruits and nuts impor-
tee in,o and exported from the country
in the fiscal year which ended June 30.
1910, was in round terms $50, 0O0, 900, of
which about one-third represented ex-
ports. A compilation made by the Blu
reau of Statistics of the Department of
Commerce and Labor states the years
imports of fruits and nuts at S36, 900 900
and exports at S19,OOO,OO
study of the commercial move
ments during the last decade or two
develops the fact that domestic pro-
ductlon is rapidly supplanting certain
classes CT fruits, formerly imported in
large quantities. This applies especial
ly 20 raisins, prunes and oranges. Ger
tain other line, in which local produc
ton is still insufficient to meet home
consumption, continues to increase in
value Of imports. notably bananas, figs.
walnuts, cocoanuts and almonds. Com
pairing the imports of the year just
ended with those of one and two dec
AIDES ago, imports of fruits and nuts as
whole have increased from $2l 100000
n 1890 and $l9 000,0 600 in 1900 to about
$3.50, 600 900 in 1910. Oranges, which in
1890 showed total importation Of 81
900, 900 had by 1900 decreased to 81 ,000.-
600 and by 1910 to less than 100000 in
value Raisins in 1890 were valued at
S. O0O, 900, in 100 at $500,000 and in 1910
at less than $3.50, 600. Prunes showed in
1890 an importation of $1,l75.OO; in 1900
$4S, 600 and in 1910 an even less value.
Lemons were imported in 1890 to the
value of 1898 900, in 1900 We're So, $50, 900.
but in 1910 decreased to 100000. or
less than the figures of 1890. On the
other hand, bananas. valued al S4,660,-
600 in 1890, increased to 900 in 1900.
and nearly So, 000 90 in 1910. Almonds,
valued at less than 81 100000 in 1890 and
1900, showed in 1910 imports to the val
ue of more than So, 000. 900 Cocoanuts in
1880 We're imported to the value OF
$500 600 in 1900 $7O3, 600, and in 1910 were
about 81 $3.50, 900. Walnuts, first separ-
ately enumerated in 1903, have in
creased in value of imports from lit
tie over 81 900 900 in that year to So, $780,,
900 in 1910.
On the export side far more rapid
growth has occurred since 1890. In that
year the total value of all fruits and
nuts exported from the country was
but "a ,O0O, 900, in 1900 the total had in
creased to nearly $12,000,000. and in 1910
about $40 600 900 The principal articles
contributing to this growth are apples,
pruneS, oranges. raiSinS, apricots,
canned fruits and nuts. Exports of
dried apple have increased from $1,000
600 value in 1890 to $2,250000 in 1900, and
little over 100000 in 1910; apples.
green or ripe, from less than $l,25O,00
in 1890, to Sl,500.OO0 in 1900 and $1,000
600 in 1910; apples as whole thus hav-
ing increased from $2OO0,OOO to over
S., O0O, 900 in twenty years. Oranges of
domestic production increased in value
OF exports from s250,o00 in 1909 to over
s.. 600 900 in 1910; dried appricots from
SITS, 900 in 1902, the earliest year in
which Shown, to 100000 in 1910;
prunes, from 81 800 900 in 1900, to $4,000
600 in 1910; and canned fruits from $780,
ooo in 1890 to $4,000. 900 in 1900, and less
than $4,000. 900 in 1910. The exports of
nuts were $4,000 in 1890. and in 1900
were stated at only $156.OO0. compared
18th about S40G0 900 in the year just end
ed OF the latter class peanuts is the
chief factor. the exports in the last
five years having amounted to nearly
90 coo. 900 pounds. valued at 81, 333.0 900.
OF foreign fruits consumed in the
United States. bananas supply about
one third. The imported bananas come
chiefly from Costa Rica, Honduras. and
Panama in Central America; the Brit
ish West Indies. and Cuba Italy sup
plies practically all the lemons import
ed into the country. OF currants. the
Nante variety. produced in Greece.
supplies most of the imparts. Raisins.
formerly coming in at the rate of ST.
900 900 per annum, chiefly from Spain
and Turkey in Asia. have practically
disappeared as an article of importa-
ton. and, as above indicated are now
becoming an important article of ex-
port.