Show I 1 TASMANIAN APPLES I 1 0 the following information c concerning tasmanian Tasman lan apples and their competition with the american fruit in the british market Is IB furnished by consul henry D baker of hobart As tha th chief industry of southern tasmania is the growing of apples for export tW to england germany south Ameri cathe other states of the australian commonwealth and new zealand much interest Is attached to that part of the report of the hobart chamber of commerce dealing with the 1908 season of the tasmanian Tasman lan apple trade it will be noticed from this report that competition in the I 1 ondon london market with unexpectedly large supplies of american cold stored apples was the cause cause for a depression in prices tor for the tasmanian Tasman lan apples shipped to england the growers who had not booked space on the english steamers found a ranch much more profitable market this year on the mainland of australia where prices were extraordinarily high owing to short crops not only of apples but of oranges and other fruits the report of the hobart chamber of comai commerce ace states as follows follow s reports from london received before the season commenced gave hopes of a brisk market in england and anticipations of a heavy crop on this side led to a belief that large supplies would be available consequently the booking of space was considerably sider ably above the average and extra steamers had to be engaged to meet the demand and eyen even then all available space was deemed insufficient and a general reduction in allotments had bad to be made As the months rolled on a change came over th the scene reports of land began to bo be circulated and growers in tasmania also felt anxious as they found their own crops showing signs of shortage and the question of tilling filling tho the steamers caused some apprehension ben slon the first few steamers camo came and secured their cargoes without much difficulty and then the strain commenced short crops were everywhere ever y apparent and with the shortage on the mainland there was an in croas ing difficulty in getting fruit t to till fill the english steamers sl camera mers the mainland markets proving so BO attractive attract to growers who had bad not booked space the competition for apples thus brought about forced prices up to a level they had not reached for very many years so that although tho the total crop may have been slightly y below the average the total crop M must have been considerably sider ably greater greate r in contrast to the state of things existing in tasmania the market in london and on an the continent of europe disappointed all expectations and instead of the early london forecasts being realized prices dropped to a very low level the causes for this were undoubtedly the reflex ution action ot of the american depression causing financial stringency general depression in III tho industrial centers of great britain unexpectedly largo supplies of american cold stored apples placed on the market late a t 0 1 in n the season and the heaviest strawberry crop on record the fruit generally speaking carried well and it Is now in an f tact act that shipping companies compani compan lea eg can by proper caro and suitable slit table appliances insure tho the landing of fruit in england in perfect condition this ot of itself la Is a matter for congratulation as it opens a vista for future fluture trade which could not have been dreamed of under the old unsatisfactory conditions the total shipments of 0 all kinds of fruit up to date for the season have been over cases representing a value of about pounds 1 this Is an increase in quantity of say cases there were cases sent to london bases cases to germany and cases to south america the balance being sent to australia and new zealand |