APPLES FOR EXPORT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1739, 2 May 1913, Page 8

APPLES FOR EXPORT.

, LIGHT FROM AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE. Reporting on tlio apple export- trade, ; Major .Norton, Tra.de Commissioner in, Ixmdon for South Australia, remarksinter alia, that tlio shipping to England or the Continent of immature or unsuitable apples is a great disadvantage to glowers. Major Norton criticises last teasoti's shipments from South Australia by saying that at least 25 per cent, ought never to havo' been sent. Too much sent was so .immature that it became shrivelled on teaching the English climate, end the sales returns in mnny instances liid not covcr out-of-pocket expenses. Such indifferent lots also affect the selling average, and the prices for good apples , suffer. The Trade Commissioner Btrongly urges that several varieties—notably Gravenstoin, Den Davis, Hoover, ■Nickajack, Shepherd's Perfection, and Pimilar kinds—should never bo shipped st all. Many of these are bad carriers, nnd uono of them is liked in tho English market; he thcreforo.Vecommends their being dried, but on no account should tliev be sent oversea. Tlio varieties appioved, and which under normal conditions will always yield good returns, ho suggests nro Cleopatra,.Jonathans, prnnge Pippins. Dunn's Seedling, Rome Beauties, Wellingtons, Stone Pippins, and SpitzenI>erg. His advice lo those dosiious of doing.an export business is not to grow any other units, unless akin- (o tlio kinds named. New lines should bo avoided, as tlio regular buyers do not care to -venture beyond what they aro previously accustomed 10, and in conset|uenco new varieties suffer in prices realised. Less variety but moro reliability is emphasised.

Mr. 'T. Blatchford asked the Government Biologist (Mr. A. IT. Cockayne) after (lis address in Alasterton 011 Saturday, if he could recommend a c»ro | for eloversickness in pastures. Jlr. Cockayne reJilied that ho had not heard of nnich clover-sickness in New Zealand. Usually there was sufficient stock to keep it down. It had been suggested that the repeated: (-owing of land with certain grasses imparled a poison to the soil. This lpatter was being investigated by scientists, but vo conclusion had yet been arrived at on the question.