THE FRUIT TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1373, 7 February 1905, Page 2

THE FRUIT TRADE.

[(To the EditOE .Gisborne Times.), Dundedin, Jan. 31. Sir, —No doubt you aro aware that the Government intend to enforce tho Orchard and Gardon Pests Bill in regard to frnit from all disease infected districts. Take, for instance, Auckland, this Bill provides that no apples are allowed to be sold within the Auckland province if infected with more than 5 per cent of codlin moth, and to be exported from Auckland they must bo free of codlin moth. The Tarawera, when she last arrived from Auckland, had several parcels of apples for Dunedin auctiuoers. Three small lots were badly infected with codlin moth, and two other lots, showed slight traces. Those that showed slight traces were allowed to pass, and three small lots were condemned but held over, consequently instructions were sent from Wellington to let them pass this time, but to give the shippers notice that for the future they would be condemned. It is therefore necessary that the Auckland shippers, as well as the Auckland growers, should use every care to send nothing but the very best to this market. The varieties that wore badly infected were the Gravenstein, Irish Peach and Astrachan. This, of course, is a serious question for the province of Auckland, where most of tho infected apples come from, the other districts being moro or less clean. It therefore behoves the grower to set his house in order and wage war against the pest. • In Tasmania tho Government assist the growers somewhat, and from there we get no infected apples. The Government insert advertisements.in the various papers throughout Tasmania, when the growers aro compelled to put on the bandages, and when they aro to be removed, the bandages always being boiled down or burnt after removal. Spraying is also resorted to, and the spray and hired labor are always busy when the moth is on the wing, and every apple that is attacked or stung in the early stages is picked off and boiled down immediately. But independent of this there are still considerable quantities' of codlin moth infected apples, and also apples infected with black spot, scales, cracks and various other diseases. These are taken by cart to the evaporators whioh are established in tho various apple districts. The plant is cheap,and boy and girl labor is used. The proprietors pay Is 6d per case for these apples, and the grower takes his empty cases back with him. These cases obtain from 30 to 401bs. In factory they are peeled, cored, aud sliood by machinery, and evaporated, packed in boxes, and sold over the Commonwealth at 5d and 6d per lb, tho imported evaporated apple being kept out by high tariff. This should be done in Auckland also, but as the district is a struggling one perhaps some arrangement could be como to with the Government that all apples come forward to Auckland, the inspector only allowing the clean fruit to be shipped, and infected fruit to be purchased by the evaporator, which could be made cooperative, seeing that there are several strong fruit-growers’ associations in the various districts of Auckland. We also believe thot the Government would be williog to refund the railway charges on infeoted apples that would be condemned to go to the evaporator, or if co-operative evaporators are not in favor, perhaps one of the jam or preserving works in Auckland would take this matter in hand. Although a great deal could be done in the Auckland province to keep the post in hand we do not think it can be entirely eradicated through the climate being against it, the codlin moth setting two or three broods in a year, but still, by working and cultivating the orchard well, with bandaging and spraying, a great deal could be done. ' No doubt the expense is somewhat heavy, but these charges are amply repaid by the prices paid for goodkeeping apples later in the season, seeing that the New Zealand grower is protected by 4s per bushel case from the 14th July | to the end of December, and 6s per bushel cuse from December to the 14th July. Those items aro mado up of freight, harbor dues, cartages, commission audjduty, aud as the Tasmanian grower is satisfied with from 3s to 4s per bushel case net for the fruit be sends to tbe Hobart market, surely it should pay the New Zealand grower to grow and cultivate apples aud see that they are clean. Other countries are troubled with the same pests under which we suffer in New Zealand, and make it pay. Enormous quantities are grown both in Canada and the United States, and these aro shipped via New York to European ports, aud sold there with a profit to the grower. If you take those facts into consideration, and also that Tasmania ships some 700,000 bushel

I cases per year, .surely there is something I in an apple orchard. We would also bring I before the various growers and shippers I the necessity for care in grading the apples. The Tasmanian pacljiDg is perfect, but we cannot say the same of those I that we get from the North Island. DnrI ing the months of November and DeI comber wo had two consignments of apples I from Canada, which came some 800 I miles inland, and were shipped from YanI couver Ivia Brisbane and Sydney to our port. The apples were beautifully got up, and were .certainly superior fruit to that I grown in-tbe United States, both in appearance and flavor. One shipment came as general cargo, and the other was sent under a temperature of 40 degrees. These apples were perfect, - while thpse sent as general cargo, but in the cool part of the vessel, were only partially sound, but we believe that was partially owing to tho apples not being of good keeping quality. —We are, elc.,

A. Moritzson and Co.