WAIKATO FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 251, 24 February 1898, Page 2

WAIKATO FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

The regular quarterly meeting of the Waikato Fruitgrowers' Association was held ao Ohaupo on Tuesday. There were present :—Messrs M. G. Farrer (President), J. Sharp, R. Karl, J. Davys, \V. Johns, F. W. Lang, Turney, J. T. Edwards, A. Karl, A. Forkert, F. Potts, G. Edgecumbe and others. Horticultural Show.—Mr J. Sharp reported that so little interest had been shown by the residents in and about Cambridge, that ho and Mr Forrest had come to the conclusion that it would not be feasible to hold the annual Horticultural Show at Cambridge this year. Regret was expressed that a break in the ccntinuty of holding these shows had been made, and an opiuion was expressed that, if in future any of the brauches realized that they could not carry out the ar.nual show, timely intimation should be given to the hon. secretary of the Association, in order that arrangements could be made for holding the Show at some other centre. Size of Fruit Cases.—Some time was devoted to the consideration of this subject, and the importance of deciding upon a uniform s'ze was admitted, but it was also clearly pointed out that different varieties of fruit would require to be packed in different shaped and sized cases. Mr Edgecumbe referred to a discussion that had taken place at the recent Conference of Australian Fruitgrowers at Brisbane, where the measurements of the new Tasmanian case had been recommended, which were as follows :—Full case, 20 inches x 15 inches x 10 inches ; halfcases, 20 x lh x 10 ; quarter cases 20 x 7J x s.—Mr Johns said that at the meeting in Auckland at which he and Mr Ohye had been present as delegates of the Waikato Association, xhey had practically accepted the full case (Tasmanian) as the standard for the apple case, but as regards the half-case it was not considered suitable for packing soft fruits, and in his opinion the half-case or plum case now in use in Waikato could not be much improved upon for carrying soft fruits such as peaihcs, plums, etc. Octside Markets.—The President suggested that some means should be adopted for obtaining correspondents in the different centres iu tho colony to keep the Association posted up as to the rates ruling for fruit, so that advantage could be taken to make shipments, which would not only result in better prices being obtained, but it would also tend to relieve the glut in the Auckland and local markets.—The suggestion was very cordially entertained by the meeting, and the Secretary was instructed to write and ascertain the nalnes of reliable fruit salesmen in Wellington, Napier, New Plymouth, Gisborne, etc., with a view to carrying out the object in view. —Mr Edgecumbe said he was satisfied that this was a step in the right direction, and if the Secretary, after arranging with his correspondents, would instruct them to send Press telegrams containing the desired information, he would publish them iu the commercial columns of tke Saturday issue of The Argts.—lt was decided to accept Mr Edgecumbe's offer.