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98. That is not merely your own opinion, but comes from the fruit-growers generally?— Yes; from the fruit-growers in the Auckland Province. ■ 99. Mr. Blackmore, in his evidence, stated that he was growing apples for market purposes at Whangarei fourteen years ago. Have you any personal knowledge with regard to that ?—I have no personal knowledge, but I have heard it said so. 100. Probably there would be no codlin-moth in that district at that time?— There would certainly be none at Whangarei at that time. 101. So that he would not then have practical experience of growing fruit for market purposes as far as the codlin-moth is concerned ?—lt was not necessary in those days to have any special knowledge of how to combat the codlin-moth. 102. Is it your opinion that the orchardists of Auckland as a body have used every means they could to get rid of the codlin-moth ?—I have already related my own efforts in that direction. It meant bread and butter to myself and to the other growers. We have to earn our livelihood by growing fruit in a great measure, and it was to our direct interest to use every possible measure to keep the moth under. 103. How many orchardists does the Auckland Union represent ?—Probably the agricultural returns would enlighten you better on that subject than I can. We have five hundred members on our books at the present time, and we indirectly represent more than double that number ; that is to say, small orchardists who do not think it worth while to take an active part in the matter. 104. Hon. the Chairman.] All growing fruit for sale?— Yes; I think they all grow fruit for sale. 105. Mr. Lang.] Among the number of fruit-growers in Auckland is it to be supposed that none of these men will do the best in their power to keep down the pest, or do you suppose that generally they would be unwilling to do anything to keep down the pest in their own interest ?—As their livelihood depends upon it, I should imagine they would do anything they could to keep it down. 106. Mr. J. W. Thomson.] Your remarks about spraying had reference wholly to the codlinmoth. Do you not spray for other insects ?—Yes. I have just shown my finger-nails to the Chairman to prove that I spray not only for all insects but for fungoid pests as well. 107. You spray all your trees; you say that the spray does not affect the codlin-moth, but you spray all the trees for other insects ? —Well, the spraying is not so systematic for other insects. Nevertheless, spraying has been necessary and has been efficacious in combating the other insects and also the fungus. 108. What chemicals do you use in spraying?—We tried arsenite of lead very often with the leech, but of course the principal remedy is white hellebore, and we also use Bordeaux mixture. That is a preparation of lime and sulphide of copper. We use them for various diseases in trees. In winter time we spray with a very strong solution, both to keep down the insects and the fungoid pests. We spray for scale-insects and to kill the germs of any fungus, and also for those insects which might hibernate in the ground. We very often saturate the roots of the trees to kill such insects as the aphis and their like which might be concealed there. We find spraying for all these forms of pests very satisfactory and effective. 109. We had it in evidence that the codlin-moth could be altogether put down in three years : do you think that is at all possible ?—Well, sir, I tried for about five years, and I am about as far off as ever from achieving that result. 110. Hon. the Chairman.] Did you destroy the fruit ? We have had it in evidence that the remedy was spraying, bandaging, and destroying the fruit ?—Personally, I have not found that destroying the fruit has much effect. Most practical orchardists will tell you that it is a very trifling remedy. The larvse drop to the ground before the fruit does, and they conceal themselves in the ground, and spin their cocoons, and go through the usual processes. Therefore, although picking up the fruit may lessen the pest, it is a very small aid. It it by no means a remedy. 111. You do not think it possible to exterminate the pest in three years ?—I feel positive that whoever gave that evidence must be labouring under a misapprehension in saying that you could eradicate the pest in that time. You could reduce it to a small compass, but the question of cost is something. If the witness gave a clear account of the profit and loss it would show that there would be a considerable loss. 112. Are you acquainted with legislation in other countries bearing on the subject of fruitpests ? —ln reading over the results of legislation elsewhere, we have found that there the conditions in respect to insect-life are very different from those which exist with us. In the North our climate is much warmer, and it is much harder to combat these pests than in other places. I think that is one of the reasons, and the principal one, why we cannot subdue the moth in the North. 113. I ask that question because your evidence goes to show that there should be no legislation, at least at present, with respect to this industry; but if there is legislation in other countries it would almost lead to the belief that legislation must be effective in those countries, but you say that you have no special knowledge of the legislation in other countries ?—No; I have never made it a special study, but I am always interested in the methods adopted elsewhere in combating pests. 114. If there is legislation in other countries you agree that they have good grounds for believing that it would be of use ?—There is no doubt the efforts made elsewhere to subdue these pests have been more or less effective. In Tasmania the results have proved that it has been fairly effective; but then the climate has been a great aid to them in keeping down the codlin-moth, as against the climate of the North of New Zealand. 115. Mr. Duncan.] You stated, in reading a paragraph out of one of those notes which you have produced, that spraying could not be carried on in the early part of last year; but you did not give the reason why ?—I may say that it was the weather. There were exceptionally heavy showers every day and every week during the critical period when the moth is hatching. 116. Then spraying is useless in rainy weather ?—lt is rendered of very little use. 117. Mr. Massey.] Do you mean that the rain washes the chemicals from the trees ? —Yes. o—l. Ba,