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Standardization of Pip-fruits Three standards embodied in the New-Zealand-grown Fruit Regulations 1940, and amendments thereto, are in operation—viz., Fancy, Commercial, and Minimum —and over the past three years' production an average annual percentage of 81 per cent. Fancy, 18 per cent. Commercial, and 1 per cent. Minimum has been maintained. The operation of standard grades for pip-fruits has proved of immense practical value to the producers, auctioneers, retailers, and consumers, and has simplified marketing considerably. From observations made in the main fruit and produce markets of the Dominion it is evident that there is ample scope for improvement in the marketing of stone-fruits, small fruits, and vegetables by the introduction of standard grades for these products. Fruit Cool Storage The cool-storage space available throughout the Dominion has a capacity of 1,105,100 bushel cases, and is distributed as follows :

The stocks of pip-fruit held in cool store on 30th June, 1945, amounted to : Bushel Cases. Apples .. .. .. .. .. .. 628,347 Pears .. . . .. .. .. .. 101,538$ Total .. .. .. .. .. 729,885$ The quantity held in shed storage in orchards was 47,120 bushel cases of apples. A number of stone-fruit growers in Central Otago have erected in their orchards small pre-cooling chambers ranging in capacity from 200 to 1,000 bushel cases, the total capacity of the stores being 4,500 cases. In the coming season a further increase in the number iscontemplated, and several of the present store-owners are considering extensions to their plants, During the year most of the fruit cool stores throughout the Dominion were visited by the Cool Storage Officer, and advice given in connection with improvements and alterations to the cooling systems and equipment. Plant Nurseries Throughout the Dominion for the year 660 nurseries were registered, an increase of 17 compared with the previous year. Each nursery has been inspected at least once during the year. Generally, they are being maintained in a satisfactory condition and reasonably free from disease. The demand for ornamental trees, shrubs, forest trees for farm planting, and bedding-out plants has greatly increased in recent years. The present position is such that active, well-trained young men should be able to make a good living in meeting the demand for public and private tree-planting. There is an ever-increasing demand for trained gardeners in the Dominion, due to the young men of the past fifteen years who might have been expected to take up thenursery trade as a profession having entered other trades offering better opportunities.

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— Public Cool Storage. Growers' Private Cooi Storage. Total. North Island South Island Bushel Cases. 743,980 214,644 Bushel Cases. 72,620 73,856 Bushel Cases. 816,600 288,500 Totals 958,624 146,476 1,105,100