50 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



in the growing of tomatoes on improved lines. During the 

 present year, further progress was made on the work of re- 

 novation and it is hoped to get at least half of the land 

 ready for a clover crop this autumn. Next year it is pro- 

 posed to plant this area up in fruit trees. 



A considerable amount of work was done in 1911 in 

 working out the best methods of transporting fruit to 

 India. It was found that the cheapest and best packages 

 were those made up with chip and boards imported from 

 Glasgow. Returnable boxes made of venesta wood were 

 found to be impracticable under Indian conditions on 

 account of the frequent overcharges and mistakes made by 

 the Railway Companies in sending the empties back to 

 Quetta. Any one sending returnable fruit boxes on Indian 

 Railways on a large scale would have to keep at least one 

 clerk to check the charges and to file claims. Another 

 difficulty in connection with sending fruit by rail was the 

 numerous thefts on the trains. If a merchant sending 

 fruit from Quetta were to complain every time these thefts 

 occurred, another extra clerk would be required for the 

 correspondence that would be involved. 



As a result of last year's experiments non-returnable 

 boxes for the five-seer rate were designed and steps were 

 taken to import a supply of material for these sufficient to 

 meet the demands for 1912 and 1913. In addition, a supply 

 of other boxes for experiments with tomatoes and other 

 fruits was imported. 



In carrying out the work at Quetta I have been greatly 

 assisted by Mr. H. R. C. Dobbs, C.I.E., Officiating Revenue 

 Commissioner in Baluchistan, who did a great deal to 

 further the work after my departure in September 1911. 

 Colonel McConaghey, C.I.E., the Political Agent at Quetta, 

 has also rendered vahiable assistance, while the work con- 

 nected with the artesian bores and the pumping experi- 

 ments was only possible through the readv help given by 

 Colonel Williams. R.E., Secretary to Government in the 

 Public Works Department, and by Colonel Picton. 



