50 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



next year and that the expenses connected with the importa- 

 tion will be completely recovered. 



Experiments on the transport of grapes were taken up 

 on a small scale in 1912 and it was found possible to send 

 these to Calcutta packed with sunn in the non-returnable 

 crates. The prices realized were Rs. 2 per seer which 

 gives a very good return. Unfortunately the supply of 

 cork dust ordered for the grape packing experiments did 

 not arrive in time, but it is hoped to carry out tests with this 

 material later on. 



As a result of the experiments of 1911 and 1912 it may 

 be said that most of the fruit packing questions have been 

 solved and that packages better and cheaper than anything 

 to be produced locally have been brought to the notice of the 

 trade. For a year or two it will be necessary for Govern- 

 ment to finance the supply of these packages after which 

 it will be best to get an agency established in Quetta and 

 for the trade to supply itself. Mr. Bliss has agreed to take 

 up the agency when the time comes. 



Future Work. 



As most of the initial difficulties connected with the 

 scheme have now been overcome and a beginning has been 

 made with the work, it is not out of place to indicate the 

 lines of future progress and to sum up the present position. 

 The prospects of success of the fruit scheme are exceedingly 

 favourable and there appears to be no reason why the 

 project should not fulfil the expectations of its promoters. 

 As results accumulate and as the water-saving devices 

 become known, there is no doubt that the lessons of the 

 experiment station will be taken up at once. The present 

 methods are haphazard and all that is done after the plant- 

 ing of the trees is to apply water in the most wasteful 

 method that could be devised and take whatever crop hap- 

 pens to be produced. None of the zemindars realize the 

 possibilities of the valley and there is no doubt that an 

 area under fruit and other crops properly managed would 

 revolutionise the present practices. What is possible in 



