EEPORT ON WORKING OF VEGETATION DISEASES ACT. 21 



exists iu dealing with them and in finding the owners of 

 the places, many of which are unoccupied and still owned 

 by syndicates. They are a menace to genuine orchardists, 

 being veritable breeding-grounds and nurseries for noxious 

 insects and fungi. One inspector is occupying the whole 

 of his time in examining these. We hope that before 

 long these abandoned orchards will cease to exist, the 

 Act giving the inspectors power to destroy all trees 

 which are past redemption, after serving notices on the 

 occupiers or owners. 



Fruit Importation. 



Whilst compelling all fruit-growers to eradicate disease, 

 the Board found that there was great danger of their 

 efi'orts in this direction to some extent being nullified, 

 unless strict supervision were exercised in the examin- 

 ation of fruit and fruit trees imported. As showing the 

 nature of this work of inspection at the wharfs and rail 

 stations, the whole time of one inspector and two assistants 

 is devoted to this work. In Queensland and New South 

 Wales great damage is done to fruit by two species of 

 fruit flies — the Queensland and European. Great appre- 

 hension exists amongst our fruit-growers for fear of the 

 introduction of one or both of these pests. Up to the 

 present time, owing mainly to the strict sujjervision 

 exercised by our inspectoral staflf, neither of these pests 

 has made its appearance. The magnitude of this work 

 will be realized when it is stated that during the fruit 

 season 468,154 bunches of bananas were imported by 

 sea into the colony ; 13,775 bunches and 911 loads of 

 refuse having been condemned and destroyed up to date 

 on account of disease. Of citrus fruits alone 334,260 

 cases have been imported up to date, of which 11,832 

 cases have been condemned and allowed to be transhipped 

 elsewhere. 



In the case of citrus fruits imported from the other 

 colonies, certificates as to the same having been treated 



