Report of the EntomoJogwt. 859 



The grain sent from India and other countries is very dirty, and 

 should be fumigated at the port of shipment. This is important. 



The Knglish starlings, after having driven off most of the small 

 insect-eating birds, are increasing with extraordinary rapidity, and if 

 some prompt and decisive measures for their destruction be not soon 

 taken the fruit-grower has a serious time before him. I consider it 

 my duty, as one in charge of the branch, to draw attention to this 

 matter, which is of great urgency. 



Examination of Imports and Exports of Fruit, Plants 



and Grain. 



In the table devoted to imports, and compiled by Inspector Turner 

 who is in charge, it will be seen that no less than 653,(589 bunches of 

 bananas were imported during the year, out of which number 59,849 

 bunches were condemned either on account of the presence of fruit-tly 

 larvae or as having become heated on the voyage, the refuse being 

 either towed outside the Heads by means of barges or given to the 

 cow-keepers, who have, under our supervision, to steam all fruit before 

 carting away. 



The following report of Inspector Turner will furnisli a correct 

 idea of the amount of fruit inspected and of the large amonnt of 

 clerical work involved thereby : — 



IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF FRUIT. PLANTS AND GRAIN. 



Inspector Turner reports : — The returns for the year ending June 30th (see under 

 Statistics), compared with the previous year, show an increase in tlie amount of fruit, 

 plants and grain inspected under the Vegetation Diseases Act and a falling off in the 

 number of packages from extra Australasian ports. This is satisfactory enough, but 

 the large decrease in the number of packages exported from Victoria, nearly 200,000, 

 requires explanation. This decrease may be attributed to two causes, the first being 

 the severe drought of the preceding year and the second the imposition of a charge for 

 the services of the inspectors. When this fee, charged upon exports only, was imposed 

 exporters immediately ceased to call for inspection and their products were sent away 

 without the usual certificates. The work of the inspectors was then confined to such 

 fruit as was sent to the ports where a certificate is necessary. This has involved extra 

 clerical work, which, added to the particularly heavy amount of supervision over 

 disposal of condemned fruit, has taken up the time lost. The export of fruit to London 

 was considerably lessened by the hailstorms of the early part of the season and the 

 keen competition of the Canadian stored apples. A serious falling off in the South 

 African trade demands investigation : the number of cases sent there last year (1903) 

 amounted to 15,250 cases, while this year the number was only 440 cases. 



The announcement that the Government has set aside a sum for the erection of a 

 shed at Port Melbourne for the protection of fruit for export should give satisfaction to 

 those exporters who have suffered long from the effects of exposure to weather and 

 pillage. 



Other matters, such as the proposal to erect a plant for treating second-hand fruit- 

 cases, the results of ^prosecutions for offences against the Vegetation Diseases Act., etc., 

 are dealt with elsewhere by Mr. French. 



It is my pleasurable duty to thank those who have again con- 

 tributed to either the library or the museum, also those of the 

 inspectors who have assisted in field work, l)y lectures and ex- 

 periments. 



