14 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. — July, 1922. 



The Export of Dried Fruit: Amended Regulations. 



The attention of those engaged in the dried fruit trade is 

 directed to the amended regulations under the Agricultural Produce 

 Export Act, 1917, for the export of dried fruit, published under 

 Government Notice No. 925 of the 7th June, 1922, and which 

 cancel those previously issued. The new regulations should ca 'e- 

 fully be studied by all concerned, for they contain certain features 

 that exporters need to be acquainted with. There is a rearrange- 

 ment in the manner of packing of the various fruits; the dimensions 

 of the boxes in respect of currants and raisins (14 lb.) have Ix^en 

 altered; further requirements in the manner of marking boxe«: {-.re 

 set out ; fruit must be delivered for inspection not less than 48 hours 

 (not 72 as previously) prior to loading; in grading, sultanas are to 

 have two grades each for bleached and unbleached, the differen(;e 

 between the two grades to be at the discretion of the inspector, while 

 for peaches and apricots the size of the mesh is altered. There are 

 four new clauses regarding raisins (dried grapes) which provide foi 

 the varieties of grapes to be manufactured, the grade that may be 

 exported, the package (boxes of 25 lb.), and the maximum moisture 

 content (15 per cent.). Further, the inspection fee is reduced to 4s. 

 per 40 cubic feet or part thereof. 



South African Wines in Competition. 



To promote the production of pure wines of merit and their 

 consequent consumption is the object of the Colonial Wine Competi- 

 tion held in connection with the Brewers' Exbibition Avhich takes 

 place annually in London. The exhibition will be held this year 

 from the 28th October to the 3rd November, and South African 

 g'rowers who intend to compete .should note that entries close on the 

 14th October next. Entry forms are to be addressed to Mr. Arthur 

 T. Dale, 46 Cannon Street, London, who will furnish full particulars 

 of the competition. A limited number of these forms are in the 

 hands of the Government Viticulturist, Elsenburg School of Agricul- 

 ture, Mulders Vlei, Avho w^'ll, on application, distribute them to 

 intending competitors and furnish them with all necessary particulars 

 regarding the various sections of the competition and the general 

 conditions governing it. 



South African wines have figured prominently in these competi- 

 tions, and it is trusted that advantage will again be taken this year 

 of bringing our wines to the notice of the public oversea. The 1919 

 competition, it will be remembered, resulted in Australia annexing 

 all the first prizes, Avhile South African wines secured only one 

 second and four third prizes. The next year there was a reversal 

 in favour of South Africa : out of the fourteen classes as many as 

 eleven first, five second, and two third prizes being obtained, 

 Australia winning in two classes only. Last year there was a more 

 even distribution of prizes : Australia obtained more of the first 

 prizes awarded than South Africa, but in the aggregate number of 

 awards South Africa was first. The judges' reports on the exhibits 

 are interesting and worthy of consideration. In making their awards 

 in last year's competition they state thnt some of the wines should 



