602 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. — Dec, 1922. 



oit'ered for export. The regulations were not foiuiil suitable in seveial 

 respects and will have to be reconsidered. The main object aimed at, 

 however, namely, the prevention of the export of inferior fruit, wa.s 

 attained. Many growers suffered loss from lack of knowledge of the 

 new requirements; not only were low prices realized for rejected fruit 

 placed on the port market, but railage had to be borne needlessly. 

 The question of inspection is bound up with proper packing facilities. 

 While the present system obtains, by which each grower packs for 

 himself, a larger quantity is likely to be rejected than if central 

 packing could be instituted. If present conditions prevent central 

 packing, the question of inspection at some centre inland may have to 

 be resorted to to obviate the long railway journey in respect of 

 rejected fruit. 



The quantity of fresh deciduous fruit shi])ped in 1921-22, com- 

 pared with 1920-21, amounted to: 1921-22, 810,289 boxes; 1920-21, 

 451,319 boxes. 



The climatic conditions in the latter months of the season were 

 unfavourable, severely affecting the keeping qualities of the grape 

 crop. 



It will be seen that, both in regard to citrus and deciduous fruit, 

 there is a large increase in the export trade. Large progressive 

 increases in the quantities available for export will take place in the 

 next few years. Fortunately, the fruit growers have taken the wise 

 step to form themselves into one organization, and they are, there- 

 fore, in a far better position than formerly, both to secure the neces- 

 sary cold storage space on outgoing vessels and to purchase their 

 requirements for the trade at lower rates. 



A great advance was made in the exportation of dried fruit, as 

 the following return indicates : — ■ 



Exports for 1922 already indicate a large increase over those for 

 1921. 



In the latter year the regulations as to grading and inspection, 

 which then came in force, could not be strictly applied, as they had 

 to be introduced in mid-season, and neither farmers nor the trade 

 had made adequate provision for meeting them. From the beginning 

 of 1922 the regulations were enforced to the letter. This action, 

 however, brought out some defects, judged from the point of view of 

 trade requirements on the London market, notwithstanding that the 

 regulations were framed at the request and upon the advice of 

 exporters. These remarks apply more particularly to raisins. It 

 would seem that there is a market for inferior as well as for high-class 



