Report of the Department of Agriculture. 561 



at Capetown, has been on sick leave since the 23rd December, 1921. 

 During the first two and a half months of his absence, the Chief of 

 the Division took charge at the Docks at Capetown. Later, when 

 the season had well started, Mr. Edmonds, the assistant, was put in 

 charge, followed by Mr. Nebelung. The volume of export increased, 

 however, to such an extent, that it was necessary to have further 

 assistance, and Mr. R. Bulmer was appointed temporarily, on the 

 26th June, to take charge of the inspection work, and is still in office. 

 It was also found necessary to appoint four temporary hands at 

 various times, to assist in the inspection in order to keep pace with 

 the large quantities of fruit being rushed forward for export. At 

 Poi:t Elizabeth, Mossd liay. East London, and Durban, the inspec- 

 tion is conducted by officers not attached to the Division. These 

 ports will in the near future require to be served by permanent 

 trained men. 



Owing to the slumj) in wine, many of the wine fanners, instead 

 of pressing their grapes, converted a portion into dried grapes 

 (raisins) for export to the Ignited States. Some hundreds of tons of 

 this product found their way to the docks for shipment overseas; 

 as the dried grapes were shipped under Government Regulations, 

 inspection had to be carried out, and temporary assistance had to be 

 given. 



3. ()i'(j(inizatiu)i of Fruit Growers. — -As predicted in the previous 

 year's report, fruit growers have realized the necessity of co-opera- 

 tion, and after many meetings and a certain amount of propaganda 

 work, have formed associations to guard their interests and get their 

 products overseas in the best possible condition. The result of the 

 movement was the establishment of a South African Fruit Exchange. 

 It embodies various sections of the fruit growing interests in the 

 form of divisions, such as a citrus division, a deciduous division, 

 and a pineapple division. These divisions, looking after their own 

 sectional interests, are represented on the Exchange. In general 

 matters such as shipping, buying material, etc., the lixchange 

 operates. The formation of the Exchange will no doubt relieve the 

 Division o'f responsibility in various ways, and perhaps be more 

 satisfactory to growers who join the movement. 



4. Decidvous Fruits. — The export season opened on the 9tli De- 

 cember, 1921, when the first shipment went forward. Climatic condi- 

 tions during the time of export were rather unfavourable, especially 

 towards the end of the season ; grape growers suffered most, spasmodic 

 showers and dull weather at about the ripening time accounting for 

 a good deal of wastage. The varieties croi)ping heaviest were pears, 

 grapes, and peaches; prunes were on the low side, and apricots 

 moderate. Prices for good sound fruit ruled high throughout, 

 especially for grapes. Althougli about 800,000 boxes of all fruits 

 were shipped, better shipping conditions existed than last season. 

 The Department is investigating the probable causes of wastage in 

 export fruit, and no doubt valuable data will lie obtained. 



5. ( itrus Fruifs. — The 1922 export season started on the 20th 

 May. About the commencement of the shipping season, heavy hail- 

 storms swept over parts of the Rustenburg valley and other districts, 

 doing considerable damage to the almost ripe fruit. 



