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



Despite a general lightening- up ui the Export Iteguhition.s, 

 inferior fruit still seems to find its way overseas. This will never be 

 overcome unless growers honestly co-operate with the Department 

 and endeavour, under tiie iustructions of its experts and inspectors, 

 to ship fruit suitable for exj)()rt. It has been stated in previous 

 reports, and is ag'ain emphasized, that the proper place in which to 

 giap])le efl'ectively with tins ])r()blem is in ihe orang'e groves and 

 district packing'-liouses. 



The prices obtained liave not been as high as during- the years 

 immediately after the war. This decline was expected, and will 

 l)robably continue, yet a fair jjroht should be derived from the sale 

 of oranges at from 16s. to 2()s. overseas. It is very noticeable that 

 short counts of large fruit do not realize by from 2s. to 3s. as much 

 as the longer counts of small orang-es. The ship])ing' space arranged 

 through the fruit exchange has lieen g'<H)d, theie being no serious 

 delays at the ports as experienced last season, and from now on, 

 shii)piiig' should be readily available to cope in a reasonable time with 

 everything coming forward. 



6. Fruit Siiiri'ED from the Union. 

 (i) J )cci(hi()iis (inil ollicrsf-. Sctisoii, 1921-22. 



Boxes. Boxes 



Apricots -J, 147 Pineapples 25,506 



Peaches 106,556 Tcmiatoes 11 



Plums 96.665 Pomegranates 178 



Nectarines 19,547 Persimmons 220 



Pears 384,272 Avocado pears 141 



Grapes 195,975 Quinces 316 



Apples 6,{i44 (luavas 16 



Melons 26,627 ITnclassitied 468 



Total 816.289 



(ii) Citrus: Year ettdi'd '.\{)t]i .Tunc, 1922.* 



Boxes. 



Oranges 230.059 



Naartjes 30,474 



Grape Fruit 5,751 



Total 266,284 



7. Pried Frnifs. — The regulations framed by the J)ei)artmen1 in 

 (conjunction with the principal growers and dealers in dried fruits 

 in this country, do not, according to reports from overseas, appear 

 to be effective. Many merchants and dealers overseas state that the 

 grading is not sufficiently based on uniformity of quality, but rather 

 on size, which, as in other fruits, is no Marranty as to quality. 

 Further amendments to the regulations will no doubt he effected, 

 based on the overseas requirements, l)efore next season. 



* This includes the latter part of the 1921 season and the beginning of the 1922 

 season. 



