436 Journal of the Department of agriculture. 



Inside the case tlieie must have been niillioiis of mould spores, yel 

 after three weeks not a single other fruit was wasty. The only conclu- 

 sion is that the remaining fruit must have been free from injury in 

 the skin. (3) Citrus fruit from Clanwilliam showed a higher 

 percentage of waste than citrus from other parts of the TTnion. 



On the London Market. — Observations were made during Se}iteiiil>ei- 

 on citrus fruits offered for sale on the London markets, and s|)e<ial 

 emphasis is laid on the following points :— (1) The extremely unattrac- 

 tive appearance of South African packs compared with those from other 

 countries. (2) Disregard in packing South African blemished fruit and 

 lack of careful selection with regard to quality. (3) The blemished 

 fruit noticed included brown spots, nail marks, large scars, and even 

 thorns themselves. (4) Navel packs with a very pronounced bulge 

 showed up to 25 per cent, waste. (5) Badly ventilated cases also 

 showed excessive waste. (6) The presence of perfectly sound fruits 

 adjacent to a mass of mouldy ones, again showing the importance of 

 an uninjured skin. (7) About 20 cases of navels packed in fungus- 

 infected boxwood and carelessly wrapped showed no wastage. Such 

 unattractive packs would sell at a loss to the grower. (8) Absence 

 of steady demand for large, light thick-skinned fruits. (9) The 

 importance of developing a trade in early and late varieties of South 

 African citrus fruits and not specializing on navels only. (10) Th? 

 poor keeping qualities of fruits from certain areas. (11) On the 

 voyage, citrus fruits in the cool (diambeis showed a smaller percentam' 

 of waste than those in ventilated holds, but broke down more rapidly 

 after unloading. 



From observations and results independently obtained, it appears 

 that with the greatest possible care in picking, grading, and packing, 

 all other conditions being favourable, South African fruit could be 

 put on the London market in a practically sound condition. On 

 attaining this, it only remains for growers to set up sufficiently 

 attractive looking packs for South African fruits to hold their own 

 with competitors from any part of the world. 



Export of Grain, etc. 



During the month of March. 1921, the following quantities of 

 grain, etc. (in bags), were exported: Maize, 396,216; maize meal, 

 74,376 ; hominy chop, 1920; oats, 4399; rye, 2067 : bran, 1000: lucerne 

 seed, 115; kaffir corn. 564; total, 480,657. 



The total number of bags exported for the period 1st July, 1920, 

 to 31st March, 1921, was: Maize, 952,207: maize meal, 362,548; 

 maize flour, 1199 ; maize grit (rice), 3111 ; hominy chop, 57,311 ; kafiir 

 corn, 1715; oats, 16,478; beans, 1213; lucerne seed, 481; rye, 4836: 

 millet, 11; bran. 1500; total, 1,402,610 bags. 



Stocks in hand at all ports at 31st March, 1921, were (in bags) : 

 Maize, 274,784; maize meal, 16,651; oats, 233; hominv chop, 130; 

 rye, 1698; kaffir corn, 166; total, 393,662. 



