524 Journal of the Department op Agriculture. 



been miicli Avorn, the centre of the drum and concave having- had the 

 most work, in consequence of the feeding being necessarily more in 

 the centre than at the ends of the drum, the space between them is 

 greater in the centre than at the two ends, and if they are set to thrash 

 clean in the centre they will be too close at each end, and consequently 

 damage will occur. This fault can only be remedied by putting on 

 new drum- beaters and concave ribs. 



3. Great attention should also be paid to regularity of feeding. 

 The mill should be driven at an even speed, and proper care should 

 be taken over the adjustment of the several parts of the machine. 



4. It is not only in the drum of the thrashing machine that un- 

 necessary damage to the kernel takes place through imperfect setting 

 of the several parts, but also in the barley-awner or hummeler, 

 through which the grain subsequently passes. Here, if the beaters 

 are set too closely, and the barley is roughly handled, "nibbing" 

 will take place. 



Different varieties of barley require different treatment, so that 

 those in charge of the thrashing should make a point of constantly 

 examining the sample, and if this is injured in any way, of ascertain- 

 ing in what part of the machine the injury occurs, altering the setting 

 until it is remedied. 



5. As a further guide in thrashing it may be added that on no 

 account should the barley be rushed through the machine, as it is 

 better to be content with a moderate output and a more perfectly 

 thrashed sample. 



6. It is important that the machine should be thoroughly clean 

 in all parts before commencing the day's thrashing. 



Fruit Export. 



The following are the shipments of fruit for overseas for the 

 month of April, 1921 : — Ex Capetown (boxes) : Grapes, 38,259; pears, 

 56,142; peaches, 46; persimmons, 85; apples, 42; melons, 284; 

 medlars, 4; avocado pears, 8; oranges, 1548. Ex Port Elizabeth 

 (boxes): Pines, 254. Ex Durban (boxes): Pines, 1665; mandarines, 

 96; oranges, 47; naartjes, 37. Total boxes exported during the 

 month: 98,517. 



Total shipments from all ports during the 1920-1921 deciduous 

 fruit season: November, 1920, 42 boxes; December, 1920, 27,422 

 boxes; January, 1921, 76,286 boxes; February, 1921, 141,424 boxes; 

 March, 1921, 104,561 boxes; April, 98,517 '^boxes. Total, 448,252 

 boxes. 



The exports for the 1919-1920 deciduous fruit season amounted to 

 265,300 boxes 



