90 Journal of Agriculture. [8 Feb., 1907. 



It may here be pointed out that although the Fruit Cases Act does not 

 come into force until ist July of this vear, and therefore there is, at pre- 

 sent, no necessity to comply with that Act, exporters must remember that 

 the Commerce Act is now in actual operation. Thus the sizes set out in 

 the Act of the future mav be utilized for the benefit of growers shipping 

 under the Act of the present. 



Fruit intended for export must be marked " Apples " or " Pears " (or 

 such description as the contents mav warrant), together with the net weight 

 or quantity; the word " Australia,'' the name of the State where grown, 

 and the name of the exporter or his registered brand. It is recommended 

 that the old-established practice of marking the variety of the fruit be 

 adhered to. The size in inches should also be given as formerly. A 

 case marked as above should look like that on the preceding page. 

 The address of the grower may be included, if desired. The whole of 

 the above brand must be marked on one end of the case, with the exception 

 of the first line (variety and size of fruit) which is optional. The word 

 "net " is also optional, but nevertheless the weight or quantity given must 

 be net and no other. Port marks or consignees' l>rands may be aflfixed on 

 any other part of the case — the other end preferably. 



The use of a brand or initials is prnhibitecl. unless such are registered. 

 Application has to be made to the Comptroller-General of Customs for 

 the registration of brands, and only brands which have been registered as 

 trade marks under a State or Commonwealth Act are eligible for regis- 

 tration with the Comptroller-General. When making application, it is 

 advisable to quote the number of the registration, so as to facilitate check- 

 ing. It is urged that different brands should be placed on fruit con- 

 signed to different ports, or to or through different agents, otherwise mis- 

 takes are frequently made at the port of discharge in parcels reaching the 

 wrong agents or consignees. Port marks or consignees' brands need not 

 be registered. 



Having packed and stamped the cases, in accordance with the above 

 directions, it will be necessary to notify the examining officer as to the 

 time and place of examination. This may be done bv advice note, or by 

 simply filling in and forwarding a Notice of Intention to Export (Form 2). 

 This form applies more particularly to single shipments, but another form 

 (Form 4) mav be sent to cover shipments for the whole of the season in 

 advance. Should this latter form be used, shippers must take care to 

 notify the officer if any alterations are made as the season progresses. 

 When making out these forms, the exporter will make a declaration as to 

 the condition of the fruit as to soundness. (See Forms 2 and 4.) This 

 declaration may be made before a justice of the Peace, or before any 

 Customs officer. The officer inspecting the fruit is a Customs officer, and 

 a declaration given to him will suffice. Another form (Form 5), requesting 

 the officer to certify and mark the goods with the Commonwealth stamp, 

 must also be sent with the Notice of Intention ; but if a shipper does not 

 desire his fruit to be certified and stamped, this form is not required. 

 Specimen copies of these forms are given at the end of this article. 



With regard to this last instruction, it must be explained that when 

 an exporter does not desire his fruit to be certified to or stamped, the 

 fruit nevertheless must undergo the usual examination by the Government 

 officials. All the other conditions must be also fulfilled, as previously ex- 

 plained, and in addition to this the cases must be marked so as to show 

 the condition of the fruit as to soundness. This throws upon the 



