19- Journal of Agriculture. [8 March, 1907. 



THE ORCHARD. 



James Lang. Harcourt. 



The export season for fruit is now in full swing, and, judging by the 

 quantity of cool-chamber space engaged, the season promises ro be a recor.l 

 one as far as this State is concerned. The quality of the fruit is good, 

 the seasonable rains we had in the latter part of January and beginning 

 of February having helped to swell the fruit to a good average size, ro 

 that there should be no complaint about undersize when it reaches Covent 

 Garden Market. 



The crop of apples this year is very much above the average, so that 

 those growers who ship to oversea markets are likely to do better than 

 those who realize locally. 



Pears are still an unsatisfactory fruit to ship on account of the l)ad 

 co'ndition in which many consignments arrive; still, growers must persevere 

 with small consignments until the conditions become more satisfactory. 

 The chief difficulty lies in the temperature of the cool chamber, which 

 should be as near as possible 35 degrees, and not exceed 40 degrees. 

 Pears should be placed in a separate compartment, so as to i:)e more under 

 the control of the refrigerating engineer. The method of packing pears 

 also requires attention ; the best results so far have been obtained from 

 those packed in trays. Three trays, tacked together by cleats at the ends, 

 form a package about the same size as the bushel case. Each tray holds 

 about 2)^ fruits, making 108 fruits in each package. There is no reason 

 whatever Avhv pears should not carry as safely, and arrive in as good 

 condition, as apples. 



The varieties which so far have given the best results are Winter 

 Nelis, Josephine d'Malines, Beurre d'Anjou, Beurre Clairgeau, Vicar of 

 Winkfield, and Broompark. There is a good market for pears in London 

 provided thev arri\-e in satisfactory condition ; prices last year ranged from 

 IDS. per case to 30s. per case. The shipping companies are now taking 

 more care of the pear consignments than they have hitherto done, so that 

 it is to be hoped thev will be able to land pears in as good condition as 

 they do apples. When thev are able to do so, a very lucrative market 

 will be opened up to pear growers. 



It is verv much to be regretted that the fruit-flv pest has obtained a 

 footing in manv Victorian gardens. On account of it being fo'Und in so 

 many centres, the danger of it spreading throughout the State is ver}' great, 

 and, therefore, it is hoped that the Government Erstomologist and his in- 

 spectors will be successful in their efforts to stamp out the pest. Orchardists 

 should, in their own interests, assist the inspectors in every way, both in 

 locating the pest and carrying out instructions in regard to its destruction, 

 no matter how drastic they may appear to be, because, should the fly 

 obtain a footing in our orchards, the result will be disastrous to the fruit- 

 growing industry. 



It has been the opinion of many growers that the fruit-fiy could not 

 live in Victoria on account of the cool climate, but this opinion has now 

 been completelv shattered, and we will be extremely fortunate if the pest 

 is stamped out at the present time. 



The great source of infection is the imported fruit from New South 

 Wales and Queensland, and the question whether prohibition should not 

 be enforced against soft fruits coming from infested States will now have 

 to be seriously faced. 



