386 



JoiirnaL of Agriculture. 



[8 July, 190; 



in the total quantity exported bids fair to amount to no less than 2,000 per 

 cent, on the quantity exported in 1900. 



The whole of the fruit shipped for this season was exported under 

 the provisions of the newly instituted Commerce Act. Despite the gloomy 

 predictions of most of those concerned in the industry the regulations 

 were found to te easily workable. The Victorian output has been, in 

 every instance, dealt with under Form 2 (Request to Certify and Mark 

 with an Approved Stamp). The method of dealing with goods for export 

 is left to the exporter. If he choose he may send his goods away under 

 an Export Permit. The; latter method has been unanimously adopted in 

 South Australia and Tasmania, but the Victorian growers have found 

 that the uniform excellence of their goods, combined with the application 

 of the official stamp of approval, has done so much to enhance their profits 

 that the\ were loth to abandon the benefits accruing under the old svstem. 



SORTING A MIXED TRUCK. 



When the Commerce Regulations came into operation with provision for 

 official stamping of packages it was feared that the stamping and its accom- 

 j.anying examination of the goods would entail much extra handling and 

 consequent damage. Shippers therefore decided to ship under the Export 

 Permit as was being done in- other States. It was found, however, on the 

 morning of the first shipment of the season, that their fears were ground- 

 less — the fruit was received, examined and despatched with less handling 

 than was necessarv in previous years. The growers and agents were quick 

 to grasp the possibilities afforded by the storage accommodation provided 

 b\ the Department and a reaction set in. From that hour every shipment 

 was dealt with under the system of certification and stamping. 



[n order tO' cope with the work involved in this system the Department 

 of Agriculture has secured the lease of a commodious shed at Port Mel- 

 bourne capalile of containing many thousands of cases. The floor-space 



