Journal of Agriculture. [9 Dec, 1907 



and in it dissolve soap. Add tobacco water and spray when warm. 

 Note. — Never boil tobacco as the nicotine which is volatile is evaporated. 



Black Spot on Apple and Pear. 



Spray with Bordeaux Mixture as leaf buds are opening and again just 

 before flower buds expand. 



Bordeaux Mixture Formula. — 6 lbs. bluestone, 4 lbs. fresh unslaked 

 lime, 50 gallons of water. Slake lime with small quantity of water and 

 then make up to 25 gallons. Dissolve bluestone in 25 gallons of water. 

 Run evenly into third vessel through strainer. Stir well and apply with 

 fine spray. 



Leaf Curl of Peach. 



Spray wim Bordeaux Mixture, double strength (6.4.25 formula) about 

 ist August and again before buds open with 6.4.50 formula. 



Apricot Scab. 



Spray as directed for leaf curl of peach and in bad cases give two 

 sprayings after fruit sets with 6.4.50 formula. 



THE FRUIT EXPORT TRADE. 



During the past season about 200,000 packages of fresh and dried 

 fruit have been inspected under the Commerce Act. 



Subjoined are notes and observations from officers of the staff engaged 

 on the work of inspecting products intended for export as furnished to the 

 Chief Inspector : — 



Inspector Meeking writes : — • 



In reply to your request I have the honour to submit notes and obser- 

 vations on the work performed by me under the Commerce Act from ist 

 October, 1906, to 30th June, 1907. 



When the Commerce Act came into operation last year the fruit export 

 season to the United Kingdom and Europe had finished. The busiest 

 period of the export trade to New Zealand was just about to start and it 

 was in connexion with this that most of the work under the new Act com- 

 menced. All exporters concerned in the above-mentioned trade cheerfully 

 complied with the regulations. A few hitches occurred at the outset re- 

 garding early notification of the ofiice in connexion with intending ship- 

 ments but these soon lessened and eventually ceased. The fruit exported 

 to New Zealand was mostly of uniform excellence both in respect of sound- 

 ness and general qualitv. The shippers engaged in this trade exercised 

 much care in the selection of their products. Much of the fruits sent to 

 New Zealand, notably cherries, is shipped direct by growers. The manner 

 m which some of these products are put up reflects great credit to the 

 senders. The work in connexion with the inspection of fruits shipped 

 at Port Melbourne and Willi amstown for export to the United Kingdom 

 and Europe, owing to the necessary exercise of care in checking trade 

 descriptions &c. was greatly increased. Although the whole of the ship- 

 ments were handled by this Branch both in regard to the work of tallying^ 



