724 Journal of Agriculture. [9 Dec, 1907 



Inspector W. H. G. Keys : — " My appointment as an Inspector under 

 the Commerce Act being contemporaneous with the opening of the export 

 season to Europe only I cannot report as to the condition &c. of fruits 

 exported prior to that time. Regarding my work of inspection in connexion 

 with the above-mentioned season I have the honour to report that as the 

 task of handling shipments was wholly taken over by the Department 

 this season much extra labour thereby devolved upon the staff. The work 

 was so heafvy as to oftentimes necessitate the attendance of the staff for 

 50 ho'urs without a break. Much of this occurred through the inadvertence 

 of the consignors loading consignments of pears and apples promiscuously 

 in the same truck. In other instances again, consignments belonging to 

 two, three, or more senders would be mixed indiscriminately in the trucks. 

 This necessitated unloading these trucks and shifting the consignments in 

 order to check the quantity stated on the way-bills. The trucks provided 

 were also in many cases unfit for the carriage of perishable produce. In- 

 stead of forwarding consignments in the ' U ' loinre truck these were 

 often sent in open ' I ' trucks with merelv a tarpaulin thrown over osten- 

 sibly to keep out wet. They did not even answer this purpose effectually 

 in every instance as cases often occurred in which consignments arrived 

 in trucks with water covering the floor owing to the unsound condition of 

 the tarpaulins. In hot weather moreo'ver the temperature under these 

 coverings in the truck often exceeded 120 degrees.'' 



Inspector Cole: — " I have the honour to submit my report concerning 

 work done by me under the Commerce Act. Regarding the fresh fruits, 

 the chief fault I have noticed is in connexion with the packing. Much of 

 this has been loosely done and more apples could often have been put 

 in the cases. In other respects the products have been up to the require- 

 ments. Concerning dried fruits it would be well for exporters to note 

 that many of the cases are too fragile and the wood too brittle. Some of 

 the cases arrive at the port of export with half the covering lid missing. 

 1 his of course is attended to when practicable by the coopers attached to 

 our staff. The spaces moreover, between the slats are often too wide 

 and allow the dirt to fall through to the detriment of the fruit. Jams 

 and fruits in liquid have been put up in much stronger packages than 

 those above-mentioned and have been packed and marked in accordance 

 witli the Commerce Act." 



GARDEN NOTES. 



/. Crouiii, I u sped or, Vegetation Diseases Acts. 



The Amaryllis. 



Amaryllis is a genus of deciduous bulbous plants found nati\e in South 

 Africa, consisting of a single jpecies, A. belladonna, of which there are 

 several varieties. The genus at one time included plants now known under 

 the names of Vallota, Sfrekelia, ZefhyrantJies, and Hippeastrnm, the 

 last mentioned being still included in Amaryllis in many garden and trade 

 collections. Amarvllis belladonna — the Belladonna lily and its varieties — 

 produces its blooms without foliage during summer and autumn, the leaves 

 developing after the flowers die. The growth of foliage continues 

 throughout winter and spring, the foliage dying and the bulbs resting 

 during the greater part of summer. Hippeastrums are natives of Brazil 



