lo Nov., 1911.] Greek Currants. 767 



bags, for manufacturing purposes, has been sold at from 17s. 6rl. up to 

 20s. 6d. per cwt. c.i.f. Rotterdam. 



Frerjuent allusion is made lo the Privileged Currant Company which, 

 it will be remembered, is a semi-Government institution, founded some 

 years back at a time of severe crisis, ow-ing to very low prices, in order to 

 improve matters by holding over or otherwise dealing with the surplus 

 currant production. Subsidized eradication of vineyards has also been 

 resorted to by the Greek Government. Though the currant situation has 

 certainly improved, the working of the convention for eradication still 

 continues ; about 4.000 acres were uprooted last year, the compensation 

 paid by the Privileged Company amounting to a little over ;^66, 000. It is 

 expected that 10,000 acres will be uprooted during the next twelve months. 



The Privileged Company received during the season in their w^arrant stores 

 9,200 tons of fruit, all of which has been taken out. They have purchase(;J 2,500 

 tens of fresh currants, but not any dried fruit, as the market prices have been, 

 all through the season, above the convention limits. In their retention stores the 

 company received 27,000 tons, making with the balance brought over from the 

 previous season, 44,500 tons. Of this quantity, 40,500 tons have been appropriated 

 as land tax for the shipment of the 114,500 tons, and the balance is carried over 

 to the new season in retention certificates. The retention currants, as well as 

 the fresh currants purchased by the company, have been sold as usual to the local 

 distillers and the Wine and Spirits Company. The total quantity of currants 

 used by these manufacturers during the season has been 47,000 tons, against 38,000 

 and 39,000 tons during the two preceding seasons. 



There was no dividend paid on the shares of the Privileged Company in 1910. 

 The Wine and Spirits Company paid ,14 per cent, for 1910 and an interim divideml 

 of 5 per cent, for 1911. 



The numerous references to shade-dried fruit, as being of highest 

 quality, are interesting j they prove that recent developments at Mildura, 

 where the use of drying racks is replacing the older method of drying in 

 trays, in the sun, are on essentially sound lines. 



Professor Perkins, Principal of Roseworthy Agricultural College, South 

 Australia, in his interesting reports on "Agriculture in Other Lands'" 

 refers to the Greek currant crisis as follows* : — 



Prior to 1870, the average currant crop appears to have been about 75,000 tons, 

 the whole of which found a very ready market. Towards that time European vine- 

 yaids began to die out before the attacks of the phylloxera, and as in the south of 

 Europe wine practically forms a staple article of diet of the whole population, wine 

 merchants proceeded to buv up in the ICast all dried fruit available, including 

 currants, from which wine could be made. The misfortunes of European vine- 

 growers gave a tremendous impetus to currant planting in Greece, with the result 

 that production at the present time is between 185,000 and igo,ooo tons a year. 

 So long as Europe required currants for wine-making purposes there was no 

 |)articular difficulty in disposing of this large crop. In the course of time, how- 

 ever, I'airopean vineyards were gradually built up again on American stocks, and 

 tliis particular opening for surplus currants was lost. At the present moment, 

 the worltl's consumption of currants is much below the annual production of 

 (".recian vineyards. Thus, according to Mr. Alban Young, in his report on Greek 

 finances for 1907-8, the world's consumption of currants in 1905-6 was represented 

 by 112,500 tons, in 1906-7 by 116,000 tons, and in 1907-8 by 120,000 tons. 



'ihus, each >ear, a iieavy surplus has been left on the hanfis of growers and 

 merchants, with the result that the market has become completely disorganized. 

 The imjiortance of the interests concerned has been so great and flu- outcries so 

 cii.ph itic that, for the last fifteen years or so, the (»overnment has been endeavour- 

 ing l)v special legislation to dodge the economic Nemesis that threatens Greek 

 ( urranl growers. It is unnecessary to detail all the expedients that they have 

 resorted to; it may be stated, however, that for the mf)st part they appear to 

 iiave been illusory. In ultimate resort, the further idanting of lurrant vines has 

 been j)rohil)ited by law, anrl a new law has been intr.Kiuccd, giving jiower to 

 the Privileged Currant Company to cause the uprooting of surplus vineyards, 

 subject to the payment of adequate compensation. 



• Joiininl 0/ the Deiiarlnifnl of AgriruUitrf al Smil/i Aiislriiliii. .-Vllttiist 1010. p. 27. 



