240 Jouriutl of Aijriciiltiire, Victori(t. [10 April, 1918. 



against tliis class of trader, and the difficvilty which exists under those 

 laws to obtain the necessary licence. This, however, is not the chief 

 reason. The hawker has disappeared mainly because he has become 

 taboo to the consumer. This taboo has arisen through the inability of 

 the consumer to obtain an honest deal. Too often the housewife has 

 found, after examining a half-case or case of fruit purchased from the 

 hawker at the door, that the purchase consisted of a mixture of specimens 

 diflfering in variety, size, and degree of maturity, and often, in addition, 

 contains a proportion of unsound fruits. The confidence of the consumer 

 has thus become forfeited, the business of the hawker has automatically 

 ceased, and closed the largest and most direct channel Avhereby the 

 consumer may be reached. 



The place of the hawker in the metropolitan area has, to some extent, 

 been taken by the retail fruiterer, and by the increased number of stall- 

 holders in the Queen Victoria and other retail markets. It is obvious 

 that neither of these provide an efficient method for reaching a large pro- 

 portion of the public, which has not yet learned the food value of fruit, 

 and the necessity for its inclusion in the daily dietary. They are fond 

 of fruit, however, and have some realization of its hygienic value, but 

 not to such an extent as would induce them to go to the trouble of attend- 

 ing the market or paying a visit to the retail fruit shop in their locality. 

 Such visits, too, cannot in many instances be made with any degree 

 of frequency without a fair amount of personal inconvenience. More- 

 over, the dishonest practices which have caused the consumer to taboo the 

 hawker are largely in operation in the markets and retail shops. The 

 disgust of the purchaser is intensified by carrying home a parcel of fruit 

 to find that j^erhaps half his purchase consists of unusable specimens. 



(To be continued.) 



LECTURES, FARMERS' CLASSES, ETC. 



The following letter has been addressed to the secretaries of agricul- 

 tural societies tliroughout the State by the Director of Agriculture : — 



I have the honour, by direction, to inform you that the Department's arranoe- 

 ments for the liolding of stallion parades, lectures, and farmers' classes durinw 

 1918 are as under: — 



Stallion Parades. 



A somewhat curtailed time-table for stallion parades is being arranged, and 

 will be forwarded to yovi shortly, so that the necess.ary local arrangements may 

 be made as usual. It is desired that the system confining the award of prizes to 

 certified stallions only shall be continued, i'n order that societies may obtain the 

 benefit of the subsidy when Government grants to agricultural societies are 

 resumed. 



Lectures. 



Enclosed is a list of lectures and demonstrations wliicb will be oivcn on 

 request from agricultural societies and kindred bodies during 1918. 



On account of the shortage in the staflf, through enlistment, no lectures on 

 veterinary subjects can be given, but the whole programme on other subjects can 

 be arranged, and the Department will be glad to complv Avith the requests of 

 societies as far as possible. 



It is suggested, in order to save the time of officers and travelling expenses, 

 that societies requiring the usual four lectures sliould arrange that, at least, two 

 should be held at centres in the same district on two following dates, or as near 

 one another as practicable. 



