10 May, 1918.] Standardized Packing and Grading of Fruit. 307 



History of Legislation (Vegetation Diseases Acts). 



For this purpose, a short summary of the different Acts will be given, 

 with brief remarks bearing on their principal provisions, and the reasons 

 for their enactment. 



In 1896, the first Vegetation Diseases Act came into force. This 

 Act was intended to check the spread of insect and fungus diseases 

 already established within the State, to prevent the further introduction 

 from other States or countries of these diseases, and also the introduc- 

 tion of diseases not yet recorded for this State. 



As legislation of this nature was then largely experimental, the Act 

 was introduced for a term of three years only. Its operation, however, 

 was found to be so beneficial that, at the end of the term, it was 

 permanently re-enacted, and has remained in force ever since. 



It was found, however, that its provisions with respect to the sale 

 and distribution of disease-affected fruit were not sufficiently wide, and 

 an amending Act for this purpose was introduced in 1901. 



The Act was further amended in 1906 to enable a more rigid inspec- 

 tion of imported fruit and plants, and to provide for treatment of 

 diseased consignments. 



The Vegetation Diseases Acts were, so far as the inspection and treat- 

 ment of plants and fruit imported from oversea countries is concerned, 

 superseded in 1908 by the Commonwealth Quarantine Act; but the 

 Vegetation Diseases Act still regulates the importation of plants and 

 fruits from other Australian States, as well as matters pertaining to 

 vegetation diseases within the boundaries of the State itself. 



Beneficial Effects of Vegetation Diseases Acts. 



The three Vegetation Diseases Acts have proved of the utmost value 

 in preventing the production, sale, and distribution of diseased fruit, as 

 any one who has been connected with the industry for some years can 

 testify. 



Some fifteen years ago, apples affected with " black spot " or " codlin 

 moth," and oranges infested with " red scale," " black spot," " false 

 melanose," and other diseases, were much commoner on our retail 

 markets, hawkers' barrows, and in retail fruit-shop windows, than at 

 present, and it cannot be denied that the quality of our fruit, both locally- 

 grown and imported, has been vastly improved as a result of the legisla- 

 tion mentioned. 



AccoHDiNG to an article in the Popular Science. Monthly (New York), 

 the undertaking recently established in California for obtaining supplies 

 of potash from seaweed is proving so successful that one firm alone is 

 producing three times as much potash as was previously imported from 

 Germany. The kelp is cut by means of a reaper, which cuts the weed 

 4 feet below the water. The kelp is carried from a boat-harvester by 

 a continuous belt elevator to a crushing mill. It is stated that sufficient 

 potash is being obtained by these means to supply, not only American 

 needs, but also those of all the Allies. 



