462 Jounuil of Agriculture, Victoria. [11 Aug., lUlU. 



The California " diagonal method " of packing, now so widely advo- 

 cated and generally adopted, is a wonderful improvement on the hap- 

 hazard method originally practised. The former is also known as the 

 '' numerical pack," becaixse, when proj^erly arranged, according to the 

 size of the fruit, in the 2 x 1, 2 x 2, or 3 x 2, &c., formation 

 as the case may be, the number in the package may be easily computed 

 by multiplying the number of apples in a tier by the number of 

 tiers in the case. In the " numerical pack " each apple is placed in 

 a " pocket " and, consequently, there is no direct pressure on any 

 apple to cause bruising. The general adoption of paper wrappers has 

 also assisted materially in reducing to a minimum the bruising of 

 fruit in transit to the home markets. 



With a view to establishing a uniform method of marking packages 

 containing apples for market, the regulations under the Fruit Act 

 prescribe as follows : — 



The package shall be marked legibly and durably in letters of 

 not less than one-quarter of an inch in length, with a designation 

 of the grade (" A," " B," " C/' or " D," as the case may be 

 determined or prescriibed; of the fruit therein contained. 



The employment of attractive cases made of clean, seasoned wood 

 cannot be too strongly recommended. ISTo matter how perfectly the 

 grading and packing be carried out, if fruit be put up in dilapidated 

 or unattractive packages, an unfavorable impression regarding the 

 contents is created in the minds of intending purchasers. This applies 

 particularly to fruit for export to the Home markets, where we benefit 

 by practising the methods adopted by the fruit-growers of other 

 countries in which this detail receives very special consideration. 



Conclusion. 



The matter of repatriating a large number of soldiers as orchardists 

 is now occupying the attention of authorities interested in this matter. 

 These new fruit-growers — some of them not previously experienced in 

 the work — are being assisted to acquire an aptitude for it. The 

 necessity for this becomes more apparent when we consider that post-war 

 factors, now only dimly foreseen, may become actual. It is reasonable 

 to assume that the only way to sustain the burden of the debt of 

 taxation after the war is by enlarging the fabric of national wealth. 

 Fruit-growing is one of our staple industries, and, if our oversea trade 

 expands as it should, one where the poss.bility of extension is great. 

 But it is an industry that can be carried on profitably and in the 

 best interests of the State, only by the orchardists possessing a high 

 standard of horticultural knowledge, and by the application of constant 

 and strenuous toil. 



The Department of Agriculture and the orchardists realize that the 

 success oi the fniit-growing industry is largely due to the dissemination 

 of technical knowledge concerning its numerous phases. It is hoped 

 that the higher standard of horticultural education recently inaugurated 

 will help to consolidate past achievements and ensure the future 

 prosperity of the industry. The province of the Orchard Supervision 

 Branch is being gradually enlarged so as to enable the officers to deal 

 comprehensively with the business as a whole, and they are also afforded 



