]0 Jan., 1916.] Transiwrtation of Peaches. 41 



REPORT ON EXPERIMENT IN PICKING, PACKING, 

 HANDLING, COOLSTORAGE, AND TRANSPORTA- 

 TION OF PEACHES. 



Bi/ E. Meeki/if/, Senior Inspector of Fruit for Export. 

 Introductory. 



During the visit of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission 

 to the Irrigation Settlements in the northern portions of the State, in 

 January of the present year, the Hon. F. G. Clarke, M.L.C., one of 

 the parliamentary party who accompanied the Commission, drew atten- 

 tion to the extremely large area recently planted, and in course of being 

 planted, with fruit trees of various kinds, consisting mainly of peach 

 and apricot trees. These all showed signs of the most vigorous growth, 

 and gave promise of yielding, in the immediate future, prolific crops of 

 high grade fruits. 



Considering tlie experience of Ardmona, Kyabram, Lancaster, and 

 other old-establislied fruit-growing centres north of the Dividing Range, 

 where for many years ])eaches and apricots of quality second to none in 

 the world had been ]>lentifully and profitably raised, it would appear 

 that the outlook for the owners of the new plantations was extremely 

 bright, and that the path to prosperity, or even to affluence, lay right 

 beneath their feet. 



The question of the profitable disposal of the jn'ospective crops, 

 however, kept obtruding itself upon the mind of Mr. Clarke, and after 

 careful inquiry into and consideration of the facts, he arrived at the 

 conclusion that wjien the new areas came into full bearing, not only the 

 new settlers, but the whole of the peach and apricot growers of the 

 State, would be faced with the problem of over-production, and conse- 

 quently diminished profits, or perhaps actual loss. He reasoned that 

 tlie flourishing condition of the settlers in the old-established centres 

 afforded no criterion as to the future prospects of the industry, as the 

 limited supply had hitherto fallen short of the demand, thus insuring 

 good average prices, with attendant substantial profits. So far, the 

 local and Inter-State markets had absorbed all that had been produced, 

 and by their easy accessibility had enabled growers to place their fruit 

 on these in good condition, without adopting any means other than 

 those wliicli lay at hand. Witli tlie over-supply of these markets wiiicli 

 would invariably follow the greatly increased ])roduction, tlie disposal 

 of the surplus crop elsewhere would become im{)erative, and would 

 necessitate the introduction of special methods whereunder this could 

 be ensured. This could be carried out in the five following ways: — 



(a) Marketing the fruit in its fresii stat« by the application of 

 specialized methods in picking, packing, handling, and 

 transportation. 



(/>) Drying. 



(r) Canning. 



{(1) Pulping. 



{(') Jam-makiiig. 



