lo Dhc. 19 1 2.1 Ripnrt (III l.coii^iaf lid Labour Colony. 73g 



given a much better return. The damage done to the ])e^ll■ tind apple 

 crops by starlings was enormous, niany of the trees, owing to this 

 pest, wearing a very sorry appearance; the only traces of fruit being 

 the skins left hanging on the trees. Other fruit trees were only fair. 

 Bush fruits did fairly well on the whole, strawberries being very 

 prolific, yielding approximately 1,600 lbs. from l-5th acr«. Red 

 currants fi-uited well, but the sterlings made sad havoc with these, 

 and got most of the crop. Black currants had a fair crop. Rasp- 

 berries were somewhat light, owing to the dry season. 



Prices for all fruits were very good. Strawberries sold from 

 4d. per lb. in the buckets to 9d. per lb. in baskets. Raspberries 

 averaged 3'od. per lb., black currants 4d., and red currants 3d. 

 Apples sold locally and in ]\Iell)ourne realized from 2s. to 6s. per case, 

 rejects for export bringing from 3s. to os. The f(nv pears which were 

 saved sold well. We were fairly successful with our export of apples, 

 600 cases being shipped to Loudon in three consignments, the fruit 

 being fair and of uniform size. The best prices were realized by 

 Dumelow's Seedling, which brought from 9s. 6d. to 12s. 6d. per case, 

 Jonathans bringing 8s. 9d. only. The fruit was all good, and 

 beautifully clean, especially the Dumelows. which evidently opened 

 up very attractively. Jonathans were not so good, not having suffi- 

 cient colour. Next seas(;n it is proposed to keep Reinettes for local 

 sales, and ship mainly Jonathans. Five Crown, and Dumelows. On 

 the whole, the shipment sold well, realizing as good prices as those of 

 other exporters. The dock strike in London affected adversely the 

 sales of the last two sliipments. 



Snows. 



A good exhibit of fruit and vegetables was staged at the local 

 Leongatha show, and secured first prize as a collection of garden pro- 

 duce ; also eleven first prizes and two second prizes in the fruit section. 

 A very attractive exhibit was also shown at the Fruit and Floral 

 Carnival, in the ^Melbourne Exhibition, in ]\larch. This secured a 

 certificate of merit, and was much admired by visitors. 



New Plantations. 



Since last year, a small plot of raspberry canes (1,500) was 

 planted. These have made good progress, and should yield a fair 

 crop this season. Three more rows of strawberries has also been 

 added. 



Old Orchard. 



This has been abandoned, and the trees uprooted, the ground now 

 being put under fodder crops. The trees were very old. and for 

 many seasons have not been profitable. In addition, they were a 

 menace to the clean trees in the main orchard; being old and very 

 weak they afforded excellent harbor for the various kinds of insect 

 and fungus pests. 



Vegetable Garden. 



In this section there was a slight decrease in the sales, the demand 

 for several lines falling off. The spring crops were quite up to 



