264 
larger quantity of acrid oil contained in the skins of the latter 
fruit. Two subsequent shipments of mandarins during the same 
year were condemned owing to the presence of the fruit- fly in 
them; but it is worthy of note that both these left Fiji late in the 
season, when citrus fruits are apparently more liable to be attacked 
by this insect. 
In March 1922 another trial shipment, consisting of 10 cases of 
oranges and 15 cases of mandarins was made by the Department 
of Agriculture. In this case special precautions were taken to 
select only sound mature fruit. It was picked at Wainibokasi on 
10th March; brought into Suva on the 13th; stacked in a fly- 
proof chamber on the 14th where it remained for 7 days, and 
after packing was shipped by the s.s. ““ Navua”’ which left Suva 
on the 22nd. This fruit arrived in Auckland “in excellent 
condition with the exception of a few mandarins in one case ”’ 
(extract from broker’s report), and was sold at very satisfactory 
prices. The proceeds of sale were as follows :— 
Oranges x - “ . s cig 
Mandarins ner - ae «19 
Total ~ - £27 9 0 
The expenses of this trial shipment were - 15 0 I1 
It will thus be seen that the credit balance was £12 8s. Id.; 
this is very satisfactory, but too much importance should not be 
attached to the actual amount as the prices realised for some of 
this fruit, seeyte 4 the mandarins, were exceptionally high. 
The real value of this trial shipment is the fact that it was a 
demonstration that by carefully selecting the fruit and storing it 
in a fly-proof chamber for 7 days and then packing, citrus fruits 
could be landed in New Zealand free from the fruit-fly. 
Encouraged by the success of this experiment several other 
shipments of citrus fruits were made to New Zealand by members 
of the public; and 70 cases of mandarins previously stored and 
packed under the conditions described above were sent to Van- 
couver. Many of the mandarins in this consignment arrived in 
Canada in a green state; this is rather surprising when it is 
considered that this fruit was 7 days in a fly-proof chamber and 
then 16 days on board ship. Unfortunately the green mandarins 
were not appreciated in Canada, apparently because the public 
there are accustomed to the tangerines imported from Japan, 
and the green mandarins from Fiji were regarded by them as 
unripe. These facts should be taken into consideration in any, 
efforts made to extend the export of citrus fruits to Canada, as 
they will probably raise the same difficulties that have already 
been encountered in trying to place West Indian limes on the 
English market as a substitute for lemons. 
