10 



work> purchased the supplies, and, in short, supervised the whole 

 work, visiting the scene of operations on an average of once a foit- 

 night. 



Review of Operations- The outfit was kept in Wellington 

 during the months of September, October and November, during 

 which time about 2,000 trees were fumigated on 23 farms. The gre^t 

 majority of the trees were in wretched condition ; they were of all 

 sizes, two of the same height standing side by side being the excep- 

 tion, not the rule. Arrangement in orchard form was generally 

 absent, and on most of the farms vines were grown among the trees. 

 These factors greatly impeded the work, and in connection with the 

 numerous delays caused by unfavourable weather (rain, wind and 

 heavy dews) explain the slowness of the work. 



The neglected state of the Wellington trees must not be taken to 

 reflect upon Wellington farming ; it is simply the natural sequence 

 of the trees ceasing to be profitable, which in turn is brought about 

 through the ravages of scale insects. Most of the trees had once- 

 stood in rows and in a way still stand in them, but great gaps and 

 uneven growth disguise the arrangement. 



In early December, the outfit was taken to the Paarl to enable 

 the fruit growers there to become acquainted with the process. 

 About 400 trees were treated on three farms in the Groot Drakeii- 

 stein ward. For the benefit of the Stellenbosch parties who were 

 interested, the outfit was then taken to Ban Hoek in that division. 

 Here 500 trees were fumigated on one farm. It then became neces- 

 sary to postpone further work until the arrival of supplies of 

 cyanide. Work was resumed at the t'me of the Western Province 

 Agricultural Show at Kosebank (February 25th and 26th), when 

 demonstrations were held in a garden close by the Show Grounds 

 for the benefit of those attending the show. The Constantia 

 Fruit Growers were then invited to witness the operations in orchards 

 at JSTewlands where about 200 trees were treated. 



No single estate in the colony, probably, is more visited by farmers 

 than Lourensford at Somerset West. Here were large orchards 

 where the outfit could be worked to good advantage and where 

 numerous visitors would see the results of the work. The outfit was 

 taken to this place during the first week of March, and despite of 

 almost incessant high winds and several rain storms 1,600 trees were 

 fumigated during the following month. At the urgent request of 

 the owners, the outfit was then taken to farms in Ban Hoek, and 

 1,015 trees on four farms were treated at figures estimated to cover 

 the cost of the work. Worcester was then visited, and the fruit 

 growers of that vicinity invited to witness the treatment of trees at 

 Glen Heatlie. Goudini was next visited, and about 200 trees fumi- 

 gated on a farm belonging to the Field-cornet. Lastly, 225 trees were 

 treated on one farm at Eiebeck West in the Malmesbury Division. 



In all above 6,000 trees have been fumigated. These are distributed 

 among five divisions and one or another is within easy access of 



