PEOCEEDINGS, MAY. vii 



THE EXPORT OF APPLES, 



Mr. C. H. Gramt, with reference to Mr. Shoobridge's paper upon 

 the export of apples to Europe, said that the author of the paper had 

 dealt with the question in a very able manner, although it was rather 

 deficient in the details relating to the cultivation of fruit, which, 

 however, migat possibly relate more to the gardening industry 

 than to the Royal Society. The paper itself could bear a great deal of 

 argument. He was not in a position to criticise it for it carried a 

 great deal of iuformation, and contained matter of interest. From a 

 scientific point of view it was invdluable. In the earlier days of fruit- 

 growing there was a great amount of labour wasted, and money 

 expended in cultivating the wrong kind of fruit. It was always a 

 matter of interest to study the products of the soil, and he was sure the 

 Society was much indeoted to him. Mr. Shoobridge had also given 

 some valuable information concerning his meteorological surveys, in 

 which he was a pioneer. They were all, he was sure, greatly pleased 

 with the efforts of Mr. Shoobridge in the researches he had made, and 

 for the valuable information he had furnished. 



Mr. W. E. Shoobridge said that there were two points which were 

 very necessary to discuss on the subject ; one was the question of 

 irrigation, and the o*her the effects of the atmosphere upon the growth 

 of fruit. The finest fruit he bad ever seen was grown in a dry atmos- 

 phere, where the trees had been well irrigated. The reason for this was 

 that the trees required as much light and air as possible. The water 

 acted as a carrier of soluble salts, necessary to the life of the trees. 

 The more sunlight and air that was received by the trees the greater 

 and more active were ths chemical changes, and the higher products 

 of the plant. The gums, resins, and sugars were more abundant. lb 

 was impossible to get this in a moist atmosphere. The French crabs 

 usually grown in a moist atmosphere were, when grown in a dry, airy 

 locality, completely changed in colour This was very apparent in trees 

 which were grown within a short distance of each other. They also had 

 adopted a new sy&tem of pruning. In this climate the full benefit of 

 the sun without too much strength was received, which was of the 

 greatest value. The damage to the fruit in keeping was the result of a 

 fungoid growth produced by the fruit being stored in places where the 

 air was foul. To keep this under it was necessary that the fruit should 

 have a clear current of air. In an atmosphere of 40deg, to 50deg., 

 which was about the proper temperature to keep fruit in, with a clean 

 dry atmosphere, the fruit would keep well. In some of the fruit which 

 had been packed to London a blue mould appeared about the specimens, 

 and on tasting it its flavour was found to be entirely gone. This fungi, 

 which began usually about the region of a bruise, caused immense 

 harm to the fruit, and completely spoiled its flavour. This was never 

 found in the packed fruit near the outlet, because there was a complete 

 current of air. In the places where the fruit was affected the air 

 was very foul, so foul in fact, that in some cases a candle would not 

 burn. It was the efore apparent that the fungi was nourished in 

 stagnant air, and, if information could be gained with regard to this 

 matter, a great step towards the knowledge of the proper course to be 

 dopted for the preservation of fruit would be gained. 



His Excellency thought that if information was sent in from various 

 districts lespecting the question of irrigation, and how it was applied, 

 it would be of great value. He asked if there were many districts where 

 irrigation was carried on ? 



Mr. Shoobridge replied that there were not very many, although the 

 question was receiving more attention lately than formerly. There 

 were a great many districts wnere irrigation was not required. 



