1921.] 



Imperial Fruit Show. 



789 



during the year ending 30th September, 1921, we imported 

 267,000 tons, the greater part of which was imported not 

 from the British Empire but from foreign countries. I want 

 to see a greater production here and a greater consumption, and 

 I want to see imports drawn from within the British Empire. 

 I want to see Britain and the British Empire as self-supporting 

 as possible. Now the fact is that for many years we neglected 

 fruit-growing in this country, but now I am glad to say we pay 

 more attention to it." 



" A good many years ago (in 1904) I was appointed chairman 

 of a committee to inquire into the fruit industry, and we recom- 

 mended at that committee a special department of the Ministry 

 of Agriculture to deal with fruit. We now have that Depart- 

 ment, and in Mr. W. G. Lobjoit and Mr. H. V. Taylor, the 

 Controller and Deputy Controller, I possess two of the most 

 efficient officers that any Ministry can have. We recommended 

 an advisory committee. We have it. appointed by the 

 leaders of the commercial fruit growing industry. We recom- 

 mended also a committee for the scientific side of horti- 

 culture for looking into insect pests and how to overcome 

 them. We have now the Pathological Laboratory at 

 Harpenden, the Kesearch Stations at Bristol, East Mailing, 

 the Lea Valley, Campden, and other places, and important 

 work is being done at all these Stations. It was recommended 

 that we should pay more attention to packing and grading, 

 and there can be no doubt about it that we lose a great deal by 

 not attending to that matter. If only our growers will pay 

 more attention to grading and packing they will be able to 

 supply the home markets in this country much more regularly 

 than they do, and the public will buy more apples than they 

 do at present." 



" Another point is, that though we grow the very best apples, 

 we grow too many varieties. We want to standardise, so that 

 we can send up week after week large quantities of apples alike 

 in type and character. I am not asking for legislation. I do not 

 think legislation is required, nor do I think my advisers in the 

 Horticulture Division would advise legislation. It is by 

 educating the public opinion and by scientific analysis of things 

 that the trade will learn and the light will spread. Lastly, 

 we said there must be more facilities for obtaining land on 

 terms fair to the owner and to the market gardener for this 

 purpose in this country. Last year I had a share in the 

 Agriculture Act and the adoption in it of what is called the 

 4 Evesham Custom.' " 



