1908.] TREASURY MINUTE UNDER SMALL HOLDINGS ACT. 669 



Summary. — Tree Formation. — (i) The maiden is shortened 

 to five buds at the end of the first season's growth ; (2) the 

 resulting shoots are shortened to about one-half of their 

 length after another season's growth ; (3) a third shortening to 

 the extent of one-third is practised. 



Fruiting Shoots. — (4) Young wood from the main branches 

 is selected, and tied to the wires between them ; (5) in spring 

 all the growth buds are removed except one at the base and 

 another at the tip ; the former is allowed to grow, the latter 

 is stopped ; (6) after the fruit has been gathered the shoots 

 which have borne it are removed, and the young shoots from 

 the base are tied in in their place ; (7) pot trees may be en- 

 couraged to form spurs. 



The following is a copy of .a Treasury Minute dated 

 31st December, 1907, issued in pursuance of the provisions of 

 section 5 (4) of the Small Holdings and 

 Treasury Minute Allotments Act, 1907, as to the payment 

 under the Small out of the Small Holdings Account of a 

 Holdings Act. contribution towards any loss which may 

 be unavoidably incurred in carrying out 

 a Scheme for the provision of Small Holdings under that Act. 



The Chancellor of the Exchequer calls the attention of the Board to section 5 (4) 

 of the Small Holdings Act of last Session, which is in the following terms : — 



" If it appears to the Board (of Agriculture and Fisheries) that the carrying out of 

 a scheme under this Act has resulted or is likely to result in a loss, the Board 

 may, with the consent of the Treasury, pay or undertake to pay out of the 

 Small Holdings Account the whole or any part of that loss." 



The Chancellor of the Exchequer further states that, in the Debate on the Small 

 Holdings Bill on the 12th August last, he authorised the First Commissioner of 

 Works, who was in charge of the Bill, to inform the House that, in cases in which a 

 Local Authority in carrying out a scheme under the Act had incurred a loss, one half 

 of such loss would, subject to. enquiry by the Treasury, be paid from Public Funds, 

 provided that the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries were able to certify that the 

 Authority in question had acted reasonably, and with due precaution, and that the 

 loss was irrecoverable. 



In the absence of any experience of the working of the Act, the Chancellor of the 

 Exchequer does not think it possible to define very closely the circumstances in which 

 Public Funds will be called upon to provide for such losses. If the proceedings of the 

 Local Authorities are conducted with ordinary discrimination and prudence, no losses 

 should be incurred. But if, after all reasonable precautions have been taken, an un- 

 avoidable loss ensues, the Chancellor of the Exchequer thinks that the taxpayer may 

 fairly be expected to share it to the extent of one half. 



He therefore recommends the Board to accept the liability above indicated, subject 

 to the following regulations and conditions : — 



( 1 ). Any Local Authority desiring to claim a grant should make application to the 

 Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. 



