CONFERENCE ON FKUIT GROWING. 



5 



quite ready to find boxes for the conveyance of such fruit ; but people must 

 take the trouble to make their business known by circulars and otherwise. 



As to packing, we have been hammering at that subject for a long 

 time past. There seems to be a disposition on the part of buyers rather 

 to favour the old-fashioned baskets. I wish we could introduce the non- 

 returnable boxes. They could be made at a reasonable price. I believe 

 some market people are already laying plans for supplying such boxes at 

 a price which will not necessitate their return. I mention this because, 

 and especially among the small growers, there is great difficulty in getting 

 empties back, and much inconvenience is caused by not having baskets 

 in which to send ripe fruit away. Of course it may be said that a grower 

 should have a proper supply of boxes to last all the season. If we used 

 boxes they could be "roughed out" in suitable sizes, and they could be 

 made up in the winter, when work is comparatively scarce. As regards 

 the best dessert Apples and Pears, there is no doubt that if they were 

 put up in boxes and very carefully packed they would make considerably 

 longer prices than if put into baskets. In sending kitchen Apples to 

 market it is better to use bushel than half-bushel baskets. The half- 

 bushel has bottom, sides, and top, the same as the bushel, and consequently 

 a larger percentage of Apples get injured in the smaller package. 



I would also advise the cultivation of Pears on the Quince stock- 

 where the soil is suitable — and Apples on the Paradise stock. They may 

 be put in six feet apart, which would mean 1,200 to the acre, and good 

 results would be obtained with proper care and attention. Growers 

 should never feed the trees unless there is a crop. There is another 

 point I must mention, because in the past a great many mistakes have 

 been made in planting large blocks of trees of one variety together. 

 Experience has shown that such trees cannot be properly cross-fertilised, 

 because we find that we get a crop on the outsides and not in the 

 middle of the plantation. I am glad Sir Trevor has alluded to the 

 beneficial effect of fruit on the public health. I believe it is of the 

 greatest importance not only as regards the general health of the com- 

 munity but also in the promotion of temperance. 



Mr. Bunyard gave the following as the best varieties to grow : 



Early dessert Apples to pick and consume from the tree : Mr. 

 Gladstone, Quarrenden, Yellow Ingestrie, Ben's Ked, Duchess's Favourite. 

 To store for a short time : King of the Pippins, Worcester Pearmain, 

 James Grieve. From October to Christmas : Cox's Orange Pippin, 

 Allington Pippin, Christmas Pearmain. After Christmas : Cockle's 

 Pippin, Baumann's Reinette, Gascoyne's Scarlet. 



Culinary Apples to sell from the tree : White Transparent, Julien, 

 Grenadier, Early Victoria, Potts's Seedling, Ecklinville. In September 

 and October : Warner's King, Lord Derby, Tower of Glammis, Bismarck, 

 Norfolk Beauty, Lane's Prince Albert. After Christmas : Blenheim Orange, 

 Bramley's Seedling, Newton Wonder, Wellington (where soil suits), 

 Northern Greening, Winter Quoining, Alfriston, Hambling's Seedling. 



Pears (Standard) : Hessle, Fertility, Crawford, Pitmaston Duchess, 

 Williams's Bon Chretien ; and for growing on the Quince stock : Williams's 

 Bon Chretien, Dr. Jules Guyot, Conference, Louise Bonne, Doyenne du 

 Cornice, Beurre Hardy, Beurre Superfin, Van Geert. 



