March 1897.] 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES. 



407 



process, it is stated, has turned out to be by no means so effective 

 as the old method ; for the drying, on account of the heaped up 

 masses, is unequal. The merchant is fully aware of this, and no 

 longer pays a higher price for such corn as he did formerly. 

 Besides which, the threshings are less satisfactory, as the 

 smaller grains, being wet, remain in the ears. 



CO-OPERATION IN MARKETING FRUIT IN NEW ZEALAND. 



A conference of Australian fruit-growers was held last year 

 at Wellington, New Zealand, and the report of the proceedings 

 contains interesting information on the progress of co-operation 

 in that Colony. Co-operation amongst fruit-growers in New 

 Zealand is by no means a new thing, numerous co-operative 

 associations having sprung up from time to time, although 

 nearly all have failed to carry out successfully the objects for 

 which they were started. Particulars are, however, given in 

 the report referred to of a successful association which com- 

 menced operations in the season 1891-92. After working for 

 two seasons the members registered the association as a public 

 company in order to obtain a legal status. Only fruit-growers 

 are eligible as shareholders, and no grower is allowed to take up 

 shares to the extent of more than 10 per cent, of the value of 

 his largest crop of fruit in any one year. By this means every 

 grower contributes to the company an amount equivalent to his 

 interest in the fruit-growing industry. Moreover, no fruit- 

 grower is permitted to hold shares unless he first signs an 

 agreement to sell to the company (at such price as shall from 

 week to week be fixed by the general manager of the company) 

 the whole of his fruit, which is consigned to any part of New 

 Zealand north of Milton. Such growers as do not agree to 

 become shareholders can still sell their fruit to the company. 



The company's agreement with growers provides that each 

 shareholder must keep his orchard clean to the satisfaction of 

 the directors of the company, and power is given to the directors 

 to have this work done at the expense of any grower who 

 neglects or refuses to do it when called upon. It is further 

 provided that the company shall annually appoint some fit and 

 proper person to inspect the orchards belonging to the fruit- 

 growers. 



The growers depute one of their number to be continually in 

 the manager's stores with access to all the books and papers 

 relating to the association, so that growers may be thoroughly 

 acquainted with everything that affects their interests. 



All the shareholders are bound to sell their fruit to the 

 association at such prices as are fixed by the manager, the 

 following system being followed : — Every night, after the day's 

 fruit is sold, the manager confers with the growers' representa- 

 tive as to the prices to be paid to growers for fruit during the 



