FRUIT-GROWING IN THE COLONIES. 



577 



force to protect the community from that individual, and that individual 

 from himself. 



The very fact that such legislation exists is proof positive — were 

 proof needed — of the thoroughness and earnestness of the growers 

 themselves. Did they not appreciate what a power for good, and how 

 indispensable to the stability of the industry iL is, either the legisla- 

 tion would be rescinded or the fruit-growers would betake themselves 

 to some other calling. This protective legislation is not peculiar to any 

 one or two of the fruit-producing Colonies, but in some form or another 

 obtains in them all. To quote the various Acts in extenso would be 

 tedious and unnecessary, but a list of a few, selected haphazard, will 

 serve to show how very general this legislation is. 



For examples of its nature and efficiency we have but to look up 

 the Statutes of Canada and read parts ix. and x. of the Staple Com- 

 modities Inspection and Sale Act. Or, among the Statutes of 

 Ontario, to find " An Act to prevent the spread of insect and fungus 

 pests injurious to vegetation " — a very fine Act. Then, in British 

 Columbia, they have a comprehensive " Act respecting the Provincial 

 Boards of Horticulture " — a piece of legislation worthy of careful 

 study. Nova Scotia, too, has, inter alia, " The San Jose Scale Act of 

 1898." All the Australian States are also well to the fore with legisla- 

 tion of like intent. Nearly twenty years ago Tasmania found it neces- 

 sary to fight the Codling Moth with a " Codhng Moth Act," and the 

 youngest of the colonial fruit industries — that of Western Australia — 

 is second to none in this matter of protective fruit legislation. Is it 

 not clear, then, that what is so general must be at once necessary and 

 beneficial ? 



Anyone interested enough to make a closer study of this matter 

 will, I am sure, be permitted to do so, at their offices, by the courtesy 

 of the Colonial Agents-Ge'neral in London. 



Let us return to the fruit and the fruit grower. 



Now what are the most remarkable features about all this fruit the 

 Colonies send to us : not merely the show samples in our hall here, but 

 the bulk of it as it comes into our markets ? Are they not the grading, 

 the packing, and the universal cleanliness of it, its freedom from blemish 

 by fungus disease or insect-pest? And is it not these same features 

 which pre-eminently render it the highly marketable commodity it is? 

 Ask the fruit dealers. What method, what thoroughness is evidenced 

 in these salient features ! 



Only trees in robust health can produce robust fruit; only freedom 

 from injuries by pests can maintain that fruit unblemished. Do not 

 believe it that there are no pests out there — witness the Acts for their 

 suppression — but do believe they have spraying machines and use them. 

 The spraying machine is as much a necessary item of the orchardist's 

 " plant " as the plough or the cultivator. 



And having grown fine clean fruit, how do they prepare it for 

 market? Do they dump it into barrels, boxes, or baskets of unequal 

 contenance: large, medium, and small fruits into the same package? 



YOh. XXXYI. Q Q 



