FRUIT-GROWING IN THE COLONIES. 



579 



exhibition, but there is hardly one of the others, did the fall of seasons 

 and other circumstances permit, who could not have put up an exhibit 

 of fruit that would do credit alike to the exhibition and herself. 



In the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, to the north and to the 

 south of the Equator, wherever our great Colonies lie, there are to be 

 found fruit-industries organized as I have indicated and achieving 

 splendid results by methods such as I have endeavoured to describe. 



Is there not something remarkable and striking in the generality of 

 this thing? 



We may now briefly recapitulate the means whereby our Colonial 

 kinsmen succeed so thoroughly and so rapidly in building up their fruit- 

 mdustries. 



How, in the first instance, is it that there is such a bulk of uniformly 

 fine fruit? 



Because right back in the orchards we find that science and practice 

 have worked hand in hand to evolve cultural methods that are uniformly 

 correct and of the highest efficiency, and that these methods are 

 uniformly adopted by all the growers in each fruit-growing district. 

 For example, is a stock discovered which is blight resistant, or a variety 

 of plant immune from disease, then all the trees are grafted on that 

 stock or only the immune varieties of plants are planted. Is some 

 system of pruning found to be better than a former system for tree or 

 crop, then all prune upon that system. Is the soil of the district found 

 to be chemically or mechanically unequal to the production of fruit of 

 the highest possible quality, then the most efficient way of correcting 

 the deficiency is sought and universally adopted. Does a pest or 

 disease make its appearance in the settlement one and all unite to 

 subjugate it; the thorough are assisted and the careless compelled by 

 legislation to subjugate it. Thus is the fruit produced in important 

 quantities of uniform kinds and quality. 



When , produced the question arises, W^here is all this fruit to be 

 disposed of, and how is it to be conveyed to markets when they are 

 founc^ for it? 



Combined action meets both these considerations. As a combined 

 body the growers are enabled to deal with the circumstances and employ 

 means, and agents which the single individual could not procure. And 

 the combined efforts of the growers in this connexion are vigorously 

 seconded by the State. All the advice and information that the State is 

 so well equipped to acquire is placed at their disposal. Valuable pro- 

 ducts in important quantities, consigned in a practical manner, readily 

 command the respect and best services of the carrying trade. Eailways 

 and shipping companies compete with each other for the carriage of 

 such produce, and are coastantly concerned in the improvement of their 

 means of conveying the fruit to its destination in the best marketable 

 condition. 



Sound methods, combined action, organization, and State super- 

 vision, all seasoned with unremitting thoroughness, are collectively 

 responsible for the Colonial fruit industry as we find it. While belaud- 

 ing this collectivism, however, we must not forget that collectivism can 



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