714 
PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 
case of exporting any fruit to the English, Canadian, or other 
markets it is of the first importance, as unless the fruit is of first-class 
•quality, evenly graded, and well packed in neat and attractive cases it 
is no use trying to build up an export trade. The English trade 
especially demands a first-class article, for which they pay a good 
price for a practically unlimited quantity, but second-rate and inferior 
fruit they do not want at all. 
In addition to disposing of our fruit fresh, there are several 
methods by which it may be profitably utilised that are at present 
very much neglected, the principal of which are canning, drying or 
evaporating, and the manufacture of fruit pulp — jam or jelly. 
In order to dispose of our fruit to the best advantage, I am 
strongly in favour of co-operation amongst fruit-growers. I advocate 
the establishment of centrally located packing, curing, canning, and 
drying establishments, where the fruit will be properly graded and put 
to the use that it is best suited for ; thus fruit that is best adapted 
for the local fruit trade will be consumed fresh, that best adapted for 
export will be exported, that suitable for canning or drying will be 
canned or dried, and that suitable for pulp jam or jelly will be so 
'Utilised. 
Such establishments should be adapted to the requirements of the 
district where they are erected, and should be worked, as far ns possi- 
ble, on co-operative lines. They will require to he run by thoroughly 
competent men, who must he experts in the business, and who will put 
up the fruit in the best possible manner. It is of the greatest import- 
ance that the quality of the output should be of the highest grade, 
and that this standard of excellence be maintained, as unless this is 
done the establishment will be a failure. Such establishments can 
handle the fruit cheaper, better, and much more expeditiously than 
private growers, and they have the advantage of being able to put up 
the fruit, whether fresh, dried, canned, or otherwise, of a uniform 
standard quality, and to maintain this standard — a matter of the 
.greatest importance when selling the produce. 
Every fruit-grower should put up all the fruit he requires for 
home consumption, as this is easily and inexpensively done, but I do 
not advise the average fruit-grower to go in for canning or jam- 
making on an extensive scale, as I feel sure the result will, in many 
cases, he very far from satisfactory; rather join together and get a 
really good man, who thoroughly understands the business, and who 
can turn out a first-class article. In conclusion, 1 may say that the 
secret of successful fruit-growing is thoroughness ; nothing will pay 
to do ill that will not pay very much better for doing properly. 
Choose suitable soil ; prepare the land properly ; plant your trees well ; 
plant nothing unless it will grow to perfection, and only plant few 
varieties. Look after your orchard thoroughly; cultivate it well; 
prune it well ; thin heavy crops, and keep down all diseases, and when 
your orchard has come to bearing you will have good fruit, which, if 
carefully handled, well and honestly packed, will sell well in any 
market, no matter whether it is fresh, dried, canned, or otherwise. 
Fruit-growing conducted on these lines will pay well, but the days of 
growing rubbish at a profit are past. 
