1 Ave., 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 119 
The Orchard. 
A HINT TO FRUITGROWERS. 
By 8. C. VOLLER. 
A short time ago, while riding along a country road through one of our 
best orange-growing districts, I met a cartload of oranges on the way to the 
nearest railway station. 
This fruit may have been intended for the Brisbane market, or its 
destination may have been Sydney or Melbourne; on this point I have no 
information. But there was one thing about that load of fruit that struck me 
suddenly and forcibly, that made me wonder what some of our growers are 
thinking of ; and further, made me wonder what is the good of instruction and 
advice in the matter of handling fruit. That one thing was this: Every case 
that I could see was standing on end in the cart, and had come its journey in 
that position ! 
Now, fancy fruit being jolted along a bush road on end, and then shipped 
off to some distant market! What chance has that fruit of presenting a sound 
and attractive condition and appearance under the salesman’s hammer? Is it 
not almost certain to be so seriously damaged as to lose a big percentage of its 
value? No other result is possible; and yet growers complain from time to 
time of their fruit going wrong when they send it away, and that in some way 
that they can never understand. 
They declare that it was perfectly sound when gathered and packed ; that 
nothing whatever was the matter with it. Well, all I can say is that there is 
likely to be a good deal the matter with it after going 8 or 10 miles over 
bush roads with the cases on end. One of the great points in packing and 
handling fruit for market is the avoidance of pressure, and all jarring or 
bumping as far as is possible. But here you have the greatest possible pressure, 
and the finest chance in the world for the maximum of jarring and friction. 
And supposing that the fruit was packed in the most careful manner to 
begin with, that careful packing is likely to be very seriously disturbed before 
the end of such a journey. 
I want to say to our growers that this sort of thing will not do.  I¢ will 
neither bring credit or profit to those engaged in the industry. 
Care at every point must be the motto, or some single act of carelessness 
will probably spoil a lot of good work and a lot of good fruit at the same time. 
Tt is possible that the owner of the load of fruit I have referred to may read 
this in our Journal, and if he does, I want him to take kindly what I have 
written, as it is offered in the friendliest way, and with a desire on my part for 
the accomplishment of better things. 
A CHEAP WAY OF MAKING HOME-MADE VINEGAR. 
Seald a pinch of hops with a quart of boiling water. When lukewarm 
pour on to $ lb. of treacle; stir; then bottle; as it runs over fill up to let any 
bits run out; then when it has done working tie over with muslin to keep out 
flies; then keep as long as you like. The great secret of vinegar-making is to 
put in plenty of treacle, honey, or sugar. The sweeter you start it the more 
acid it becomes. 
