1.—12b.

26. In your statement I do not notice the percentage of sound fruit in the second year ?—The second year, the sprays that I am prepared to recommend, as the result of the experimental work, gave a fraction over 90 per cent, free from moth for Paris green, and for arsenic and soda a fraction over 95 per cent, free from the moth. 27. So that the average was a little over 90 per cent. ?—Yes. 28. Is it not a fact that fruit that dropped from the trees was eaten by the pigs ?—Yes. 29. Is it not a fact that infected fruit drops from the trees ?—Yes. 30. Was the infected fruit so eaten by the pigs that were running through the orchard ?—Yes. 31. On that account the percentage of fruit would be less? —A proportion of fruit that drops from the trees is not infected. A considerable proportion of sound fruit drops that is not infected. 32. What proportion would you say ?—We gathered up a quantity of the fruit that had dropped from the trees last year, and the count that I made gave precisely the same results from the fallen fruit as from the fruit gathered from the trees. In gathering up the fruit and counting it over we got the same amount of clean fruit from the ground and the same percentage of codlin-moth as in the fruit gathered from the trees. 33. That is to say, there was the same percentage of sound fruit that had fallen from the trees as the fruit you had got from the trees themselves : was not that extraordinary ? —I do not think so. We have some illustrations which I might show to you which will illustrate the point I want to emphasize. The apples were absolutely overcrowded on many trees. You can see by these illustrations that the apples were actually crowding themselves off the trees. 34. Do you consider that you have had experience in other countries?— Yes. 35. In what country ? —ln California. 36. Do you consider the climate of Auckland is as suitable for spraying all fruit-trees as the climate of California? —There are difficulties, but comparing the spraying of the present day with the spraying that was done years ago there are vast improvements. I have been making careful inquiries myself into the spraying that was done for the codlin-moth. As far as I can learn, Paris green was used exclusively; consequently, as there are many different grades and qualities of Paris green, and as some grades scorch severely while other grades may be used successfully without scorching, the results in many cases were wholly unsatisfactory. Moreover, as far as I could learn of the spraying with Paris green in the early days, in no case was lime used to mitigate the caustic effect of the Paris green. The advancement that has been made in spraying of late years will lead to an altogether different condition of things. 37. Hon. the Chairman.] What proportion of lime is there?—A bushel of lime to 700 gallons of water. 38. Mr. Massey.] Are the results of spraying in a climate like Auckland as satisfactory as in the climate of California?— There is more difficulty. 39. Did you try bandaging in the orchard? —Yes, sir. 40. Did you find the result of bandaging satisfactory ? —I have not tried it exclusively, only in connection with spraying. 41. You referred to the trees being overgrown when you went there : did you know the owner of the orchard previous to its being taken over by the Department ?—No. 42. Did you know the appliances he used there ?—No. 43. Have you had any experience with the Strawsoniser ?—No. 44. Do you know that the Strawsoniser will reach to the top of tall trees? —I have been told so. 45. Are you aware that the previous occupier of the orchard used the Strawsoniser ?—Yes, I have heard so. 46. Are you aware that he abandoned it because he was unable to make it a commercial success ?—Yes. 47. Will you give us the names of the members of the committee that were appointed to supervise while the work was going on? —Messrs. H. Sharp, J. Parr (Waikumete), W. E. Lippiatt (Otahuhu), W. C. Thompson (New Lynn), J. G. Kay (Birkenhead), W. Will (editor, Weekly News), G. L. Peacocke (editor, Farmer). 48. They were all practical men, were they not?— Yes. 49. You understand that the committee dissented from the first report of the chairman? —Yes. 50. You are of opinion that another season is necessary in order to prove conclusively whether the experiments are satisfactory or not? —I consider that the results this season are eminently satisfactory. 51. You require another season?— Another season will show a different result as far as the commercial aspect is concerned. 52. How many years have you been here ?—About six years. 53. In those six years have you not understood that the codlin-moth varies? It is very much worse in some seasons than in others ? —Yes. 54. Do you know whether last year was one of those seasons ?—-I do not think so, sir ;in the orchards that I visited the codlin-moth was quite as abundant. 55. Would an unsually wet season have any effect on the codlin-moth ? Would it make it more numerous or destroy it ?—I think a wet season would help to reduce it. 56. You think that a wet season helps to reduce it ?—Yes. 57. Mr. Bollard.] When you took over the orchard it was in a very bad condition, and it has taken you about two years to bring it into proper order ?—Yes. 58. Do you consider now that you have a fair orchard?— Yes. 59. From a commercial point of view do not you think the orchard itself would pay for another year, and that the cost could be fairly counted now for the coming season?— The cost for the coming season will be decidedly less.

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