1.—12

18

11. Estimated cost per acre containing a hundred trees, based on actual cost incurred for each variety, including cost of operations, picking, packing, and marketing fruit?—lt would be a difficult matter to estimate the cost per acre for other orchards, as it would vary with each individual place according to the appliances available for spraying and the height and spread of the trees, which are most important factors in estimating the expense both of spraying and marketing, which would include the cost of picking. In this, New Zealand orchards differ essentially from those of California, where practically a uniform system of pruning has been observed. With uniform trees, uniformity in the cost of orchard operations is assured. 12. Receipts for fruit of each variety ?—Although account sales for each variety have not been kept separate, I will endeavour to furnish this return as soon as I can procure the necessary figures. 13. Estimated receipts per acre containing a hundred trees, based on actual receipts from each variety ?—lf this question applies to orchards generally, and northern orchards in particular, I can only say that, with the present fluctuation of prices throughout the season and from season to season, the results are so speculative that it is impossible to give any reliable estimate. Varieties of apples that realised high prices last season, when fruit generally was scarce, may be worth little or nothing next season if fruit is plentiful. This unfortunate state of affairs will probably continue until, either with or without compulsion, a united effort is made to control the moth, and so produce a sufficient quantity of sound fruit to initiate an export trade and relieve the local markets. The codlin-moth has been a most troublesome pest in the North for many years. How much has been done without compulsion to control it, and what is there to prevent it spreading, or, rather, being carried in infected fruit, to districts which are now free'? In this connection, I trust Parliament will this session pass a Bill to enable the Agricultural Department to advance funds to assist such enterprises as the Cheviot Fruit-growers' Association, Motueka Co-operative Preserving Company, Hawke's Bay, and Auckland Fruit-growers—companies formed for the distribution of fruit locally, and the canning, pulping, and making into jam of surplus fruits of suitable varieties that now simply serve to glut the local market and bring about the speculative aspect of fruitculture already mentioned, which results in such a glaring fluctuation of values that a reliable estimate of the returns per acre of an orchard for one season, or even an average for a number of seasons, could not be furnished. 14. Percentage of sound fruit to total amount of fruit of each variety picked from trees at the time of harvesting crop ?—Season 1901-2 : Eed Astrachans, practically free from codlin-inoth ; Cox's Orange, 89 and a fraction per cent, sound ; Ohinemuri, a fraction over 90 per cent, sound ; Simmonds' Winter, a fraction over 95 per cent, sound. Season 1902-3 : Red Astrachan, per cent, sound; Cox's Orange, from 89f to per cent, sound; Simmonds' Winter, 89 per cent, sound. The above figures are according to the count made by a committee of Auckland fruitgrowers appointed by the Department to report from time to time on the progress of operations. The count was made on the outward appearance of the fruit, and in many cases apples marked by the grub of the codlin-moth in its attempt to penetrate the fruit before being destroyed by the poison were condemned, though not actually infected. On the occasion of each visit of the committee a tree was selected by themselves, all the fruit gathered, and the count made, including such windfalls as were lying under the tree at the time. If these figures err at all, they certainly err in making the percentage of sound fruit too low, owing to the fruit being condemned on the outward appearance, and not by actual examination. Remarks. The precise bearing of these questions on the Orchard and Garden Pests Bill, except to be in favour of passing it, Ido not quite see. It has been proved that it is feasible to control the codlinmoth by spraying, and this was the real object for which the spraying was undertaken. The example has been offered to growers, and full instructions given and followed by growers successfully in many instances, but the option is left to follow the example, or adopt other means, such as bandages, to control the moth. The commercial aspect of the question depends solely on the prices to be realised in the markets. Prices rise to a satisfactory figure, or fall in such an alarming manner, according as the supply of fruit is short or excessive. The regulation of market rates will only be accomplished by an export trade ; and an export trade cannot be attempted until there is a sufficient quantity of sound fruit to keep up regular shipments. A sufficient quantity of sound fruit for export will not be obtained until a united effort is made to control the codlin-moth; and a united effort is not likely to be made without such compulsion as may be brought to bear by the passing of the Orchard and Garden Pests Bill, which, as already stated, leaves it optional with each grower to adopt the method of suppression he prefers — whether by spraying or bandaging, or both — so that primarily the commercial aspect, as far as the North is concerned, depends upon the passing of this Bill to insure the production of a greater quantity of sound fruit. As an instance, some years ago when a trial shipment was proposed and the North asked to contribute its share, the reply was that the Auckland Province was not prepared to supply 500 cases; and when the season before last the matter was again under discussion, Canterbury and Otago promised to contribute 7,000 cases of apples, but the Auckland Fruitgrowers' Union replied, through its secretary, that it was not prepared to promise 1,000 cases—this in spite of the fact that Auckland returned 10,770 acres as under orchard, against 8,873 for the whole of the South Island. This is largely accounted for by the prevalence of the moth in the North. W. A. Boucher. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,425 copies), £ ]0 9s.

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