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Pests. —Pests and fungous diseases were not very prevalent in the vineyards during the 1946-47 season. The use of D.D.T. insecticide promises to be useful in the control of mealy bug in glasshouses. Wine-production.—The area used for growing outdoor grapes for winemaking is about 850 acres. The production of 205 licensed winemakers was about 428,000 gallons, mostly of the sweet red and sweet white varieties. In addition, a further 83,000 gallons of wine was made from fruit other than grapes. Cidermaking.—The production of the 32 cidermakers is about 95,000 gallons. Te Kauwhata Horticultural Station. —After a cold and wet spring at Te Kauwhata, warm and humid conditions prevailed up to April. The grape crop this season is about 20 tons greater than that of last season. As a result of favourable weather conditions, vine cuttings in the nursery have " taken " very well. During the year nearly 12,000 cuttings were sold and about 14,000 planted out, replacing unprofitable vines and extending the vineyard. The cellar capacity is being increased by 8,500 gallons through the temporary conversion of some fermentation vats into storage tanks and through the recent purchase of eighty hogsheads. To meet the sustained demand for the grape and apple wines made at the Station, quantities of grapes and apples were purchased from neighbouring growers for winemaking. Fruit Cool Storage The cool-storage space available for fruit in the Dominion shows a small increase, the estimated capacity being 1,173,488 bushel cases, which is distributed as follows :

The stocks of pip-fruits held in cool store on 30th June, 1947, amounted to : Bushel Cases. Apples .. .. .. .. .. 583,183 Pears .. .. .. .. .. 105,895 The quantity held in shed storage in orchards was about 18,800 cases of apples. Commercial Vegetable-production Registration.—During the year ended 30th September, 1947, the number of registrations made in accordance with the provisions of the Commercial Gardens Registration Act, 1943, was 3,059, involving 18,121 acres, 716 acres of which were devoted to the production of glasshouse crops. The New-Zealand-grown Vegetables Regulations, which came into operation on Ist July, 1947, require each registered grower to brand on his vegetable-containers the registered mark allotted to him by the Director of the Horticulture Division. Commercial Vegetable-growing.—The control of diseases affecting the production of vegetables continues to receive the attention of officers of the Division and officers of the Plant Diseases Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. During the year several experiments and trials to find practical means of controlling the carrot-rust fly, potato-tuber moth, white butterfly, red-legged earth-mite, and other pests and diseases of vegetable crops were made, and the results were promising.

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— Public Cool Storage. Growers' Private Cool Storage. Total. North Island South Island .. , .. Bushd Cases. 832,238 201,080 Bushel Cases. 63,800 76,370 Bushel Cases. 896,038 277,450 Totals 1,033,318 140,170 1,173,488