FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16932, 6 September 1920, Page 4

FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION

- THE FIKE BLIGHT MENACE. The monthly meeting of tho Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association on Saturday night was well attended, iLr i'\ \V. Cone presiding. iiogarding tho question of growers being paid for fruit caaes, it was reported that as tho outcome ot a raeeting between representatives of the Association and the auctioneers, tho last-mentioned had undertaken to cli at go for cases if a majority of the growers «o instructed them; the charge for apple cades to be Od, and for tomato and stone fruit cases 6d; half these rates to bo charged for second-hand cases. The auctioneers wanted all fruit put in standard cases, as all sorts of cases were being used—. keroseno cases and kerosene tins. Tomatoes ought to be put in standard caaes. It was also desired by the auctioneers thnt there should bo lids on all fruit cases; and that members of tho Association and other fruitgrowers should undertake not to sell direct to rotailers in order to prevent steps being taken by the retailers, similar to those taken by retailers in Duncdin, to defeat the arrangements made for tho payment of cases. It was decided to havo drawn up a document covering the points referred to, _ and committees wero set up to obtain the signatures of all fruitgrowers in the districts around the city. It was also decided to communicate with tho Kangiora Fruitgrowers' Association on tho matter. It was stated that the arrangement for the payment of • cases would come into effect on November Ist. _ , , Mr G. H. Stratford, Government Orchard Instructor, who has just returned from the fire blight infected area in the Waikato, exhibited" a number of specimens (in, glass tube*) showing the effect of the dise»se on pear and apple trees. Mr Stratford expressed the opinion that there was not much chance of the infection reaching Cantorburv this coming' year. "There is one thing about fire blight," he continued, you never know where it is going to break out, therefore it is 'up to' every fruitgrower to take every precaution." At the present time they would not find any signs of the disease in Canterbury, but in a few welts time they should look out for any blossoms dvinc off—it might be dn« io frost, and ho hoped to goodness it would prove so; but at any rate they should make sure. An interesting address on Grafting' was given by Mr S. I. Fitch, who waa aocorded a vote of tlianks.