BITTER PIT SPREADING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 505, 12 May 1909, Page 10

BITTER PIT SPREADING.

A. matter that concerns Now Zealand orchardists is the reported spread of bitter pit in tho.pears of Victoria. Slucli uneasiness is felt on the matter by Victorian pear-growers. The disease is frequently found in apples, particularly tho Cleopatra and Annie Elizabeth

varieties, and has also been noticed in quinces. Its appearanco ill pears, however, is quite new to Australia. A special investigation by the Department into tho cause of tlio disoaso is being urged. If an expert could determino its nature, and indicato a probablo cure, his work would bo particularly valuable. Victorian investigations in regard to apples.have indicated that tho disease is not constitutional, and is not duo to cither an insect or a fungus, but a more searching inquiry is needed. Questioned as to tho possibility of tho troublo spreading among pears, tho Victorian pathologist said; — "I think there is a possibility; once it gets into tho fruit, there is always danger of its spreading." Tho development seems to suggest careful consideration of this post by tho inspectors by whom fruit admitted to New Zealand is oxammed. THE NEW FREEZING COMPANY'S PROPOSALS; A CRITICISM. {To THE EdITOE.) • Sir, —It is not my wish to cast any cold water on tho new Wellington Meat Company's scheme, but it is necessary, in tho interest of'farmers generally, to expose several inaccurate statements made at the meeting in Pahiatna, and published in your issue of Saturday, May 8. Briefly, the settlers arq asked to take up shares on allegations which cannot be supported. I do- not wish to imply that tho promoters are •' intentionally deceiving tho settlers, but in a new venture, such as they are placing before tho public, it should have Wn their care, to he absolutely certain o. their facts.

lake, for instance, this observation by the promoters of tho Wellington Meat Company, as published in your issue of May 8: "liven now, Wellington, in point of export of mutton and lamb, exceeds the total of Canterbury, up to recently. considered • tho prime producer; while in the e'sport of beef, Wellington leads the Dominion .by a long way." Now, the foregoing is quite inaccurate and misleading.' The correct facts arc that last . season the Wellington and Wanganui freezing companies combined fell short of tho Canterbury export of mutton and lamb by 60,000 carcasses, putting these at 601b. weight each. It will bo seen that instead of Wellington exceeding Canterbury, Canterbury exceeded Wellington and AVanganui by 3,600,0001b. of.mutton and lamb. These-are last year's figures, -and the latest obtainable. To. give a further idea of tho relative importance of the two .Wellington freezing companies as exporters of beef, it may bo added that their oversea output was beaten last- year by the freezing works at Waitara. ~ / Then, again, take the important assertion of tho promoters, and which, if true, would undoubtedly have justified the present agitation for a new freezing company, to tho effect that this season 250,000 sheep and lambs have gone back to. "Stores" to tho great loss of settlers, through tho inability of the freezing; companies to deal with theni. i have it on the best authority that the Wellington Meat Export Company could have frozen, without diSiculty, from 100,000 to 150,000 more sheep and lambs than they have done this season. It is well known that the freezing companies, lost heavily by tbeir earlier purchases of the season. The market has continued .to , fall since. It is also .well known that the Longburn Company could have frozen a much larger number of stock than was actually dealt with. • Iho Wellington Meat Export - Company was started by farmers to.freeze.on owners' account (just; as'.it. is proposed" to do'in the casoofthia new company) and it will thus be seen that the old company was and is prepared to take all the sheep and lambs offered by settlers ,and freezo them on owners' account. Could any company have done more than that? Could tho now company havo made a better arrangement? ■ The promoters madp another statement which can bo refuted, when referring'to the sheep and lambs, which they said had been sent back as "stores,", thoy declared, , "The cost of keeping them will almost amount to a dead loss, and the glut is even now having a most depressing effect upon all classes of stock offered for sale." Now, th£?f6regoing statement is inexcusable. Nearly every man who knows anything about the sheep market this season is well aware'that'at the. present , time stores are in many cases bringing more than "fats." The reason of this is the plenitude of grass and the scarcity of store sheep. \ The promoters niako a statement concerning tho quality of North Island stock: — North Island stock is very good; but a glance at the cabled market reports from the High Commissioner's office at London, should convince any sensible reader that .North Island is not equal to tho best Canterbury brands. Tho ■Wellington Meat Export Company has established a brand of frozen mutton which fetchos-the.highest price of any meat in the North Island, still not so good as the better "Prime Canterbury." There has been a distinct difference, always between North Island and prime Canterbury mutton, yet we find people, who should know better, making these reckless statements.. . ..-." . ■

. Speaking broadly, it seems to me that tho promoters of the new company have shown a want of knowledge, and'an inefficient grasp of business detail in tho observations which they havo put forward with the idea of capturing the confidence of the farmers. Tho wise man is sure of his facts. Had tho promoters of the new company made reasonable inquiry before rushing into ■■ public notice with their schemo .thoy would deserve commendation. But like many a political rhetorician they have ignored certain obvious facts, and advanced a series of plausibilities which _ will not stand even an elementary analysis. Several years ago there were agitations for new freezing companies, and then, as now, tho promoters condemned first and inquired afterwards, and it is remarkable that quite a number of those who were concerned in tho first agitation will have nothing' to do with the second one.—l am, etc., i May 10. • CHEESE—COOD ADVICES. .Mark Sprot and Company, agents for a West Coast cheese factory, have (says a Press Association message from Hokitika) received advico from their London representatives that the first sliipment arrived in splendid condition, and realised 635. per cwt. Such excellent returns will encourage other settlements in South "Wcstland to utilise the fine pastoral country in that locality for dairying. • . • . SHOW DATES; June 1 to 4.—Dunedin Winter Soon , , June 15 to 17.—Invercargill Winter Show. June 22 .25. —National Dairy Show (Palmorston North). July 6 to 10.—Waikato Winter Show (Hamilton). ' October 20 to' 21. Hawke's Bay Spring Show. Octobor 27 to 28.—Timaru. ■ October 29.—Rangiora. November 3 to 4.—Ashburton. . November 10 to 12.—Canterbury. November 16—Taieri, at Mosgiel. November 18 to 19.—North Otago at Oamaru. November 25" to 26.—Otago, at Dunedin December 14 to IS.—Southland, at Invorcar- ■..' gill. , ' FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE DATES. Fanners' Union Conferences will be-held this year as follow; — , May 20.—Taranaki Provincial, Stratford. May 24, 25.—Wellington Provincial, at Ekotahuua. . May 27, 18.—Auckland Provincial Confer- ; enco. End of May.—Canterbury Provincial Conference. Otago.—Date not yet notified. End of July.—Dominion Conference, at Wellington. A biennial conference of agricultural societies will, bo held in Wellington this year probably, at. the end of Juno. Wβ all know the value of wealth, - i But far, far more precious is health; Laxo-Tonic Pills try, ' And your ailments will fly; yte^L lll ? best in the whole Commonwealth. LAXO-TONIC JILLS, 10id. and > fid, »