THE FRUIT BONUS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1216, 26 August 1911, Page 8

THE FRUIT BONUS.

GUAEANTEE ON EXPOETS BEING ' CONSIDEEED. Eeplying to a question by Mr. G. Witty-, M.P., as to whether he can see ms way to continue for another year tho guarantee of Id. per F o,lnt ' on lnl " ex " ported, to England, tho Minister for Agriculture says tho Government quit-? realises that tho large extensions that have been made iu tho area under commercial orchards in the Dominion during the last few years render the establishment ol .in export trade in apples a necessity, and the question of assisting' to develop such a trade, by guaranteeing the growers Id. net per pound on apples exported in cold starage to Europe during tho coming,season is being fully considered. Tho Minister for Agriculture was recently asked by Mr: Okey, M.P., whether ho would instruct tho officers of his Department to. simply the different dairy factories with information as to tho of machinery required for tho pasteurisation of from. '1000 to 20,000 gallons of milk. The Minister has replied that tho Department's dairy instructors ara always rsady te givo information to dairy companies on this matter or on any similar subject, and are now giving much information and instruction in regard to pasteurising byproducts. The Government, he added, would be ploas;d if Mr. Okey would submit names of those desirous of profiting bv this knowledge, in order that tho officers may extend such information, as they' possess for assisting those engaged in tho industry. The Ot.igo Formers'' Co-operative Association has advised the Otngo "Times" that tho dressed weights of the first and second prizo longwool wethers (any ago or weight), sold on account of Mr. James Boss, Palmorston, at the last winter show, constitute something like a record. Tho weight of Hi.9 first prize pen totalled 01511)., and tho second prize pen 5531b., tho individual weights being as follow:— 2.101b:, 1051b., 1601b., 2201b., 1001b., and 1751b. The Drst-mcntioiml is th-e heaviest sheep ever killed at tho abattoirs. There is very good feed in the district for this time of tho year, said a Pahiat.ua farmer yesterday. Lambs aro being seen in various quarters, and generally everything points to a. prosperous season. Tho creamery will probably get a start next week if there aro suflicisnt supplies, but thero is very litt.lo enthusiasm in the milking business in the district. Tho system of skim milk and whey pasteurisation has now been introduced into 70 cheese factories and 28 butter factovios. T • Tho operations of tho Inspector of Orchards, who condemned a large number of fruit trees in and around Pahautanui last season, and ordered them to bo cut down because they wero diseased, has checked for tho time being what frmt'•rowing there was in the district. According to a local farmer, few if any of tho trees have been, replaced. Although tho trees were cut down, as per orders, thev are growing again, and, according to.the farmer in question, they will hold the diseases which led to their destruction until such time as orders aro given that iitoy have to bo grubbed out.