THE INTER COLONIAL FRUIT CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10127, 9 May 1896, Page 5

THE INTER COLONIAL FRUIT CONFERENCE.

(BY TKLKQRAPII.—F-ItBSS ASSOCIATION,] WELLINGTON, Friday. Turi Intercolonial Fruit Conference met ab tan a.m. ■ Mr. Mitchell (Christchurch) desired to give notice of motion that the Government be requested to introduce a Bill restricting the immigration of Chinese by an increase of the poll tax to £100. The Chairman ruled the motion out of order. Mr. Gubb (Auckland) gave notice to move that the Conference expresses its approval of the liberal terms on which fraib is carried on the Government railways. Mr. Callis (Wellington) gave notice to move, " Thab ib is desirable thab such a museum as is specified in the Government biologist's report, 1894 95, should be established, with a view to increasing the know* ledge of horticulture." Mr. J. 0. Blackmore (New Zealand Government) pomolog'ist) read a paper on "The General Results of Systematic Spraying with Inseoticides and Fungicidos/' The writer stated that the unsuccessful results from the application of insecticides and fungicides were due to neglect) In following out the instructions laid down. He referred to the unreliability of the patent preparations, and gave the formula of a preparation for treating Scab or apple blight, American blight, and other fungus peats. Speaking of the codlin moth, he said the South Inland was freer from ib than the North. He advocated the introduction of legislation making spraying of infested orchards compulsory. Ho nisisted thab the work of, cleaning orchards was in vain if nob carried oub universally and regularly. He recommended the following wash for codlin moth :—Lime, COIb; salt, 151b; sulphur, 201b; caustic potash, 21b; and water, 60 gallons ; boil thoroughly tilt the mixture Is amber in colour, He said this was efficacious in the destruction of the lame of the moth. Mr. IV. W. Smith (Ashburton) read a short paper entitled, "Suppression of Orchard Pests." He strongly urged the passing of restrictive legislation to compel growers to keep their orchards thoroughly clean, and also to regulate the importation of fruit to provide against the introduction of pests. Mr. C. Fuller (Assistant Entomologist N.S.V'.) submitted a paper on "Inseob Friends," dealing with the various species of insects which preyed upon orchard pests. Mr. George Brownlee (Wuitaki) read a paper eutitled "Spraying Fruit trees." Mr. G. Allan (Waltaki) submitted a paper on the same subject. In thecourseofthediscussion that followed Mr. Kirk, N. Z. Government Biologist, iu referring to the disinfecting of old fruit cases by immersion in boiling water, as advocated by the writer of one of the papers, said ib would be necessary to add Borne caustic material to the water. For his own part, he would like to see the use of old cases prohibited altogether. A Bill in the direction advocated in Mr. Smith's paper was being prepared by the Agricultural Department, and it would also deal with the transit of fruit. A draft of the bill would be circulated among the various societies interested. He sincerely hoped that heal feelings would nob bo allowed to interfere with the general principles of the bill. Mr. Gubb (Auckland) said that spraying was unsuccessful in dealing with the codlin moth in the Auckland district. Mr. Avery (Auckland) pointed oub that fruitgrowers in Nelson were discontinuing spraying with Paris green, as it was found to bo detrimental to trees when Used for a number of years, He believed the codlin moth would be exterminated in five years provided stringent measures were used. Some members gave instances in whioh spraying had killed the natural enomy of the codlin moth, and allowed the pest to thrive. They would therefore opposo compulsory spraying. Mr. Beetbam (Masterton) said it was ridiculous to prohibit the introduction of vines into New Zealand, and yob allow the phylloxera pest to exist in the country. They had plenty of evidence that phylloxera existed) in a small area in the Auckland district, and one of their experts had visited the locality within the laub few weeks. This pesb should be stamped out forthwith. Other delegates said the greatest judgment, had to be exercised in spraying, otherwise the trass would bo killed.

Mr. Neilson (Victoria) said ho had used 60 different cures for codlin moth, but had found nothing to equal Paris green. Mr. Campbell (New South Wales) said there was abundant evidence in thab colony of the boneficial effeot of spraying and lie was strongly in favour of compulsory spraying. He had never known spraying to destroy foliage of trees, as had been asserted by some of the New Zealand dele-

gates. | Mr. Ritchie (New Zoaland Department of Agriculture) explained with regard to the existence of phylloxera in the Auckland district that he had visited the infested locality last year, and found the pest in two small private vinorios. He made an offer to the owners to clear the wholo lot out, but unfortunately beforo terms were accepted the disease was found in one or two other small vineyards. Had the outbreak been confined to the two vineries, the department would have paid any reasonable compensation to have had the vines destroyed. The Bill to be introduced next session would deal with the eradication of these posts, and as soon as it became law, stringent steps would be taken to enforce Its provisions. The Chairman spoke very strongly in favour of the introduction of a Bill on the lines detailed by Mr. Kirk and Mr. Ritchie. After further discussion on the merits of spraying, the authors of the papers were accorded votes of thanks. A short discussion took place on the cultivation of the vine in Now Zoaland. At five p.m. conference adjourned till half-past seven p.m. The Fruit Conference resumed at halfpast seven, when Mr. Lorio (Teviot) moved that the cleaning of orchards from pests be made compulsory by law and not optional as at present. .' r. Adams (Pahiatua) seconded. The Chairman explained that the motion was a recommendation to the Government to legislate in that direction. The New Zealand delegates voted unanimously in favour of the motion, and tho delagates from the other colonies, while not voting, expressed themselves in sympathy with the motion. Id was resolved that the Department of Agriculture receive from various Fruit and Floral Associations a list of the best varieties' of apples, pears, and plums, suitable for culture, that sued results bo tabulated and published, Carried. A resolution that tho Conference place on record its appreciation of the liberal rates at which the Uovernmenb of New Zealand oonvey fruit on the colonial railways, was carried unanimously, It was resolved thab a museum as suggested in the New Zealand Government ' Biologist's report of 1894 1895, be estab- ■ lished. ! On the suggestion of Mr, Ritchie, the question of fixing the place for the next Conference was left in the hands of Messrs, Campbell (Sydney) and Corrie (Queensland). . A motion expressing gratitude for tho . attendanoe of the visitors, was carried by acclamation. Mr. Hutton (Auckland) moved thatitis the . bounden duty of the Australasian Governments to take steps to prevent the introduction of insect pests by fruit or fruit trees, Carried. The question of the size of fruib cases created some discussion. On the motion of Mr. Avery (Nelson) that it be 28 inches long, 17 wide, and 7 high, several raerabersof the reoent Now Zealand Conference denied that that size had been adopted at that ' Conference, while others declarod it had. 1 [ After a good deal of banter on the part of i visitors, Mr. Beetham (Wnlrarapa) moved, ' " That the question bo left to noxt Conference," and this was carried amid derisive cheers. > A motion expressing gratitude to Mr. Bailey (Queensland) for his oxhibib of parasitic fungi, was carried unanimously. i . A vote' of thanks to tho Government for , its courtesy to the delegates, wag carried ) amidst cheers. ' Mr. Ritchie replied on behalf of the , Government, expressing the pleasure of himself and staff at seeing tme delegates here, and assured them that his department , would do all in its power to advance the I industry. He trusted the Conference would j be an incentive to New Zealand bo go ahead

and establish experimental stations. He! regretted that they Whittle opportunity of showing the delegates whati had been doing over berfli {and apologised for any shortcomings.. . .' A vote of,thanks was accorded to the Australian delegates for judging the exhibits at the fruib show. ~ Mr. CotrjF, replying, stated thai) the fruit was badly staged, and, some apples there should not have been allowed on the table. If there waS a bad apple It was generally placed on the, top, and he advised New Zealand, if it intended . to send any exhibits to the other colonies to send a better selection as the grading and package was not what thejr should have been, Mr. Blackmor? (Government pomologisb for the South Island) defended the grading of the fruit with which he was conneobedt bub admitted thab the packing whioh he had nob superintended Was nob what it should have. been. Votes of thanks were carried to the Australian Governments for sending delegates, to the chairman, to Mr. Ritchie and his staff, to the pomologists, to the secretary, and to the press. At a quarter to ten tliij Conference closed. Tho delegates visit MaSterton to-morrow.