THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19149, 15 October 1925, Page 18

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

ORCHARDS IN NELSON. PROSPECTS OF SEASON. On the orchards, spraying is being carried out under simply desperate conditions, in some eases the horses drawing the pumps often getting bogged. It is unusual to get a day without some rain, but the orchardists keep plugging away, getting on spray between the showers, though much of it is washed off again soon afterwards. Still, if the black spot is to bo combated, the spray pump must bo kept going. Those fruitgrowers who have installed the piping system are on a much better wicket, as they are able to spray almost immediately after heavy rain when horses could not be got 011 to the ground. There is little doubt that next season will see a large number of orchards pined, the experience this season unquestionably demonstrating the advantage of this system. By next season, too, further experience will have been gained, so that new systems will be put in on the basis of actual tests. The Nelson Freezing Company proceeded against two orchardists to recover sums for the storage of apples in cool store, the defendants counter-claiming for loss sustained through the apples going bad while in cool store'through the company's alleged negligence (a) in failure to take proper care of the apples (b) that the cool store was not fit for proper storage. In giving judgment, Mr. T. E. Maunsell, S.M., said that in his opinion the cause of the loss was not plaintiff's negligence but was because at that time at least the means of safe-guarding against flesh collapse were unknown. He found that plaindFts had discharged the onus of proof that had to bear and accordingly should have judgment on the counter-claim. As to the claims, the plaintiffs had rendered the accounts for amounts less than those sued for. This reduction was made because of the loss. The secretary says the reduction was made on the understanding thai the amounts would be paid, whereas the defendants said the concession was made unconditionally No cmjon was set out in the accounts rendered, and in e Magistrate's opinion, U the company Z any condition in mind it was never SSmunictod to «***£•& J&fc merit was therefore given for the plaintiff acainst both, defendants. x? u The Government has advised the Fruit "K*vrvnrt<; Control Board, that it has been decided to extend the guarantee to 3000 c Sfof known good-keeping varieties of wars It also been decided that Should it be found that a few additional r-i-es are required to fill the last chamSr, the guarantee will apply to the additional number also.