1.—12.

W. A. BOUCHER.]

11

141. You know, of course, that there is a certain amount of opposition to it ?—-Yes, but the objections do not amount to very much. They have been reduced to really very minor points. 142. What do you think of this clause which exempts Auckland from the operation of the Act under certain conditions—clause 22?—1 think it is altogether, for the Auckland people themselves, a very great mistake, and will do Auckland a vast amount of harm. I believe the growers themselves are beginning to realise that they should come under the general working of the Act. 143. The effect would practically be to prevent export from Auckland, would it not ?—No, it would not amount to that—the clean fruit could be exported. 144. You think it is possible to get a certain amount of clean fruit for export purposes ?—lt all depends on whether the Bill is brought into force or not. 145. I mean under existing circumstances ?—No. 146. There is no clean fruit under existing circumstances ?—Not sufficient for export to outside markets. 147. When you say "outside markets " do you mean in the colony or outside?— Outside the colony. 148. Supposing that the Bill was passed this session, when do you think it would be practicable to bring it into operation ?—ln about three years from now. 149. Do you think that a clause providing that the Bill should not come into operation until two years from now would be an advantage ?—I do not see that there would be any necessity at all for the clause, because the Act would be administered under the Department, and by instructions from the Department no active operations would be taken during the first season, and probably very little action during the second season; it would only be the third season when active measures would be taken, particularly with the codlin-moth. 150. Mr. Rhodes.] When did the parasite which you referred to just now appear?—l noticed it at Mr. Parr's place about three years ago. 151. Do you think it has been introduced into this country, or that it came in apples from Australia ?—I think it probably came in apples from the States. 152. Do you know the name of the fly ?—Yes; it is the Tnchogramma pretiosa. 153. Do you know of any other natural enemy to the codlin-moth ?—No, I do not know of any other. 154. You say that the second year's working of the orchard at Otahuhu was not very profitable ?—lt was not, on account of the ruling prices for fruit throughout the markets of the colony being so low. It was practically impossible to find a profitable market for really good clean apples. 155. That was on account of it being a good year for apples ?—Yes. 156. Was the crop in this particular orchard a good crop ? —Yes ; it has been a good crop every season. 157. It was only on account of the ruling prices that the second year's working was not very profitable ?—Yes. 158. Hon. Major Harris.] What age were the trees in the Otahuhu orchard when you commenced ?—Fifteen or sixteen years, I believe. I only know the history of the place from hearsay. 159. Hon. Mr. T. Kelly.] You stated that during the first season you sprayed the trees to remove moss: what kind of spray did you use for that purpose ?—I used what we term the Bordeaux mixture— i.e., sulphate of copper, lime, and water. 160. Is that effective?— Yes, perfectly. 161. Hon. Mr. W. Kelly.] You said that you used that to the soil ?—No ; that was sprayed on to the trees. 162. Hon. Mr. T. Kelly.] When you first got possession of the orchard had it been used by the owner—had if been worked by him to get the best results in producing fruit ?—lt had by a previous owner, but he sold the property. 163. Did you find it, then, in a very neglected state?— Yes. 164. Would you, for commercial purposes, have taken that orchard at any rental whatever?— I certainly would not myself. We took the orchard simply because it was recommended by the committee of Auckland fruit-growers, and suggested by them as being the worst they could find, as a place for a fair test for spraying, in a really bad orchard, for the codlin-moth. 165. As an object-lesson?— Yes. 166. Not for commercial results ?—No. 167. In dealing with fruit is it not the sale of the apples that gives the best result if there is a good price to be obtained, rather than canning, drying, or pulping ?—Generally, yes. You mean the sale of the apples fresh ? 168. Yes?-Yes. 169. And then these other things would be simply to use up the second- or third-class varieties of the fruit ? —There is an increasing market for really good canned apples. 170. A profitable market ?—Yes, a profitable market. 171. Hon. the Chairman.] In the colony ?—Yes ; and outside. 172. Hon. Mr. T. Kelly.] You talk of applying sulphate of iron to the trees as a dressing: what strength was the solution ? Did you apply it in the crude state for the silver blight ?—lt is used pulverised—sowed over the ground at the roots of the trees. 173. To what strength?— From £lb. to l^lb., according to the size of the tree. 174. That has a good effect ? —lt acts as a tonic to the sap of the tree, and gives the tree better resisting-power to throw off any disease. 175. It circulates in the sap ?—Yes. 176. And is in that way effective ? —Yes. 177. Do you spray the trees at all in dealing with the blight?—No; spraying does not seem to affect the blight. 178. Hon. the Chairman.] Is the expense of that treatment— i.e., the application of the