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30

Apple Grading and Packing Classes. This useful branch of the Orchard Instructors' work has been continued, as far as possible, in all the main districts These classes will be extended so as to place clearly before growers the standards required in the export and local-market regulations governing the grad'ng and packing of fruit. Since these classes were inaugurated six first-class certificates in fruit-grading have been issued, and seventeen persons gained first-class certificates in fruit-packing, and one a second-class certificate in the same subject. Certificates in Pruning and Spraying. Examinations in pruning and spraying are held each year in the different centres. During the past year some fifteen persons sat for examination. Of these, four secured first-class certificates, and three second-class. Up to the present time fifty-five first-class and eleven second-class certificates have been issued by the Department. Demonstrations by Orchard Instructors. Continuing their usual practice during the winter months practical demonstrations in up-to-date methods of pruning and spraying were given during the year by the Orchard Instructors in their respective! districts. These demonstrations are duly advertised in the local papers, and as a rule arc largely attended by fruitgrowers and others, who greatly appreciate the valuable advice thus given. Co-operative Fruit-testing Plots. Only one new co-operative fruit-testing plot was planted during the year, as it is considered that in most districts sufficient of these plots have now been established. Since .1910 sixty-six of these experimental areas have been planted in different localities throughout the Dominion. A number had, however, to be abandoned owing to the owners having died and to other causes, leaving a total of fifty-seven in operation. The results obtained from some of the older-planted areas have been published in. the Department's Journal from time to time, and serve as a valuable guide as to what varieties are best suited to different localities. Spraying and other Experiments. With the wide range of climatic conditions experienced in the Dominion it is recognized that the experiments undertaken in any one district will act only as a guide in another district where different conditions prevail, and should not be implicitly followed. Not only have the horticultural stations been utilized for this work, but experiments have been undertaken on a fairly large, scale in private orchards in co-operation with the fruitgrowers' associations. The latter orchards havo been used more as demonstration plots, and have served a very useful purpose. The more intricate and delicate spraying experiments have been reserved for the stations. Experiments for the control of brown-rot were made a leading feature of this work during the season. A different phase of control was tested in eight private stone-fruit orchards, as well as being the leading feature at Arataki Horticultural Station. A full report covering this series of experiments is being published in the Journal. Arataki Horticultural Station provides a splendid field for testing the numerous new sprayingcompounds that are annually being put on the market. Tests on a, large scale were also conducted at this station for the control of orchard-diseases. Some of these were-- Control of red mite and testing various brands of oil in connection therewith ; control of woolly aphis on orchard-trees and nursery stock ; control of leaf-curl and dieback of peach ; control of plum-rust. Besides these tests special spraying experiments at the cluster-bud stage were undertaken for the control of black-spot and red mite. At the Tauranga Horticultural Station and in two lemon-orchards in the Auckland District spraying experiments for the control of verrucosis and lemon-scab were made. Other experiments : In private orchards the following experiments have been conducted by the Division : Manurial, including liming and green crops ; pruning ; and interpollination of plum-trees. Reports on the experiments are published in due course. Grading of Fruit-trees. Regulations governing the sale of fruit-trees according to the grade assigned have been gazetted, and will be put into operation this lifting season. This is a matter of considerable importance, as it will ensure that the purchaser of fruit-trees will be supplied with the class of tree ho desired and in accordance with the grade ordered. Fruit-preserving Industry Act. The assistance given under this Act is being taken advantage of to a large extent, and several cool stores and packing-sheds have been built, and others are in course of erection. To date advances have been made to some twelve companies, representing a total amount of £75,000. Orchard-registration and Orchard-lax. During the year some 7,500 commercial orchards were registered and £1,897 collected in orchardtax. Under the Orchard-tax Act passed in 1916 all occupiers of orchards from which fruit is sold or intended to be sold are required to pay a tax each year calculated at the rate of Is. per acre or part of an acre, with a minimum charge of 2s. Od. All moneys collected are paid over to the New