STANDARDIZING INSTRUCTION – WORK.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VII, Issue 1, 15 July 1913, Page 58

STANDARDIZING INSTRUCTION - WORK.

The field officers of the Orchards, Gardens, and Apiaries Division were recently brought together in Wellington by the Director of the Division, Mr. T. W. Kirk, F.L.S., for the purpose of discussing with himself and the Assistant Director, Mr. W. A. Boucher, means of bringing about greater uniformity in methods of imparting instruction and standardizing instruction-work.

Fruit Instruction and Inspection

The officers engaged in orchard instruction and fruit inspection considered, among other subjects, amendments which the practical working of the Orchards and Garden Diseases Act of 1908 showed to be desirable in the interests of the industry. After thorough discussion a number of suggested amendments were unanimously agreed to. These will be duly submitted for approval. The subject of packing fruit, especially for export, was very fully discussed.

Practical demonstrations were given illustrating the advantages claimed for particular methods and particular cases. As a result it was shown to . the entire satisfaction of the Conference that one of the cases submitted by officers possessed several distinct advantages over the case now in use. (i.) It was admitted by the Instructors from British Columbia and Tasmania who have recently joined the staff that the case was much more easily packed than the Tasmanian case (now generally in use in the Dominion). (2.) It was shown that fruit would be less liable to bruising. (3.) On the case being submitted to the representatives of the shipping companies it was declared that twenty-five cases would go to the ton measurement instead of twenty-three as at present, this meaning a saving, roughly, of 6s. on the freight of each twenty-five. (4.) Telegraphic quotations from casemanufacturers .showed that the price will be £2 12s. 6d. per hundred cases, in shooks, f.o.b. on rail; (5.) The case would still hold an imperial bushel of fruit. It is intended by the Division to demonstrate the advantages of this case to the Dominion Conference of fruitgrowers to be held in September.

A set of suggested regulations to govern the compulsory grading and packing of fruit for export was drawn up, the object being

to establish standard grades of New Zealand fruit on oversea markets, and to ensure that nothing but good fruit shall leave the Dominion. Methods of controlling plant - diseases, inspection of orchards and shops, and testing spraying - materials and fertilizers were exhaustively discussed by the Conference.

Apiary Instruction and Inspection. The four apiary instructors- also met the officers in charge in Wellington to discuss matters in connection with their particular work. Regulations to control the grading of honey for export were discussed, and some amendments suggested. It was considered advisable to establish four grades of honey foi export. The instructors also recommended some slight amendments to the Apiaries Act which would be to the advantage of the industry.

Systematizing Information. Opportunity was taken at both Conferences of the presence of the instructors in Wellington to have a joint revision of the bulletins and leaflets which are at present out of print, in order that there may be unanimity of opinion among the held instructors on every detail of the methods advocated in the literature of the Division. ' -