FRUIT-TREE GRADING REGULATIONS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXX, Issue 3, 20 March 1925, Page 212

FRUIT-TREE GRADING REGULATIONS.

The regulations of 1921 governing the grading of fruit-trees for sale from nurseries were recently revoked, and- the following regulations made in their place : — 1. In these regulations, if not inconsistent with the context, — "Diameter” means the diameter of a fruit-tree measured 2 in. above the union .: •; : “ Fruit-tree ” means any variety of apple,, pear, apricot, peach, or nectarine tree : ... . . - . ... . “ Nursery ” means any land which is used for the raising or growing of any fruit-trees, if such fruit-trees or any of them are intended for sale for replanting : . ' “ Sale ” or “ sell ” includes barter, and also includes offering or attempting to sell or exposing for sale, or sending or delivering for sale, or causing or allowing to be sold, offered, or exposed for sale : " Sub-package ” means one of two or more packages enclosed in one cover. 2. (1.) On every sale of fruit-trees from a nursery, whether direct or through an agent, there shall be issued, by or on behalf of the occupier of such nursery to the purchaser or intending purchaser, a statement of the grade of such fruit-trees determined as hereinafter set out ; provided that nothing in these regulations shall apply to the sale of fruit-trees in the execution of an order for not more than fifty trees or to the sale of lots of not more than ten trees of any one variety. (2.) Such statement as to grade shall be set out in the invoice, also on a tag or label attached to each package of fruit-trees. (3.) It shall not be lawful to pack trees of different grades together unless the trees constituting each grade form a distinct sub-package; each such sub-package shall bear a tag or label in accordance with the requirements of the last preceding subclause. 3. The grading of fruit-trees from a nursery shall be done by or on behalf of the occupier of such nursery prior to the sale of such fruit-trees. 4. The following are the standards by which the grade-of apple or pear trees, shall be determined (1.) "A- (or commercial) grade’’.shall consist of trees the diameter of which is not less than in. nor more than Jg in. : Provided that trees which are more than Jg in. in diameter may be included in this grade if such trees are not more than one year from the bud or graft : Provided further that in the case of the following varieties of/pear-trees— Winter Nelis, P. Barry, Marie Louise, and Josephine de Malines—trees may be included in this grade the diameter of which is not less than in. “ B (or nursery grade) ” shall, subject to the last preceding proviso, consist of trees the diameter of which is less than in. “ C (or special) grade ” shall, subject to the first proviso in the case of A grade, consist of trees the diameter of which is more than Jg-in. (2.) Apple or pear trees of all grades shall be well rooted, and, if branched, shall be of fair shape, and shall have not less than three branches averaging 18 in. in length. 5. The following are the standards by which the grade of apricot, peach, and nectarine trees shall be determined: (1.) Commercial grade ” shall consist of trees the diameter of which is not less than T 8 g- in. “ Nursery grade ” shall consist of trees the diameter of which is less than in. (2.) Apricot, peach, and nectarine trees’ of commercial grade shall be well rooted and branched, and of fair shape. 6. In the grading of fruit-trees there shall be allowed a margin of error; provided that in any one consignment of fruit-trees forwarded from a nursery to a purchaser the margin of error shall not exceed 5 per cent, by number ; and provided further that where the error relates to the diameter of the trees no greater margin than in. shall be allowed. . 7. If any purchaser of fruit-trees from a nursery is dissatisfied as to the grading of such trees he may make complaint to an Inspector, but such complaint must be made within fourteen days of the receipt of such trees by the purchaser. 8. Every occupier of a nursery who (a) sells any ungraded fruit-trees from such nursery, or (b) sells any fruit-trees from such nursery without issuing to the purchaser a statement of the grade assigned to them, or (c) sells any fruittrees from such nursery which are incorrectly graded, commits an offence against these regulations, and shall be liable on conviction to a fine, not exceeding £20.