would be enormous and the prospects for export good. That covers everything except working costs, and they, of course, depend on the man.

11847. Do you know what profitable export of oranges from this state has been undertaken prior to the war?—Very little, I believe. Several small shipments were made. I went into the matter of the probable export of oranges from Adelaide to London when in England in 1897 and conclude that, provider we can sell oranges in London at 10s. a bushel, there is a big export trade available when conditions become normal. The whole thing depends upon being able to sell at a moderate price in London. putting the cost of export at 5s. per bushel, it leaves 5s for the fruit, the cases, and the expenses at this end. When we get down to bedrock, and oranges are only grown under the most favourable conditions, it will be possible to make a profit at even lower rates. In regard to lemons, I believe that, as in Sicily, we shall find that considerable areas of land in the south-west unsuited for growing of good oranges will grow the very best class of lemons, land such as that at Balingup and some of the Preston Valley. in silkily lemons are grown up to 3,000 feet above sea level, and the mountain lemons keep longest and fetch the highest prices.

11848. Do they stand the frost?—Yes, except when the foliage is tender.

11849. By Mr. PARTNER: you have taken a very high standard of soil for the successful growing of oranges. you say there is plenty of land in the state?—Yes, there is plenty of it from Carnarvon down to the Harvey. The banks of the streams and the little gullies in the hills provide any number of small area of less favourable soil.

11850. Do you think there is sufficient of that land to warrant a strong effort being made to establish a big orange export industry?—Yes, there is sufficient land, but I am not prepared to urge the forcing of any industry. Many of the evils we have suffered from have arisen from forcing and booming.

11851. I mean merely to promote the industry?—There is no other state in the commonwealth where fruit of better quality can be produced; but it will not be by the planting of 100-acre orchards.

11852. By the CHAIRMAN: you referred to Mr. Loaring's results. We did not see Mr. Loaring's but his son told us that the yield was in the vicinity of only 21/2 cases to the tree. would you call that phenomenal ?—I think there must be some mistake or confusion over the figures.

11853. The big trees averaged four cases; young and old trees together averaged two cases ?—four cases at, say, 100 trees to the acre would be 400 cases. I think that if the right places are chosen an orchard should produce 400 cases per acre.11854. What are the prospects of viticulture in this state?—I have not studied the wine industry sufficiently recently to warrant my going in to details. I have, however, formed definite conclusions on some points. For example, I believe that (1) this state is as well suited for the development of a big wine and brandy industry as is any other state; (2) that brandy and spirits production must be developed alongside of the table grape, raisin and currant industries in order that the surplus grapes in good years. and the call in all years, may be turned to profitable use; (3) in order that the grape-growing industry may develop profitably, it is essential that modern wineries and distilleries be established in every grape-growing centre; (4) that if the wine industry is to progress, the making and selling of unsound, heavily fortified, and immature products of grape juice. know as "pinkie" must cease; (5) that the making of sound wine vinegar should be encouraged until production of this kind of vinegar supplies all the requirements of the state, and possibly until a substantial export trade is developed. with regard to currants and raisins, the production in the commonwealth at the present time is much output and the prices is controlled by the dried fruit trust. The methods of this trust and its entry into this state render it quite impossible to make calculations as to raisin and current growing here. twenty years ago the consumption of currants in Australia was greater than it is now. Currant vines were introduced into south Australia in 1839,but after 60 years the production in Australia was only 108 tons. Greek currants I think paid a duty of 3d. per 1b. in south Australia, but imported currants were retailed at 4d. It was then (1897-8) that I introduced girdling, and production at once jumped. The yield from existing vineyards was more than then doubled and planting boomed. In 1912 production had reached 4,675 tons. The trust fixed a price for the merchants at 5¾d., the distributing price at 6d.,and the retail price was 6½d., the distributing price at 6d., and the retail price was 6¾d. to 7d. The result was that, I believe, 500 tons went to the still at £18 a ton, or under 2d. per 1b. Production in 1950-16, according to the latest figures, was about 7,100 tons, but a large population, probably nearly a one-third. went to the distilleries. There is always a good percentage of inferior grape fruit, especially when rain comes in the drying time, and this should go to the still. apart from that, however, it appears to be wise to fix prices which will average as well as at present, and will encourage consumption. There is as great a different of opinion about costs as there is about wheat, and the less said about the letter. It depends on the man and his condition. The average production of a suitably planted and worked current vineyard should not be less than 3½ to four tons of fresh fruit, or one ton of graded dried fruit. Special plots and good years will give up to 2½ tons of dried currents, and badly situated and badly worked vineyards may only yield half a ton. The raisin position is similar to that of currents, The production in Australia is very much greater, being about 12,000 or 13,000 tons, and it is increasing. A large population goes to the still.

11855. With regard to the yield of currants?— three and a half to four tons of the fresh produces one ton of dried fruit. I think that 4d. a 1b. would pay and would give a profitable industry, one of the most profitable we have. indeed I believe it would pay at 3d. per 1b. net.

11856. By Mr. PAYNTER: Do you mean under ordinary conditions or under irrigation?—There is no need for irrigation in connection with vine growing. One cannot grow currants or any fruit in some parts of the commonwealth without irrigation, but in