Cook Is Arranges

New Season Commences

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, April 28.

ACTIVITY is again showing itself in several directions concerning the orange season. The first nick ing discloses a good crop—possibly not so heavy as last year—with fruit in clined to medium grade.

The Acting Director of Agriculture Mr. Bouchier, has returned from an extended trip to South Africa and Aus tralia. His propositions for improved cultivation and thoroughly careful packing methods have been placed be fore those concerned.

The native here is inclined to main tain that he did better when he was free to dump his oranges holus-bolus into cases than he does now under the ideas propounded by the Agricul tural Authorities. He knows nothing of course, of what he is up against with the foreign grower on his market delivering 100 per cent, perfectly sound fruit, uniform in grade, quality and appearance.

But the native grower works harder than he is given credit for and, all things considered, does his best to meet the refined tastes of the consum er or the distributor, or whoever is the mysterious individual commanding the size, quality and colour to which oranges are to be grown.