500 TOWS OF CARROTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 50, 18 February 1944, Page 5

500 TOWS OF CARROTS

TE TEKO MARKET GARDEN

FIiFTY M.I;LKS OF ONIONS

On land which twenty years agjoi was considered unfit for even second class' farming, and at which district farmers on more favoured plots gravely shook their heads and passed by, there is now to be seen at Te Teko the largest individual market gardening schemes in this country at the present time. Here on land which at one time was covered with stunted! tear tree fighting for a bare living in the heavy crust of Tarawera lash which clothed the countryside, are growing for the armed forces, carrots and parsnips by the million and' onions which if extended in one continuous line would cover the whole route from Whakatane to Rotorua. Fertility of Plains On this patch of land which dies on the Galatea ai>proach road, at Te Teko Messrs J. C. and S. Cannell have cultivated some 82 acres, the whole of which is being devoted to the raising of vegetables for the. Armed Forces in answer to the Government's apjaeal. The venture is a singular one and owes, its direct success to hard work and tlio lessons gained by experience, ft is a remarkable, advertisement for the Rangitaiki Plains and their produce tivity but above all it 'is. a concrete tribute to the initiative and the industry of the two men Avho decided in the first instance to 'give, it a go' and won through. Group from Whakatane

On Sunday last a representative group of businessmen from Wliakatane visited tlie 'scheme' as it is now becoming oft'ieiall}' known. Mr W. Sullivan, M.P., with Mrs Sullivan and the Mayor and Mayoress, Mi* and Mrs B. S. Barry, headed the party which was condnctcd from field to field and urged by the owners to-'help themselves' as often as each new inspection avus made. ] f the old adage holds good there Avere sufficient, onions in the first paddock to maintain the health of the. community and give the doctors a break for many a day. There they were acres of them ranged: in neat Lines, a quarter of a mile long. Ten solid acres of onions were inspected, the crop which should, be yielded being estimated at 80 tons. Carrots and Parsnips Those of us who have studiously planted our ten foot row of carrots and cursed, the kink in our backs will appreciate; the imprcs-. sion made on Sunday's, visitors when they were shown over just 61 acres of carrots and acres, of, parsnips. The carrots which arc the table variety of course, are exported mainly to the Pacific Avar theatre. The anticipated yield is 8 ton per acre, Avhich after all is considerably below last year's Avhicli reached 15 tons. However avlic.ii avc speak of tons, it. is interesting to ]elate that Messrs. CanneU Bros. are awaiting an army order to pull GO tons and forward them on some time this week — a mere hatful to an establishment which anticipates forwarding no less than 1000 Lorn; of A'egetables over the whole year.

The carrots were of the line sweet variety, and it was rather refreshing to note the number of staid visitors who nibbled them bunnyfa.shion as. the parade tramped, from (ie.Ul to Jielcl. Congratulatory Following an enjoyable afternoon tea served by Mrs Cannell Mr W. Sullivan expressed the tkanks of the visitors and added, that he was sure after all they had seen that all present. x \vould re-pledge themselves to their own vegetable gardens. He trusted that such a large and established venture would be carried on after the war, when a national need would arise to replace the army demand. All who realised the extent of the undertaking appreciated fully what the Cannell Brothers had achieved, and he felt that they Jjuul built up something which was a genuine national asset. ,\'lr J. C. Cannell briefly returned thank-.