GROWING PINEAPPLES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18234, 19 November 1924, Page 7

GROWING PINEAPPLES.

'" ♦— —— ' . NORTH ISLAND FAVOURABLE. . : .. That the warmer districts of- the North Island are favourable for the cultivation of pineapples and grapefruit is suggested by the Hon. G. M. Thomson, M.L.C., in his report on the Pan-PacLlic Food Conservation Conference. "During my stay in.Maui I was surprised to find that pineapples were cultivated on a. .vast scale upi to as much as 3000 ft elevation," he says. "The season at the time of my visitwas' the hottest of . the /year, tlie thermometer in Honolulu (Oahu) and in riiia (Hawaii) not falling below 7'3deg. P., and . reaching a maximum of Sddcg. At an elevation of 1500 ft. in Maui the mercury fell to (wdeg. at night, but did not rise Tlideg. during the day; at 2000 ft the air was fully, a degree or more cooler. The pineapples grow for three years. In planting them the ground is covered with broad binds —about a yard wide—-of-thick felted paper, in. which holes are made, and through which the crowns (or shoots) of the pineapples are placed. The paper prevents the growth of weeds most effectively, and also conserves the moisture of the soil. "I would strongly iccommehd to the horticulture division of the ; Department of Agriculture to experiment with the growth of pineapples in the warmer parts of the North Island. In the territory of Hawaii the summer temperature is not nearly so high asit reaches-in North Auckland, Bay of Plenty, or Gisborne. It is;; however, remarkably uniform, the difference between the summer and winter. temperatures being comparatively very little. There is also a complete immunity from frost, it may be that this is the chief factor- in the success of the Hawaiian pineapples. Therefore, in making experiments in New. Zealand; it would be necessary to select localities where frost is never experienced. The pineapples in the Hawaiian Islands are all grown on rich soils rich in iron,.- of Comparatively, recent volcanic- origin; such soils are common in New Zealand. The plants do not require a great deal of moisture, and arc not dependent on irrigation, as sugar-cane is. I cannot help thinking that it will be found feasible to grow and ripen pineapples in the North Island if suitable localities sue selected, and at any rate the experiment is worth trying Information as to the tardiest varieties could be obtained from Mr Nicoll, of Paia. Maui; while the felted paper could be got from Pan-Pacific Traders, Ltd., of Honolulu.

"Grape-fruit, which is apparently a cultivated form of citrus decumana (the sliaddt-ck), is very extensively grown in California., whence it is largely imported into Honolulu. The small quantities which eonie into New Zealand sell at a prohibitive price. There -is no reason whv this fruit should not be cultivated 'in the North Island. There is an excellent market for it, and I recommend experimental . work ivith this species also."