APPLES FOR EXPORT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1971, 30 January 1914, Page 10

APPLES FOR EXPORT.

PROSPECTS IN SOUTH AMERICA. MR. HORTON ENTHUSIASTIC. Mr. Thomas' Horton, tho well-tlnown ■ .orchardist of Hnwke's Bay, speaks enthusiastically of tho prospects for the sale of Now Zealand apples in South America. Speaking to a Dunedin reporter of his recent visit to that part of tlio world he said: "Importers 1 interviewed wero unanimous in declaring Tv'ow Zealand apples to be superior in colour, texture, and quality to anything they get from any other part of the ti world. This is proved by tho fact that *j I got an order from, one firm for 200,000 ! easos of apples per annum for fivo years >at Is. 6d. a case more than they can buy apples for in. Tasmania. This I consider a very big thing for the'grow- ' ers of this country: Tho price, though, was only obtained after a very big fight, j New Zealand will not bo ablo to fulfil ; the order this year, but every case that can bo shipped will be shipped, and I ■am satisfied that it will not be more ; than two years before, wo shall produce sufficient to execute tho order in full each year. Probably wo shall bo ablo '■ to do a great deal moro than that. Con.jeidering the large number of treos that have been planted during tho last fow years, I am satisfied it will not bo very long before wo are ablo to export a million cases per annum. ,1 am so satisfied, . ; in fact, with the prospect there is for this trade that-1 am certain that before many years lmve passed our apple export trado will become almost as valuable to New' Zealand as the butteS- ' and cheese industry is to it to-day. I can with every confidence recommend growers to increase their areas. There is undoubtedly a big future beforo all growers of apples." Air: Horton has still another trip in view. He hopes to leave in March next for Buenos Ayres with a comprehensive exhibit of New Zealand apples and pears.- . , ', Recently Mr. Horton visited Central Otago', although not for the first time, and, his impressions of that district should be read with interest. "Every time I visit Central Otago," lo said, "I am more impressed with its possibilities. jit stands eminently superior to any other district I know of for the production of apricots. It produces the finest fruit Of tho kind that I have seen in any part of tho world. Western '.Australia, I consider, produces tho next best apricots in the Southern Hemisphere a I am rather'surprised that some capitalist- has not bunched out and established a drying or evaporating •plajit, so that our own dried apricots could be put on the market in place til' those which we import from California, for 'instance. I think the principal varieties suitable for -this purpose nre Moorpark, Royal, Roxburgh Red, and Mansfield.

"I was rather surprised to find very few growers with any prunes in their orchards. Wo import into thiscountry a great quantity of this fruit every year, and with the hot dry seasons experienced in Central Otago prunes could he dried to perfection and a big business bniltup.

"I noticed, on visiting some of tho orchards at 'Central, Otago, that a great many of tho growers had planted new and untried varieties of apples. Some of these thpy nro already; dissatisfied with, and many, have been cut off and reworked with old standard kinds of good commercial value. My advice to both old and new men in the orchard business isito leave tho 'new varietios alone, and to confine themselves strictly. to those commercial kinds which have been proved beyond all doubt to bo payablo varieties to grow, and which are known in the markets of tho world..' If there is to be any experimenting with now kinds, ■ let tho Government, or thoso who can afford the time, do it. Tho varieties I recommend are, first of all, •Tonatlmn. I believe there is more money in : this apple than in any other in the world. Next to Jonathan, if the ■ land and climate are suitable, I strongly recommend Cox's Orange Pippin. This is midoubtedlv the finest-quality apple, anii in tho European market li qften. 'brings times as much as any other kind. ■ Other varieties I recommend are Cleopatra, Mnnro's Favourite, Stur- . mer Pippin, and Stayman's Winesap: ■ and for the Central Otago district I j would specialty add tho Yellow Newtown j 'Pippin, which is doing better there than in other,parts of New Zealand that I , have visited. This' variety I would not 'think of planting In Nelson, Hawke's IjSa.v, or anywhere else'in tho North.' l