FRUIT CULTURE IN PARAPARAUMU

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2207, 21 July 1914, Page 8

FRUIT CULTURE IN PARAPARAUMU

Considerable interest is being taken in .the,classi formed hi connectionwith the Paraparaumu Fruit Growers' Association, for thestudy ,of. fruit culture. Mr. -Kirk, head of tho Orchard Division of the-Department of; Agriculture, and Mr. T. (J. Webb,; orchard' instructor for' the district, attended last woek's meeting. Mr. K. It. Harris,'secretary of the association, in welcoming .Mr. Kirk to the class, stated that-the orchardists of Farnparnumu realised the value-of the Department of which Mr. Kirk was tho head, and the benefits that were to be obtained by co-operating with the Department, and that thero was no. reason why anyone who possessed common-sense, and followed out tho instructions .of ;the Department, should not make- a, success of fruit-grow-ing. ~.:...; -..-. ..-..■■- ; ;-.,- .-■ .■■•■:■:•:■ ■

Mr.'. Kirk, in addressing the class, remarked on the great future that was before the'fruit- industry in New &aland, which industry . was ■■ now on a sound basis. ' In referring to' the time when tho .Orchard Pests Act was evolved,.-ho said that people predicted the ruin of the industry, but he told them then that tho peste already-had dono.that,-as no more than t per cent, of their, fruit was - saleable. The biggest -.opponents 'then to : the Act are now its staunchest supporters. The'result::was that in" the past five years ,42,000 acres had'beeit planted, and last ; ycar;.alono '.'.■13,000.!! acres were - laid' put •in _ orchard, . whilo.; tho export of apples this year had totalled 85,000 cases, which clearly proved that investors had confidence in the industry In referring, to the: apple export trado, he said that it was of great importance to tho small grower, as well''as the large commercial orchardist, and epoko of the grcativalue of co-operation. . In his opinion, the between Paokakariki and Palmerston'.North iwas destined to be a great fruit-producing district, as climatic ideal/ They were 'at the 'back-doqr'o'f ■ the ..best; -market , in.■-. New■-, land; .. "MrJ Webb also gavo 'the class a lecture', oil; ."Pruning, , . , and kindly, lent, them an- excellent personal collection of specimens, whicli will be of great'value to: the'class'in their studies. He also promised toj give them a practical! demonstration "at an early date..';-.:'.'. -.; :':.:.:\.,'- ; ;.'..... .-■;..■ >■ '..-..

Messrs.''Kirk .and .Webb:were accordedva Lbarty'Tote-of.'thanks; ;; ,