FRUIT-GROWING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2570, 18 September 1915, Page 15

FRUIT-GROWING

NELSON AND OTAGO COMPARED. (To tho Editor.) Sir,—Would you kindly'allow me spaco iii your valuablo paper to reply to an article which appeared in Ihb Dominion on September i } which was copied from the "Otago Daily Times,' tho articlo in question being by. Mr. Moritzson? . Mr. Moritzson is reported. to liavo given many reasons why fruit-growing is movo profitable in Central Otago than in Nolson and othor northern parts of New Zealand. In tho first place, he claims that in Nelson and other parts of Nolson tho trees do not got complete roil in tho winter months. Now, I should like to ask Mr. Moritzson if he aware of tho fact that wo in Nelson

(in the right season) got very. severo frosts indeed, and these continue' at tirncn for a month at a stretch without Ivca'-, with most beautifully, c.'car bright days, which makes it a delight lor a- man to livo, and these conditions cortainly insure tho trees having a moat completo rest, and ready for business when spring comes. In Nelson, I should, like to say, spring is not delayed as it is sometimes down south until Christmas comijs; also, it' tho' hMs do not got sufficient rest in winter time, how does Mr. Moritzson account for tha I wonderfully prolific and consistent crops that tho orchards of No'sou always have when in othor less favoured localities of New Zealand, particularly Central Otago, thoy are smitten with

that great curso 'to the fruit-grower, lato frosts; add at other times get the almost matured apples .torn from the trees by tho boisterous winds? ' •_ Furtner, ho says that fungoid and insert pests are easier to control in Centi al Otago than in other parts of New Zealand. This I also vonturo to combat, as in Nelson there are no diseases tiiaf are at present known that cannot be controlled by an experienced grower; and I also venture tho opinion, and am sure it will be found correct that as you expand tho industry in any ono district so you will have more trouble to con-' trol pests, especially fungoid. This has bedn found the case in Tasmania, and is borne out in Nelson. Tor a few years ago, when the industry had not expanded more, than Central Otago, we ivero like them, and"hardly knew what black spot was; as for, codlin moth, we have very little trouble with this pest, and it is one of tho very easiest to control, and. does not worry the commercial grower in the least.

Also, Mr. Moritzson says that in regard to toxture, flavour, and colour neither Nelson nor - any other part of New Zealand conies within measurable distance of Central; Otago. This is absolute moonshine, and only goes to show how biased a man may become in favour of his own.littlo district. Now, to prove ; that I a right, I put i forward this statement : that'buyers from South America, who are very particular as' to colour, texture, and flavour, emphatically declare that'they will give Id. 6d. per case more for' apples grown on what is called the new apple country in Nelson (and where such great developments have taken place) than in any other part- of Now Zealand and Australasia, and this they 'state is because we have such , a beautiful colour and such. 1 good flavour and texture. This should be sufficient answer to this' contention, as it is well known that the South American buyers are not here for any philanthropic purposes. Also, Mr. Moritzson claims that the excellence of the "Central Otago fruit is due to the large amount of sunshine in that N district. Now, is. he .aware of. the fact'.that .Nelson easily holds the record for sunshine in New Zealand, if not in the ,world. Therefore; for that reason,, if they can grow good fruit, which-1 do not deny, does this not apply more to Nelson, lias a better 'sunshine record than Central Otago.

Again, Mr. Moritzsoi\ says Central Otago does not rely upon weather conditions. Very fortunatelyindeed, we in Nelson are able to do this as we require 110 costly irrigation schemes which increase the cost of production, as our rainfall is' ideal for the production of the'very best export fruit, and I may be permitted to say, and this is borne out in America and Australia, and is beyond dispute, that fruit grown under artificial irrigation, such as Central Otago has' to resort to, can never compare with fruit grown under favourable natural conditions, as although it may look well it cannot be bompared. for flavour and particularly its keeping qualities.

Now, also, Mr. Moritzson must al--low that whefe wo ■ have in' Nelson 'the fruit areas iu close proximity to the sea front, we have an enormous advantage over districts that have to include the cost of railway and cartage freight over long distances; and also to allow for great damage and deterioration of fruit by land transit under conditions such as they have in Contral Otago, which is recognised as the hottest climate in New Zealand during the summer months. '*. v Mr. Moritzson also states that the life time of an apple tree groVn in Central Otago is much longer than iu any other district. How doos he arrive at this very erroneous conclusion? There : aro trees in-the Nelson district that are fjfty to seventy years old bearing from. thirty to forty cases per- tree, and looking more healthy and vigorous than ever.' ■ Now, I a'sk, what evidence has he for such a. statement? In conclusion,! should liketo say that I have nothing to say against the quality of the Central Otago fruit, but when Mr. Moritzson so _ unfairly compares it with my own district I feel at once that some reply should be given, for I am sure with the beautiful climate_ we have in Nelson and natural conditions, we can and do_ grow fruit that cannot bo beaten in Now Zealand, and I think not in any part of the world; and also wo have not only a climate that is perfect for growing fruit, but is also perfoct for a home; and, as I said before; a con'tinual delight, to live iu. ■ Not as Cen.tral Otago, which has the two extremes, the coldest climate in New Zealand in tho muter and the hottest in the summer. I have repeatedly heard it said by people who haVe travelled over every part of the world that our climate is one by itself. This to a fruit-grower, you will admit, is a great asset, as by the absence of high winds and the absence of that great curse, lat© frosts, tho life of a fruitgrower goes on smoothly,- and is made happier as ho is assured after a hard year's work that he will at least have a fair return as a Toward for his industry and care. —I am, etc., , r A\ P. 'ALLPORT, Fruitgrowers' Member of the Dominion Board of. Agriculture. Stoke, Nolson, September 8.

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