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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2716, 10 March 1916, Page 8

Nelson early tomato raisers are reported to lie apprehensive as to the oompetition of the llarotonga article An exchange learns that the Island tomatoes are grown by vhites oil tiie island, not- by natives, as is generally j supposed, and the starting of the industry was du'e to,an inspector at Baro- , joii)T,a who was a tomato grower in New [ Zealand. The fruit is inspected boforo being allowed to leave. Kivo days nro occupied in the journey, .yet the tomatoes are landed in New Zealand at a cost of Is. a case. Last year 1.3,000 eases were shipped, but it Is expected that 30,(100 cases will be shipped this year. One grower purposes to hnvn 20,000 plants, while several growers are contemplating sotting out 10,000 to 1'2,000 plants. It is estimated that each plant gives ijlb. of fruit for export. Shipments commence at the end ol' ..lime and continue to about the middle of November. Last year a few were tried in December, but it was found that this shipment did not pay, as the island pro- I duce'did not compare in flavour with I that produced in New Zealand. The I average returns for the island tomatoes f last year were Bs. to 95.. a case, phis t expenses. The Rarotongan exporters p were, however, handicapped by the. nil- | wrtninty of the times at \vliich the E boats leave the islands. A good deal E of loss is occasioned, as fruit may bo t toady for picking, and no boats may I arrive till h is too forward for shii>- C E