OUR FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2158, 6 April 1908, Page 2

OUR FRUIT INDUSTRY.

fruit for exhibition at HOME.

CANTERBURY APPLES BEAT THE WORLD.

Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, April 4. This morning, Mr. J. C. Blackmore, .Government Pomologist, snowed. a “Star” renorter what ho described as the most magnificent collection of apples that it had evei been nroposed to send out of the Dominion. Tho collection consisted of five specimens each of 300 varieties, and although, in the space at Mr. Bluckmore’s disposal, it was uot so imposing as it might have been it properly staged, it was eloquest ot the magnificent resources of Canterbury as a fruit-growing district, iho apples, which are to reach Wellington oil Wednesday,, will be sent to England under .tho auspices of the Industry and Commerce Department for competition with the united Kingdom and the whole of the British colonies at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Show this year. Mr. Blackmore can speak with authority on matters uoinological, for at the Royal Horticultural Society Show m I'JOG he obtained the highest award for a collection of SO varieties of New Zealand apples, which the “Horticultural Journal” stated were landed and staged practically without blemish. “In quality.” said Mr. Blackmore. pointing to his present collection, “You cannot beat them in auy part of the world.” “We have had a dry season,” Mr. Blackmore made answer to a question, “and fruit this season is not ■large on the whole as in a season with an abundant rainfall, but my anticipations have been exceeded ill regard to this collection. The growers have helped me most .generously, although several men have done all they can to prevent me from getting a representative collection together. Practically tho whole of the shipment,” he continued, “was Canterbury grown, the fruit from outside being, in most cases, too badly bruised for selection.”

The collection, in liis opinion, showed that the province had nothing to fear from insect pests or fungi, and tho work of tho Department in bringing the matter before the nublic had resulted in much good.’ Along with the apples an exhibit of pears will bo sent Home. Mr. Blackmore has already 75 varieties to choose from, but will select only those that he thinks will arrive in good condition. Tho great point in developing the fruit export trade was to ship only those varieties that were certain to land in good condition.