ASPARAGUS IN HAWKE'S BAY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 73, 18 December 1937, Page 16

ASPARAGUS IN HAWKE'S BAY

Establishment of New Industry BENEFITS TO DISTRICT In recent years the great possibilities of fertile Hawke's Bay soil have been brought liome to agriculturalists by the amazing results obtained from new crops, and the result is that many new industries hitherto untried in New Zealand are being started. The latest development in this eonneetion is the cultivation on a large scale of asparagus for canning, and a block of 100 acres lias been acquired at Havelock North by a company which now has more than a quarter of the area sown. To most, the mention of asparagusgrowing conjures up an impression of a small portion of a kitchen garden, with a modest crop producing more than enough sticks for the household requirements. Until it is seen in one pieee, the magnitude of a plot of 100 acres cultivated in asparagus, that small-scale garden plant, is hard to realise. Some idea . of what the plot wili look like when it is fully cultivated two yearf from now may be gained from the information that, in the 26 acres now sown, in rows six feet apart, there are 119,000 plants. Yet this is small acreage indeed, compared with that in countries that make an industry of cultivating asparagus for canning, In the United States, which at present supplies the major portion of the world market- for the product, one State alone, California, cultivates 73,280 acres of asparagus, of which 44,920 acres are cropped for can- • ning only. In 1935, there were 2,537,310 cases of tinned asparagus produced. In Australia, the two largest canning factories draw from 980 and 200 acres respectively, and Australia still imports 25 per cent. §£ her supply of the pro- , dufk Filiteen-Yesns' Contract. The company which is running the project in Hawke's Bay, Asparagus Ltd., has bought the area, at Havelock, and is Under a 15-years' contract' to supply products to J. Wattie Canneries, Ltd. This year some 48 cases were eanned experimentally. So far, 26 acres of the area have been. planted in asparagus. As it takes from three to four years for the plants to reach maturity, and no returns can be expected for a period from the asparagus, inter-cropping has been earried out between the rows of asparagus, and the fertility of the area may be judged by the fine crops of potatoes which have resulted. The inter-cropping inay be again earried out next year, but, following this, the asparagus fronds will have spread to such an extent that it would be inadvisable to eontinue with this. At present, however, besides helping to shelter the young plants, the potatoes promise a fair return. It is the usual practice in America to take a "skimming" cut of .a minor poTtion of the crop in the third year, which •would be two years from now, but according to latest reports, the practice is growing of taking this cut in the seeond year, with the plants perhaps Teaching maturity in the third year instead of the fourth. From the progress of the crop now growing, it is hoped to be able to do this in Hawke's Bay, so that a small portion of the product may be ready canned for next year. Gutting commences in the middle of September, and lasts for about 10 weeks in Neu Zealand. With the full crop, this will provide seasonal employment for 150 men, who, at the height of the season, will be able to earn 30/a day. The value of this increased seasonal employment becomes more apparent when it is realised that the period occurs when there is little seasonal work offering — before the freezing works commence killing, before there is opportunity for extra employment in orchards, and before harvesting commences. In addition, there will be a similar number of men employed at the canning factory. Advantages of Site. Tlie natural advantages of the site add considerably to its value. The purehase price of the land was £82 an acre for slightly more than 101 acres, and it is anticipated that when in full operation, the gross takings will be in the region of £10,000. At present there are nine additional acres in dwarf tomatoes and lcumaras, but it is intended to plant a further 26 aeres in asparagus next year, and to complete the sowiug of the balance on the third year. At the foot of the block there is the river, and the water necessary is available in the subsoil, beiug easily reached by the long roots of the plants. Tlie area is slieltered by trees in all directions, and, if there is at any timo a necessity for irrigation, the natural fall of the land away from the river will make it an easy matter to pump water from the river, and run it in irrigation ditches the length of the area. Those connected with the scheme are eonfident that in two years' time the projeet will be placing a large quantity of canned asparagus on the New Zealand market. It is the first attempt at such an industry in the Dominion, and there is a wide market available for tlie product. Later an attempt may bo made to coinpete wit.li fresh asparagus sent frozen to the 3'Inglish market. At present such produce supplied from tho Argentine finds a good sale.