FARMS OF THE DISTRICT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 April 1910, Page 4

FARMS OF THE DISTRICT.

HOW THEY WEBE MADE.

A HISTOKY OF DEVELOPMENT.

Tho cmintry newspaper should bo wide in its trentJiicMit of news iinil cognisant of the developments outside of tin , partkrular centre of population in whieli its office stands. There i.s ncw.s and general interest to l)e found and i'olt in the farms and the settlements of "further back" just as much as in the doings of the town. It has he en recognised e very w lie re that the fanner takes interest in the town events, but not .so much recognition im the doings and experiences of the farmer: in his history and his experiments ,bis ventures and his results. It is in recognition of this fact that the " Horowhcuiun Chronicle" has begun its present series of articles, descriptive of the loading l'.arms and fanners of the country.

FRUT FAR-MS. " FAIRFIELD." \\ itliin recent years the cultivation of fruit in tlie Levin district lias developed into a profitable industry. The soil lias been properly attended, every kind of tree e.an be grown and made to bear abundantly, wliiile the climatic conditions art! highly favourable. Xo doubt the. successful experiments that have been carried out .at the Government 1 arm at Weraroa have largely encouraged .settlers to take up pomology, though some Jiave for many y?ars cultivated fruit. and throughout. have acted on their own initiative. At his pretty residence at Kairfiekl, Mr TI. Butler is one of those who have taken a keen interest in the matter, and a.s lie lias managed lii.s own orchard without any outside assistance, the results of his work are interesting reading. ILis residence is situated about a mile Irom Levin, and is surrounded with prolific foliage and heavily grassed paddocks. He is naturally proud of the laud, which will grow, lie says, anything. Ili.s chief spe■•iality is apples. Stunners have borne very well during the past vear. This variety keeps well, and is a marketable article, and although Mr Butler is satisfied with supplying local demands, without compeling '-it the Wellington markets. he has found a ready sale for ill he can produce of this class. Jonathan and Cox's Orange have given very good results, and tlie ■'iiiifi may bo said of Shepherd's Perfect ion and Lord "Wolseley. .Most of the trees are picked now. but '•nine are still waiting to be gathered, and these are stoekr-d with fruit. Tndeed, Mr Untie r says that, s -o far as he is concerned, the past has been one of the best apple seasons on record. On the question of blight. Mr Holler had some interesting tilings to say. The reporter inquired whether ho had been troubled with codlin moth to any "xtent. and from the answer vouchsafed it was evident that Mr Butler has proceeded on thoroughly practical lines. TTis trees are to all int'-•nts and purposes free from blight, and this has been brought about through a methodical system of spraying the plants. They all look very healthy, and well developed, and the fruit itself is clean and well-matured. fn another year lie hopes to have entirely expelled blight from the orchard. There is no doubt that the codlin moth is a '■•ource of great anxiety to fruit-grnw-'\s in Ihe district, and Mr Butler declares that if everyone engage:! in the industry would go in for a regular process of spraying, at the right season, the insect, would be entirely wiped out of the locality. TTe considers the pernio in the district- have been most dilatory in this connection. and diggers t-lint an iir-'pector ':hnuld visit each orchard just after the spraying S"-a----"on, ill order to ensure that spraying will be effectively carried out. Peach trees flourish at Fairfield, and Mr Butler has garnered some fiive samples this year, Nectarines that were planted three years ago look" a fine lot. The pear tre's have yielded a heavy crop, and from one of his trees last year, he gathered no Us,s than i>0() plums. On the question of grafting, Mr Butler said he had not done anything in particular, but what little lu; had done had given him satisfactory results. At. an early date he proposes to grow oranges and lemons. This will be an experiment for Levin, and the results will be awaited with interest; whether or not the light frosts will affect them remains to be seen. In districts like. Pretoria they grow in great profusion, and many of the trees there attain the size oi' Knglish oaks. But a systematic purning and cutting is really necessory, as the more compact the tree is ke.pt the more abundant is the crop; and, it is held, a more luscious fruit is produce!!. Of course, a district like Baetoria has the advantage of enjoying a warmer climate, but last winter some heavy frosts wore experienced, and these did not materially affect the plantations. Amongst the tilings grown by Mr Butler are guavas. They were only planted last .season, and have already grown to a considerable size. The kitchen garden rejoices in magnificent growths of all kinds of vegetables, the runner beans and maize being of unusual height. There are fine crops of carrots and tomatoes, while potatoes attain very large proportions. Mrs Butler takes a great interest, in floriculture, and in the summer time the front gardens are a mass of bloom. Almost every kind of flower is grown to perfection, including the daphne, rose dahlia, narcissus, daffodil and a profusion of old-time blossoms. Oryptogamons plants also find a congenial home on the rich soil, and Mr and Mrs Butler cultivate a number of charming varieties. Everything about the gardens is arranged with much tastr. and art. and though the recent gales wrought havoc with many estates, "Fairfield," by reason of its slielI tered disposition, has excaped the violence of the winds.

lie set himself to raise from tho .seeds at lii.s disposal a hotter class. This policy was one that Mr Newport followed, and he found after patient labour that ho was able to produce fruit of the very finest <|iiality. He has not gone in for a large lot of varieties, his special aim being to cultivate some of the best and to make them a .special thing for the market. He set >n number of plants, and those that did not look like proving a success i't> weeded out. The result of this has been that Mr Newport lias a splendid nur.serv of trees, all well (level. ipe.'l. free from moth, and of healthy growth. The nursery is possibly one of the best in the dominion, the apples in particular being large, well developed, and luscious in quality. Crossing is be--ing experimented upon by most fruitgrowers, and this is a line which Mr Newport has studied attentively. The writer saw some splendid crosses between Jonathan and "Washington, a number of very choice varieties raised by his efforts. For culinary purposes Mr Newport finds Washington one of tho " best. It keeps well, and has a hard appearance. His "Washington-Col-onial is a splendid specimen nf fi'dit, but few growers can turn offtrbet-ter things than his Stunners and English Golden "Russets. As was observed Mr Newport goes in for a few particular lines, and he is strongly of opinion that fruit growers in Levin make a big mistake in cultivating too many kinds of varieties. He imported the King David from Victoria a little time back, and his venture has proved more than wise. The trees are very hardy specimens, and no doubt at public shows he will gain some notable successes. A nurseryman ill. Victoria has planted no less than forty acres of land with the same trees, and he has found them to bo most profitable. They have fetched a good price on the English market. Lord "Wol.sle.v is another variety Mr Newport is growing. They are blight proof and very good for domestic purposes. They >are budded about 18 inches from the ground and. have a fine, healthy appearance. Asked as to how it was lie was so free from blight, Mr Newport said that he attributed it to a systematic spraying and the introduction of a large .amount of northern spy wood in tho trees. At the same time he Isolds that spraying can bo done too frequently, and he advises fruit growers to be careful on this point. The fruit growing industry of J.evin has a great future in front of it. Wellington alone is a valuable asset, but the Home market can dispose of all New Zealand can grow. Tin's fact is appreciated by Mr Newport, but lie recognises that only the best must be grown. His fruits are of such a character as will inevitably app.-e.l to Home consumers, as they are splendid specimens for tho table, and would have a ready market at C'ovent Garden and find especial favour among ernivnis'.seurs. .'mother splendid specimen of apple he has raised from the Stunner i'ipoiu seed and .Jonathan pollen. It, is a hardy looking article, and should take a first-class prize at any sh':w. Pleasantly situated, the reside'ie." is surrounded b.v a garden of much beauty. 'Rhododendrons, camellios. daphnes, and roses grow in great profusion. He will have over 1000 rhododendrons . and camellias readv for sale next spring, and judging by their app-araifo fhev should find readv buyers. Of daphnes lie '•is over '200. and in summer time ! ! h"> ldca'ih" is redolent witli the aroma of flowers. Mr Newport is • , ntliii«:.n cf ic over T.'yin as a fruitgrowing district'. Tt. has, he savs. evnrvtWior in its favour — climate ■ui'l If, (rdv want" ivoner at-<-"iiti"ii he regrets that i.'i too main - ir'danc"* prnivn- attention is net n'i'-'en. The wck l'« line; no"•"'■nnl'sbed ]|~s been done bv himself solely. <vul i+ is not unnatural he nWdes bi'ns"lf n.non it. Later en Mr N'.'wpa-t irf"nds to develop his mr'n^'i'v. and fi'"re is mvrv reason fo li-linve his efforts will be crowned with success.