THE STATE FARM ORCHARDS

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 February 1915, Page 2

THE STATE FARM ORCHARDS

FRUITGROWERS PAY THEIR ANNUAL VISIT. Yesterday afternoon the Horowhenua fruitgrowers' Association paid its annual visit to the orchards at the Weraroa Experimental Farm. The day was line and warm and there was a large attendance ; orei' 40 being present, a pleasing contrast to last year when seven or eight turned up. Unfortunately, through not being notified in time the Departmental experts were not present, but the visitors were taken in hand by the head gardener, Mr DavTilson, an<T shown round, and many points in horticulture, obscure to orehardists were fully explained and made dear to them. Though the yield of fruit will not be great as in previous years, the orchards are looking extremely well. The ground is kept in .a high state of cultivation and is quite free of weeds and any rubbish likely to harbour injurious pests. J. lie trees look healthy and clean, and everyone was well satisfied with l he general appearance of everything. In fmf pear orchard there are a few trees very heavily laden with truli, thougli in common with the other orchards the total yield will not be as great as last year. "3U'ter inspecting the orchards many of the visitors took the opportunity to have a hurried look through the milking shed, and through the new dairy where the well-known cheese is manufactured and then moved on for afternoon tea which was served at headquarters of the farm. Here Mr J. C. Niell, president of the Horowhenua Fruitgrowers' Association, took the opportunity of thanking Mr and Mrs Drysdalo for their hospitality, and expressed satisfaction at what had seen in the orchards. They were disappointed because of the expert* not being p resent, but Mr Davidson had stepped into the breach and had r'urnisFied them with quite a lot of valuable infurination, and after all no ->n<j had much to complain of on that score. Mr D. Buick, M.P. lor Palmerston North, and Mrs Buick were among the visitors. The visit was a great success from every point of view. The Association sfibuld try to arrange to visit the orchards nioro Frequently.