HORTICULTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1928, Page 4

HORTICULTURE

CO!I MERCIAL FOREST RV. WELLINGTON, Jan. 4. In declaring open the annual conference of tin* New Zealand Association of Nurserymen to-day, the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. O. J. llawken, stressed the value of horticulture, which, he said, covered a very wide field. Not only was it a business, but its practice involved high principles and high ideals. There could bo no doubt that flie industry was going ahead rapidly, and last year it had not been necessary for the Government to come to the assistance of commercial orcliardists. That was a very satisfactory result, both for the Government and the fruitgrowers.

Referring to the recent Government extension of the fruit export guarantee from 10s to 11s, he said he felt the money was well spent, for it helped to place the industry on a sound basis. The Act passed last session for the registration of horticulturists would ho of great value, as skill and knowledge were essential in the pursuit of horticulture. lie Imped the Act would mean the formation of a skilled body of horticulturists.

Discussing afforestation, the Minister said the Government had in the last two years planted ">2.000 acres. New Zealand was going to be a great forest country, and in the not very distant future the timber industry would be one of the most important in the Dominion. It was the Government’s aim to plant 300,000 acres by 1030. At the present time, taking into account areas planted by private companies, there were 233.000 acres planted in trees. Much land, which would never be of any great value for agriculture, could be used for afforestation purposes. Experiments were being carried out in the manufacture of paper pulp, and so far they had been attended by very encouraging results. At present a commercial test was being carried out. and it was hoped to have the result within six weeks. If that test were successful, and ho bad every reason to bolieie it would be, it would give a big fillip to the industry.

The Minister stressed the desirability of making efforts to beautify the countryside. Much was being done, but more could be done. There were too many waste spaces, which could lx? made beautiful by the planting of trees. That would should bo begun at once.