FRUIT RESEARCH

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1930, Page 2

FRUIT RESEARCH

QUALITY AND COSTS.

EMPIRE MARKETING BOARD’S

ASSISTANCE

WELLINGTON, July 29. in ‘view oi me growing importance of Llie Dominion's fruit industry, the iu.id for paying the closest attention to the quality of exports and the importance oi reducing the costs of production, the Government has decided to make provision for a definite scheme of lruit research.

In - making this announcement the Prune Alinister, the Hon G. W. Forbes said that Cabinet had recently approved of a grant which to-gether witii generous assistance from the New Zealand Fruit Export Control Board would enable an orchard property of seventy-two acres situated at a convenient distance from Nelson to be acquired. The area would be tested in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, whose Fruit Research Committee had been investigating tlie problems of the industry and had selected this propetry as being well suited for the field work still requiring attention. The horticulture division of the Department of Agriculture and the Cawtrou Institute would now be enabled to conduct and extend their fields of investigation in co-operation in the centre qf an important fruitgrowing area where the results of their work could readily be brought to the notice of ordiardists and therefore be rapidly put into practice. * The orchard would also be available

for instructional work both for officers of the horticulture division and for fruitgrowers.

The Empire Marketing, Board had made a grant of £ISOO a year for the actual maintenance of the research work for a period of five years. This grant would be subsidised on a £ for £ basis by the Government.

The Fruit Research Committee had already prepared a scheme of investigation covering such orchard work as tree stocks, influence of fertilizers* and lime, pruning, insect and fungoid investigations and in addition, further research upon the influence of trans- 1 port and storage under known temperature and humidity conditions upon fruit wastage. Cool storage investigations, which had been carried out for some time at the Cawthron Institute in the land stores at Nelson and by the Fruit Research Committee on vessels proceeding to Great Britain, would also be extended. Co-operation with the Cambridge Low-Temperature Research Station would be provided for in the arrangement, as promising results already have been secured by the cooperation of this station in cold storage investigations. The scheme would be gradqually developed and the fullest eo-operation arranged both among local organisations and with research institutes such ns that at East Mailing in Great Britain. It is deemed essential to assure the overseas consumers of New Zealand fruit that every possible care was being taken to ensure that the quality would be of the highest. The scheme would provide the necessary scientific assistance to fruitgrowers in the Dominion to enable them to overcome insect and fungoid pests and to guide them in the proper use or fertilisers, manures and in general orchard management.