HORTICULTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1931, Page 6

HORTICULTURE

NATIONAL ..CONFERENCE, OPENED BY MINISTER. WLLI.INGIoN, January 2v. A. national conference or Jioi ucmuira! interests was opened to-day by the Hon. .). G. Cob be, and a civic welcome to tile delegates was extended by the* Deputy-Mayor. air l onhe said it was satislactoiv to note that the institute co-operated with Liu- Department ol Agriculture, especially so in connection with important ri!it experiments now being carried out in the Nelson district, and lie trusted that advice and assistance was also being given to those engaged in the growing ot citrus Iruils in the iia,\ of Island and Tauranga districts. A total ol 74> nurseries were registered during the last o.ueial year, aim taken as a whole tile trees and plants raised lor sale were well up to standard and dean and free from disease. 4he total area ol orchards was approximately o; ,( )di | acres, and a total ot '1,33m, Out) eases of fruit had been shipped overseas during the 1939 season in bulk under the Gou-inmenL guarantee —a splendid achievement tor a comparatively new industry.

.Mr Nathan, president of the lioilicultural Association, in acknowledging tin* welcomes, said it was evident trom what the .Minister had said that tin* work of horticulturists was now hung appreciated, lie Imped that ultimately tin* original,oi oi a new limit or ilowei would be granted protection Loin oilier Government and the sole right oi selling it. Subsidies should not he asked for. hut assistance and co-operation in research should he forthcoming.

In Ins presideuial address Mr Davis said there had been an increase in membership and a good financial \eai. largely due to the cash discount system. Appreciation oi Now Zoa'aiul s superb flora was increasing in New Zealand and abroad, and with it the demand lor well-grown native Gees anil plants for exportation t.o tin* Briisli Isles was well maintained .