FRUIT-GROWING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16488, 2 March 1914, Page 10

FRUIT-GROWING.

TO THE EDITOE. Sir, —I note in your issue of February 14 a very, interesting interview with Mr E. W! Ivory, juu; of Rangiora, on the relative merits of Marlborough and Nelson from an applegrowers’ point of view. Whilst 1 fully recognise the unique opportunities enjoyed by this gentleman of watching the development of the fruit-growing industry in the various districts, there are certain points raised in this interview which in my opinion call for some attention.

Againt the assertion that Marlborough can grow goc-d export apples I have nothing to say. Its suitability for this purpose lias been repeatedly pointed out by the officers of the Department of Agriculture. With regard to the immunity from fungoid diseases, I have made inquiries from private growers, and from officers of tno Department of Agriculture. I have been informed that all the diseases mentioned by Mr Ivory are already well established in Marlborough, and cari only be controlled by careful and systematic spraying. Mr Ivory refers to the injurious influences of foggy weather. Will he inform your readers what is tho average number of foggy days per annum in the Nelson district? The information can be obtained gratis from tho Meteorological Department. The statement that insect pests and diseases can be controlled or materially checked by frosts is not borne out by the experiences of other countries enjoying much more severe winters than even Marlborough. I refer in this connection to parts of ,Canada and to British Columbia, where the teriiperature drops in winter many degrees below freezing point. The' fruitgrowers in these countries never dream of relaxing their efforts to control the diseases by means of spraying and fumigating. It is little short of criminal to induce inexperienced men to. go in for fruit-growing bv promising immunity from pests and disease, for as soon as the host plants are introduced and begin to grow _ vigorously, just so soon will the parasites appear, and from that time forward “ Eternal Vigilance ” must be the orchardist’s motto.

Apparently Mr Ivory is something of an evolutionist, and does not hesitate to move forward with tho ‘ times. Originally a Canterbury fruit-grower, we find him some three or four years ago advocating the claims of JCaikonra as the fruit-growers’ paradise. During the past two seasons ho has sold a large number of trees to Nelson growers, and has strongly advised leading business men of Canterbury and elsewhere to plant trees in that district, while the latest move is in the direction of Marlborough, and all within the comparatively brief space of five years! Presumably South Westland and the Milford Sounds district will shortly claim his attention. ‘

Tho statement- that ,c rom £2 10a to

£3 per acre is required; annually for fertilisers .in this district I give an emphatic denial, and challenge Mr Ivory to quote the name - of one commercial grower'Whose books :will show that he uses this amount ; of manure; The statement that New Zealand apples will bring from la'6d to 3s more per case than - Tasmanian. is not * borne out by the experiences of actual shippers to South America. Providing our fruit ■is equal to \ Tasmanian we can secure from Is .to Is 6d per 1 case more for it, f.0.b., partly "because the freight is less and partly because the shorter journey enables it to be opened up in better condition.—l am, • . P..E. NQTTAGE. . Tasman, Nelson, February 26.,