" Fruit Growing, and what it will do for New Zealand."

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 7 February 1890, Page 3

" Fruit Growing, and what it will do for New Zealand."

Mr k-F: Spawn, ih»- expert infruitgrfcwitfg md preserving to whom reference kar frequently been made in loeri journals, delivered a lecture under life title giv«h abeve, at the Etehmiige Halloa Wedoesdiy evening. ' The chair -wai ttken hf Mr J. R.Bbir;-- ; .-■--,-,:.-.:. .::+■■. •</■ Mr Spawn, "wbo'presesie^^bfr gift of. eloquence eh^rabterittii *6* J hi* country saye tbe ft ? :Ti!]ae**ept bis aadience deeply interest** fcv an hour pnd a quarter} and we ' regret that preisure on dw space ' pretentp » full teport beirtg given of « v«Ju»fel* lecture* He b«g«n bygivibg asketoby ieicriptiow of tbe principle upon wbieh farminjf is conducted; in America— where 100 acre*, as a rule, is a large iarni, and where the former always takee idikething (corn, vege tablei : or fruit) into town wih hiai to " wirket." Xii deforiptfon of the " Mvi" •ither for getting grain in when b»d weather is ; threatened, ' er whea : mati«re is to be distributed, wugivM ittht-Mißy. f»« *W» th «* entertained while ' it amused the abdiense. He pointed out the pfogrese. G»lifofnia had made through &• fruit-jrowingr indtwtry. and expreeeeti an opinion that New Zealand might retsonebly expect to enter into c»ttip«tition. Froinll3iin FraneUco to New Yerk, for instance was 88S0miIe>byrftil, over -which California had to send their fruit for ex port to Europe; dared say that the magnificent Bttaoierg running between New Zealand and Eng land could take oar Irtfit to London for less thirt ';th«fc rjutway freight the Califernia«sh»a to pay. He laid str»>si 'upon th<* suitability of thin Colony for fruitgrowing, and said there need be no anxiety ab ut a market* Apart from shipment to the Old Country there would almost invariable be seasons in which we •houldbeable to supply a demand in Australia, «nd vice versi. Figure! were quoted to show what a good return could be obtaiued from a few •eresofland growing fruit, and at thesams time Mr Spawn it»engly condenand thoie g.pweis who al-low-d thfiit frmit to drop off the trees because tbej would not se f l tUe let at, lay, a penny a pound Apples, prunes plums, pumpkins, and lemons he •pMiall? recommended as likely to be a gcrttf investment for New Z»aUmd. M The Evaporator," -with wkich Mr Bpa:wm preserve* fruit by * simple process occupying only a hw hours, wan not shown, the' ltsturer havuig had insufficient aotico tevenaVe him to yet it 'fixed. Severall tmaller and very ingenious appliance* were worked however. Mr Bpawa also explained tVemtep of v fruit colenies" founded by him in Victoria. Gei«aH£ fki^ lootmre was a mist interesting cfy and cbntAißedmnoh matter' of ' Medial intortti t*i!ht cotta^^%t%.^V.l^ ; Qovemaemt, we beiieviT, tave arranf*d for its reptetiolTdn and ieireuhUien. „ .;",■ Mr W. T. L. Travert, at the •onelnsioa of Ijae lecture, moved that this meeting decree to .thank, Mr Spawn »r rVis iotetatting lecture, aM to «?!• »pon the peepfe of thi« Celtny &• importance of fruit-grow-itg v k mtant for' adding nateTiallT to their wealth and pro^peritr. Mr Travere epoke to the motion at gttfti toa^tli* oxp]aiwng%pr#ires« tW hsA ;" botm aado fxuit gr«mng^iil America, and' also what no hai dtone hfiaself on a j>i«ee of land at PaA^iu^umu^. ' He condemned the farmers of W* country for their laziness, and said they. " sat upon a rail and witched their boasts grow fat ; smoked their pipes and swore at their cattle for not g»owing-»t faster." The mption, having been seconded by Mr C F. Richmond, was put and earned. Mr Spawn returned thanks.