FRUIT GROWING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 192, 23 June 1903, Page 4

FRUIT GROWING IN NEW ZEALAND.

What can be done in the way of fruit growing in New Zealand with the application of energy'arid proper methods of cultivation- is forcibly shown in an article in the Hawke's Bay Herald on the Friruley orchard, near Hastings—evidently one of the finest fruit growing districts in the colony. The old-orchard, of acres, has yielded a gross return during/the past five years of .£SOOO,- althouge it is admitted that the trees were planted too close together, thus greatly increasing the cost of working. This orchard contains a pear tree from which last year some «£l7 or ;£lB -worth of fruit was sold. The newer orchard of 110 acres is probably the largest in the colony. It contains,-among other things. sixty miles of peach trees, grown in 60 rows each a mile long, and including the finest Caiifornian preserved sorts. There are also several miles of plum trees, principally prunes, and over 7 acres of grapes, from which 2000 gals of wine were made last year. During the past season 11,000 cases' of fruit were sent out of the Frimley orchard, nearly 10,000 of these being peaches ; while, as many of the peach trees bore fruit last year for the first tim«, the quantity next season inky be doubled. In addition to this large output, som,e five tons of peaches, three of the best American varieties, besides a quantity | of plums and pears, were canned at the orchard, where also the preserving of prunes is carried on to a considerable extent. Investigation of the Registrar General's trade statistics for the last year shows that New Zealand paid between £20,000 or .£30,000 to outside growers lor fr uit which could have been grown in the colony. The total imports amounted to £175,000, but this included oranges, lemons, pineapples, passion fruit, etc., which could not be grown Tiere. Allowing for this, however, the importations of apples, pears, plums, and other fruits,- which grow in many localities to perfection, it is time we supplied all local wants, and there is no reason why, by judicious management, prices should not be so-regulated as to create a greatly increased consumption of fruity arid atthe same time leave a good profit" to the grower.