AT MAPUA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 6 August 1929, Page 8

AT MAPUA

AROUND THE ORCHARDS

A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS

(Contributed)

" E don't 'arf 'qek it about, do V!" remarkud Hip orchordist; as the Government Orchard Instructor was pruning the tree. ' '* Ere, you've cutting orf a bushel of apples with that there branch," tho orchnrdist bursl out, no longer able to restrain himself at Ihe sight of the slaughter. The Government Orchard Instructor, savagely cut deeper into thu( heavily wooded tree. "How many apples did you get off this tree last voar?"

••Five/'" replied the orehardist. "Well, you will get, two cases this season, or I'll eat vour orchard," remarked the G. 0.1. And so it turned out. Which explains why the apples sent from Mapua increased from 129,000 cases in 1927 ' to 227,000 cases in 1929. ■ A few years ago 3,000 acres of orchards were cut down and destroyed because of mismanagement and neglect. As there are only 2,000 acres of orchards left in the Mapun> district, it, is a pity that *t Government Orchard In structor was not there early enough to save that wanton destruction. Many of those orchards cost from £25 to £4O an acre, to which must be added cost of planting, maintaining and cultivating through the lean years of young trees. The capital lost in the Mapua district must he well over £1,500,000.

The losses arose through' an excessive charge for the land in tho first place. Where the orchards aro cut out tho land is worth probably not more than 15s an acre. It is clay with little soil covering, and is conspicuous now for its gorse, blackberry and scrub. A good judge of land would not go near it unless he wanted a secluded spot for suicide.

The remaining orchardists are doing well where they are willing to work. They have comfortable homes, motor .cars, and wireless sots. These aro intended as investments, though one may be pardoned for wondering whether they are not liabilities instead.

' Some of the remaining orchards 'aro showing remarkable results from efficient pruning, spraying, and manuring. The inefficient orehardist soon wrecks his trees, and a. ten acre orchard can theit be picked up for a fifty-pound note. The poor orchards have badly pruned trees, and the poor, poor clay underfoot is covered with (i carpet of Manna strawberries. Some popplp call .them blackberries, especially they aro koen on calling a. spade, a spade. At any rate the steps of I lie Mapua. Mazurka can easily be learned by a ' course of navigation ainohgst such orchards. And yet Mapua has a bowling green, where "the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose I '—(not yet). If a Government Orchard Instructor was placed in charge of one of the Mapua orchards as a ready-made experimental station in the midst of the industry, the 'Government would do a great deal to develop orchards in Mapua. it is surprising how slowly the growers adopt proved methods of fruit production—surprising how quickly they chop and change to oblige every crank who rushes in to offer advice. A suggestion has been made to tax the orchardists to help the Cawthron Institute. ' Now that is an excellent institute, but it is not in the middle of practical affairs, and as the Government has its own Scientific Research Department with world-wide i-cputations. to help it, there is no reason why the Scientific Kesearch and tho Government Orchard Instructor should not link up closer in an experimental orchard. The Mapua industry would prohably treble its output n* soon as new orchards on cheap land could be laid down.

But as one would say, after a loug talk on the long-distance telephonecharged by the minuto—"He talks too much !" Wo need not say who talks too much, as it applies to many. Several instahecs could be given where growers aro losing the assistance of their .sons. Naturally a lad will not work for sixpence a_day for Dad, when he can get twelve shillings a day from a neighbour. The sooner the Dads of the district wake up to the position, the better for the industry.

_ Grading of fruit is the function of the Government Orchard Instructor, and if he fails in tho strict performance of his duties the market for fruit would be completely ruined. Fortunately most growers realise this, and accept their rejected cases in tho right spirit. Now and again there is a growl, but if everyone graded correctly there would be no rejects, and no need for the official grading officer. Absentee owners are the curse of tho orchard industry. Likewise' they curse the orchard industry, and with ample reasons. Instances are known where absentees have" paid for manures and sprays and labour, only, to find their orchards condemned for every blight in Christendom. Cultivation has been paid for, but it has' not been carried out. All most disastrous and disheartening. But absentee orchardists should remember the lesson. If they want to become real orchardists they must work their orchards themselves.

Manuring of trees is a heavy but necessary expense. Apparently nobody knows 100 much about this question yet, which i? a strong reason for the Government commencing operations in an experimental orchard of its own and under working conditions. There is another problem the Mapua orchardists must soon face. Every rain washes away hundreds of tons of soil from each orchard. In a short span there will be no orchards- left, and heavy floods will be tho order of the day. Ail experimental orchard will probably prove that re-grassing or some similar steps must be undertaken. A few optimists have started planting pine forests in the district. V.Jiethcr these trees are ever likely to be useful except for fires in the sitting room is extremely doubtful. The forestry concerns are advocating a censorship of their own flowery effusions. "Satan reproving sin," isn't in it, as the gullible public will find out some dav.

■res, Mapua is well worth studying from Standard Three upwards until the public realise what an interesting place it is when there are no earthquakes, no orchard pests, .and no "problems.'''-An interesting place? It most certainly is.