FRUIT TREE PLANTING.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 324, 25 May 1878, Page 4

FRUIT TREE PLANTING.

While the people of Wellington may be very justly eulogised for their general energy and enterprise, and for the almost unprecedented strides they have of- late made in the path of progress, it may be observed that their energy ami progress are confined within the city boundaries, while the suburbs and the immediately surrounding country have been little utilised for either agricultural or horticultural purposes. From its uneven character the land is no doubt best adapted for grazing, to which it is at present principally devoted; but we see no reason why fruit could not be produced, to very considerable advantage, to an extent far

greater than at present; for notwithstanding the frequent high winds to which we are subject, there might be found com-, ■paraiively large areas of laud, within a reasonable distance from the city, suificientiy sheltered and with a suitable aspect and soil for the production of several sorts o! fruit, while the climate must be everything that can be desired for the.purpose. Such an dhtevpriso/ in our opinion, could not fail to be profitable to those who may have the courage and energy to embark in it, while a full supply of good homegrown fruit would bean inestimable boon to our city population, who depend at present on a sea-borne supply, a large percentage of which even on arrival is in a semi-decayed and unwholesome’ state. The same slate .of things exists , to, a greater or lesser extent in many other ■parts of the colony, the result of which on the whole is that we are forced annually to spend upon imports of fruit the following sums:—Green fruit, £37,588 ; honied and preserved fruit, £ 3,583; jams and jellies, ■ £4:2,228 —making .atotal .of £B3,oDD, while perhaps there is not a country and climate in the world better adapted to the production of all the more generally useful kinds of fruits than New Zealand. This we regard ns a subject deserving the attention, 'notouly of the enterprising people of Wellington, hut of the -whole colony. One of the obstructions to-the profitable production of jam in this country—provided we had the fruit—is the high price of sugar-, as compared with the price in the Australian colonies. In Victoria, from whence we obtain a considerable supply, the duty on sugar is 3s per lOOibs, as against 8s 4d per lOOlbs in New Zealand; while the. duty is considerably lower than with us in Tasmania, from whence we obtain our principal supply both of jams and green fruit. It is, however, possible that the present' movement iivconuection with theproduction of beet-sugar, m this colonymay operate to turn the scales as to-the price of that article in our favour, and thus enable.us to compete in jam manufacture with our neighbours on more advantageous terms. To facilitate the production of fruit throughout the country, we are of .opinion that the Government .might act more unwisely than by offering a small bonus for the encouragement of fruit-tree planting-. It would: not only be the means of retaining these comparatively large sums we arc,now paying ■for imported fruit'in'the country, but be a source of employment and profit to numbers of our small -settlers, whom it is the highest duty of the State to assist

by every legitimate means. It would, at the same; time, add considerably ■ to the general charm and pictuiecqueness of the country.— N.Z. Mail.