FRUIT-GROWING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 47, 23 January 1884, Page 2

FRUIT-GROWING.

While running through our exchanges, we came across a paragraph which is not at all flattering to the people of this Colony, with its delightful climate and many material inducements for carrying on extensively the work of fruit-growing. It is stated that “ fruit is so plentiful in this district (states the Mount Alexander Mail) that a Melbourne buyer has been enabled to purchase the produce of several orchards —cherries, apples, plums, and gooseberries—at Id. per lb., picked and delivered at the railway-station. He speaks highly of the fruit of the Castlemaine district, and purposes shipping a quantity of it to New Zealand. From one grower he has taken delivery of over a ton of cherries.” Now', the fact of a Victorian shipping a quantity of fruit to New’ Zealand should induce our farmers and gardeners to arouse from their lethargy and make an effort to compete with the fruit-growers of Australia. We think that, instead of fruit being imported into this Colony from Australia, New Zealand should be able to carry on a large export trade in that line, —that is, through the cultivation of apples, pears, &c., for drying, and supplying distant markets. There can be no question about the suitability of the climate of New Zealand for growing fruit of various kinds, and as to the soil, in a great many parts of these islands it cannot be excelled for the propagation of an industry which should materially increase the export trade of this Colony. In a few localities near Auckland grapes are being cultivated to a large extent, and iu oue particular place, near Warkworth, most excellent wine has been made for several years past, Sufficient evidence has also been given that in the Auckland province lemons grow luxuriantly, while peaches are, as is well known, to be found in many places in abundance. All that is required is a systematic management in preparing fruit for the market, and the knowledge of the process of drying and packing should be easily acquired by a person of intelligence. A great deal of fruit of various kinds could be grown successfully in this district, and we hope to see settlers here turning some attention to that industry. They should remember that after fruit-trees are planted they do not require much attention, and we think that the outlay necessary for the work would be found small in comparison to the returns. Then, again the making of cider and perry should prove exceedingly remunerative, for a ready sale would, no doubt, be found for those drinks in this Colony. They are certainly far more refreshing and less injurious than the liquors usually sold in this Colony, and there can be no question about the prospects of a very large industry being worked up, if men of energy and capital were to take it in hand. Assuredly, there is no reason why, fruit of various kinds should not be growm in abundance in New Zealand, and we hope that far less encouragement will be offered in the future than there has been in the past for people shipping any lines of the kind from Australia to this Colony.