FRUIT AT TUAKAU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 189, 24 April 1914, Page 4

FRUIT AT TUAKAU.

[By Our Travelling Representative.] In the list of Tuakau's exports not.d in tha "Times" of March 20th ono very important and valuabla product was omitted, 1 refer to the fruit industry. Within a very short distance of the township there are 56 acres of orchard, the principal area being held by Messrs Cruickshank 15 acres, Collins 21 acres, C. and W. Booker 12 acres, W. Cole 3 acres, McGuire 4 acres and A. Smith 5 acres. One has only to have a look at any of these orchards duriog the season to te convinced lhat an enormous quantity of fiuit passes through tne railway bocks each season.

MR IRUICKSHANR'S ORCHARD. It was my very pood fortune to find Mr Cruickshank at home and to be further favoured by a walk through his splendidly-appointed acd well cared-for orhcard. Although a large amount of the fruit was gone suflicient of the late varieties of apples were left to give an idea of the productiveness of the laid at Tuakau for this form of agriculture. >ruly the fruit trees have a goad friend in Mr Cruickshank, aid in recompense for the way they are treated literally break down with their glorious burdens. To say 1 was surprised was to put it mildly. I had no idea that there was suca a Fight to be seen in the country. Four or five rows in the orchard are devoted to "Sharp's late red," a magnificent varitty of apple, and the wealth of fruit in those rows at the present tima can hardlv be credited, unless one had an opportunity to look around as I had. Another apple that has lately came under notice, and one Mr Cruitkshank considers is tha coming apple, is the "Delicious," a magnificent showy fruit, a good k;eper and suitable for cooking or dessert. At a repent visit to this orchard Mr Hay expressed himseit astonished at the showing these trees were making, and it takes something out of the ordinary to astonish a man of Mr Hay's experience. Tfce day of experimenting with apples is now gone, eaid Mr Cruickshank, and the experience of the Government and of prominent orchardists has shown that there are not many over a dozen varieties of apples that are profitable to grow. "In this respect," remarked Mr Cruickshank, "I tfke exception to your Franklin Show for not limiting the number of varieties in the collection classes. For instance, a man might have an infinitely better orchard and yet get beaten by eome unskilled person who had only 30 or 40 trees, but all different." To my enquiry as to what quantity of fruit he had marketed this year," Mr Cruickshank estimated roughly abcut 1000 cases of peaches, 800 cases of plums and 600 bushels of apples. I was shown one winter Majetin tree, from which had been sol J this season twenty-four 401b cases. "That'B how the apples grow at Tuakau," said the owner, "and when I carne here they told me the land was no good for fruit." Mr Cruickshank has the fullest confidence in the fruit industry, and considers it pays him handsomely to grade his fruit atd only market a thoroughly goud article. Hera it may be mentioned thst a lot of the fruit displayed at the opening of the Auckland Exhibition was grown by this orchardist.

At this stage it might not be out of place to make a few reftrences from the report of Mr T. VV. Kirk, director of urchards, gardens and apiaries, in the 1913 Department of Agriculture report as follows:

Markets: Growers have been frequently reminded that the consumption in markets of the Dominion could be considerably increased with decided advantage to themselves if such arrangement were made as would regulate the supply in accordance with the demand and oleo enable the consumer to purchase at tuch a reasonable price aB to induce the use of fruit in various forms as a claily article of diet. ]( improved means of marketing were adopted there seems to ba no reason why truit should not be regarded aB one of the esstntial articles of diet, euch as meat, milk, etc.

Overseas markets: Certiirly for good export apples, Borne varieties of pears and probably some other fruits there are extensive and profitable markets available in many parts of the world. The western coast line of both Nor.h and South Ameiica provides maikets within easy distance, while with the opening of the Panama Canal the ports on- the eastern coasts will afford further opportunities for the development of profi!able markets. It seems hardly necessary to mention European marketß, the value of which has already been piovid by exporters from Australia. The question is often asked whether the planting of orchards is not being uverdone. The above remarks are intended to show that provided growers select for planting varieties Fuitable for local markets and for export, and also provided that proper organisation is established to develop and supply Buch markets on sound business lines they need have no doubts as to the future prosperity of the industry as a wholf, aad the cultivation of apples in particular. COLE'S NURSERY.

Another branch of the fruit industry is also carried on in a large Bcale at Tuakau by Mr Cole, that of tree growing; and at Mr Cole's nursery I was able to view Borne 60,000 ycung trees ready for the coming season. The place was in splendid order and the young trees are carefully nursed snd well looked afier. A large consignment went from the nursery to the Argentine last season, and to™ cope with} a rushed order Mr Cole invented a new tool in the shape of a fruit tree digger. Drawn by two fcorsea this machine enables two men to get out more trees in half a day than could be done in a the old process. Certainly a laboursaving implement and all made locally by the enterprising firm of Pirret Bros.