Auckland's Potential Wealth From Citrus Culture

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 708, 6 July 1929, Page 1

Auckland's Potential Wealth From Citrus Culture

/Written for THE SUN by G. A. MURDOCH) EW primary Industries in New Zeamarked a degree during the past j few years as citrus fruit grow fc— ing. Cultivation of lemons and oranges has advanced from the back-iard-omamentation stage to a profiting commercial enterprise in a comoaratively short period. Still largely p its commercial infancy, the industry, aided by investigation and research haa unrealised potentialities. Even American experts, reviewing the World’s citrus production recently admitted that New Zealand, whose industry ha 3 been established in face of intense world competition, is one of the -reatest prospective producers of lemens and grape fruit. Auckland province with its subtropical climate and favourable soil conditions is undoubtedly the land of opportunity for citrus fruit culture. Growers in this district have virtually •tg bulk of the internal markets open •o their products, and by improving, and by co-operation in marketing of lemons, in particular, can meet

gtlow — Mr. H. Stratton Izard, secretary o/ the Auckland Citrus Groicers’

Association.

.equably the foreign product in over-

Gating with watering mouth upon the luscious oranges In the city shops one's thoughts—apart from wondering how much the dozen—involuntarily associate their production with the tropica! South Seas or the sunny shores bordering the Mediterranean. Little reflection is wasted on whence came these fruit originally? India. There oranges have been grown from remote andquity. Thence the culture spread across Western Asia to Europe. Judging by present day production of citrus huits by Greece and Italy one might be pardoned assuming the culture had been banded down through centuries from the ancient Greeks and Romans Tbe orange was not known in Italy Patti the fourteenth century, fully

dt right — Curing, packing and disfrwution expert of the Auckland Cdrtij Fruit Pool, Mr. E. Harvey a ' cro f t - Between times he is secrttary 0 f the New Zealand Citrus Growers’ Council.

*the ANSWER’S A LEMON.’— But not in the vernacular sense of the expression. J Lemon-growing in M the Auckland j province is des- M tined to become \ a very prosperous industry. Already splendid progress has been made. —.

L (%< ■t. 1

1000 years after tlie citron, and authorities believe the fruit was introduced to European countries by the Moors. It is often alleged the orange is a native of America but here again experts are inclined to the view that the fruit was probably introduced and naturalised, and from this has sprung the immense Californian and Florida industries, favoured by one of the most temperate climates in the world. Established in Fifties An interesting story lies behind the establishment of the , citrus industry in the Auckland province—a story studded with the failure of individual effort, in which neglect and lack of knowledge of cultivation were among the biggest difficulties that confronted the grower. Yet out of the welter of experiment and failure in the pioneering of citrus culture has been developed an industry which has placed Auckland in the proud position of heading Dominion production of oranges and lemons. Records are silent as to who introduced citrus

fruits into New Zealand. It is known, however, that rough-skinned lemons / (citronelle) have been growing in the / province for over 80 years, and like- / wise whole seedling sweet oranges. r Specimens of both these fruits are still to be found, in some parts of the province, which have been growing for j 60 years or more. Nurserymen, who

started business in the district in the ’so’s were probably responsible tor the establishment o£ the first named varieties. This is more or less substantiated by the existence in the Mitchell Library in Sydney ot Shepperd’s and other catalogues showing that, as early as 1851, there was considerable business in trees passing between Sydney and Auckland, the booklets setting forth a number of varieties of oranges, lemons and mandarines. It is certain that by 1870 a large number of trees, including Seletta, Parramatta and St. Michel, also Lisbon lemons, shaddocks and limes and a few mandarines were flourishing round the city. Sir George Grey’s Part Foundation of an important commercial industry, from which has developed an enterprise now capable of supplying New Zealand’s demand for marmalade, was laid by Sir George Grey when he purchased Kawau Island in 1854. In the famed collection of exotic semi-tropical plants which he established there, were many of the citrus variety, including one, which has since come int its own under the name of Poorman orange. Whether this was a seedling or an imported worked plant has never been settled, but it is certain that the commercial growing of Poormans for marmalade production, domestic use and as a breakfast grapefruit sprang from this lone plant. The late Mr. David Henry of Parnell and the late Mr. Morrison, father of Mr. E. Morrison of Mount Eden, were almost the first to secure propagating materials from the origir al tree. Tod. , there is still growing in the district a tree of the Poorman type which is over 50 years of age, and which is bearing from 30 to 40 bushels annually. Expert opinion is sharply divided on the question whether or not Auckland can produce sweet oranges to compete economically with the Pacific Islands. Australian and Californian fruit. It is claimed against the local fruit, that it is not of the same standard, nor does it possess the edible qualities of the imported orange. On the other hand its advocat t admit the inability to meet the island fruit which is un loaded on the New Zealand market in winter, but maintain that the province can produce a really first-class fruit for the Dominion consumer between November and April. Toward this end extensive experiments are now proceeding but investigations have not ye* advanced to a determinate stage. The Cash Return The substantial proportions qf the industry in Auckland Province are revealed in Government statistics, showing that 600 acres are being cultivated in oranges and lemons. This is undoubtedly a conservative figure as there are a large number of trees growing in non-commercial areas, which are not taken into account. A complete return would probably disclose that 1,000 acres or more are producing citrus fruits to-day. It is in the past quarter of a century that

lemon and orange culture lias made the greatest strides. Planting in commercial orchards has proceeded in this period at the rate of between 5,000 and 10,000 trees annually. Last year was the greatest planting season: over 20,000 trees were put in. So many factors are involved in the production of the commercial lemon that it is well nigh impossible to compute the return in cash per acre. Taking an orchard of well selected 10-year-old trees, properly cultivated, manured, sheltered and grown in a frost-free area, the production is anything from 800 to 1,000 bushels, averaging 6s to 7s to the grower all the year round, the return should be approximately £3OO to £350 per annum. In some cases this figure is exceeded, but due largely to neglect the return in the majority of cases falls considerably short. Today the suburban areas within a 20-mile radius of the city—Mangere and Henderson being noted for their magnificent groves—occupy the proud position of being the principal commercial producing districts in the province. Tauranga, once probably the biggest centre of the industry in the North Island, when the Government experimental station was conducted there, and where interesting developments are now being made, runs second, with Whangarei, an old citrus growing district, third. Among the newer areas at the Bay of Islands and Whangaroa, extensive planting is proceeding, while Gisborne has also well established the industry commercially, 6,000 bushels of marketable lemons being produced last year, the bulk of which w-ent into local consumption. A considerable quantity, however, was despatched south. Cultivation Methods Primary essentials to successful commercial groves are well-drained, preferably light friable soils, absence of frost, adequate shelter, frequent manuring and constant cultivation. Neglect of trees and their requirements has all along been responsible for failure and diminution of crops. Unlike the general run of fruit

trees, citrus have an intense fibrous root system and an exceptionally tender foliage, which requires protection not only from frost but also from wind. In North Auckland in particular, -where frost usually travels in south-east currents, there are very few groves that could not be improved by growing a south-east-west shelter belt, which would also protect the trees from the strong gales coming from this quarter. In the past few years groves, which are generally planted at the rate of 70 trees to the acre, require little pruning. Rather is attention concentrated upon deep cultivation and liberal application of nitrogeneous manures to promote growth. When pruning times arrives in the case of the lemon, only extended

growths need be shortened to keep the trees well opened, and dead wood and branches sweeping the ground need to be removed. Similar methods are employed on the orange except that a more bushy form of tree Is aimed at, as the fruit is borne on the .’ringe wood. Citrus trees are gross feeders, and require to be liberally manured. Blood and bone, the best all-round fertiliser is applied in the autumn, on the basis of 41bs. to 61bs. to a bearing tree with 21bs. of superphosphate and §lb. of sulphate of potash to balance the ration. Lime enters considerably into the composition of the tree and fruit and where the land is not of limestone formation, the soil should be dressed at the rate of one ton an acre at first and half-ton an acre every second year. To provide the trees with the extraordinary amount of humus required leguminous crops are planted and turned in.

It does not worry the "man-in-the-street,” who, on a sweltering summer s day, quenches his thirst at a city

orange mill, whether the juice be from Valencia Late or Best’s Seedless. Nor does the choked-up victim of the ’flu bother his already aching head, sipping his hot lemon drink, whether he is quaffing a Eureka or a Lisbon. His improvised slogan is “a lemon a day keeps the ’flu away.” Which calls to mind the enormous demand on local merchants and growers for lemons during the dread 1918 epidemic, when the supply was far short of requirements for the alleviation of sufferers. Growers Must Co-operate

The Auckland Citrus Growers’ Association, however, is vitally concerned with the success of these species on the Dominion markets. It

represents only about 50 per cent, of the producers whose groves, however, turn out fully 75 per cent, of the lemons and oranges which are marketed throughout New Zealand and overseas. As yet the Lisbon, which originally came from Spain, and the Eureka, a Californian production among the lemons, and the Boorman orange have shown themselves to have the best commercial possibilities. Apart from its employment in marmalade manufacture, there is a decided leaning in At right—Champion of Citrus production — Hr. Geo. A. Green, secretary Auckland Provincial Fruit Growers' Council.

the Dominion —just as the pomelo has become almost a fetish in America —to-ward the Poorman as a breakfast grapefruit. Sweet oranges, though not a satisfactory commercial proposition, grow quite well for domestic purposes, Valencia Late and Best’s seedless, a local production, being the most outstanding examples. Other species of lemons, which are still more or less in their experimental stage, are Villa Franca and Messina.

Apparently growers do not yet appreciate the fact that the handling of the lemon crop is a business calling for co-operation by -which sufficient fruit will be assembled under one control which can apply proper methods in packing, storing, curing and grading. In collaboration with the Auckland Provincial Fruitgrowers’ Council, the Institute of Horticulture, and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research the association has already performed much valuable research work into lemon and orange culture. The scope of the investigators. is gradually being enlarged and

now the research committee is experimenting on a number of root stocks of principal species of trees from all parts of the world propagating on pedigree trees, and once planting is arranged and the results are tested, all information will be made available to the public. The investigations, carried on unostentatiously, have already materially advanced the industry and the interests of the growers, who are indebted to a considerable degree to Mr. Geo. Green, and Mr. S. R. House, of the Auckland Citrus Growers’ Association and New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Council, and Mr. Izard, secretary of the Auckland Citrus Growers’ Association for their long and invaluable services. Producers in Auckland are particularly fortunate in having an expert of

the knowledge and capabilities of Mr. Harvey Becroft concentrating on the marketing of the fruit on behalf of the Auckland citrus pool in whose interests he enthusiastically applies his extensive experience in California and New Zealand. Improvemen t in Grading Can the grading of citrus fruit be improved ? The question is prompted by the varied standards both of oranges and lemons displayed in the shop windows. Here is one way. At present several hundred tons of lemon and orange peel are imported into the Dominion from Australia and foreign countries. The material is landed in barrels in various stages of preservation and is admitted duty free. It is candied with New Zealand-manufactured sugar to supply the Dominion’s domestic and business requirements. Why cannot New Zealand lemon and orange fruit peel be used ? The inevitable result would be to improve the standard of the New Zealand citrus by providing an outlet for "seconds” and “thirds" which are now dumped on the market

with the "firsts” to the depreciation of the general standard. Various arguments are raised to combat this suggestion, first that New Zealand citrus growers could not produce the Dominion’s candied peel requirements, and secondly the cost of transport of the commodity from non-commercial areas would make the cost prohibitive. Would the Citrus Growers’ Association be prepared to apply to the Government for a tariff on imported peel that would at least ensure a big proportion of New Zealand’s inferior grade fruits being diverted into this channel.