FRUIT EVAPORATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 450, 1 March 1890, Page 5

FRUIT EVAPORATION.

Mll SPAWN’S LECTURE AT OTAHUHU.

Auckland, Feb. 24. There was but a small attendance of the farming community at Otahuhu on Saturday evening, to hear Mr Spawn’s lecture on the above interesting subject. The notice given was, no doubt, too short. Mr Massey, President of the Mangere Farmers’ Club, occupied the chair. He read a letter from Mr Frank La wry, M.H.R., regretting his absence from Mr Spawn’s lecture, he having to attend another meeting the anti-property tax meeting, at Auckland. The Chairman then put it to the meeting—“ Should the lecturer address them, or would those present receive back their money The voting being in favour of hearing Mr Spawn, that gentleman commenced a very interesting hour’s “ talk,” every word being of interest and in thorough accord with the subject in hand. After explaining the reason of his visit to our shores, and giving a description of the fruit industry of his own and other States, (a full report of which appeared in the Star on Saturday), he advised the New Zealand farmer to go in for a few acres of fruit trees, maintaining that the Yankee farmer, owning his hundred acres, did not know any of the trials and grips of poverty the larger holders of land were liable to. The picture he drew of a Yankee farme was a brilliant one ; and if followed by our industrious settlers here, he said it would be better than a gold mine. A farmer would have a farm divided into ten-acre plots, so that every day he was enabled to take something into the market ; for he would have his 10 acres of hay, of oats, of maize or corn, and so of potatoes ; and when he did not have these to sell you would see him driving to market in his natty little waggon with a basket of eggs or butter, and what was of more importance than this, you would for months see him conveying in neatly - made baskets and hampers his inexhaustible (so it seemed) stock of fruit; and it was surprising what a source of wealth ten acres of fruit trees would be. There were so many kinds they could grow that, with a better knowledge as to the best sorts, their keeping, and their selling qualities, there would be no need for a farmer in this magnificent country to have such a burning desire for large tracks of land, but he would soon learn that a small farm such as he had shown would be the best for him, as well as for the colony. After a display of apple parers, etc., and a promise to give all information needed the lecturer concluded. A vote of thanks was then passed to Mr Spawn by acclamation.

A number of gentlemen interested in fruit culture had a long conversation with Mr Spawn at the close of the lecture, and no doubt some action will follow.