FRUIT GROWING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 10 June 1912, Page 6

FRUIT GROWING

NORTH TARANAKTS ADAPTABILITY. WHAT A GOVERNMENT EXPERT SAYS. I Apples from Nelson, Hawke's Bay, Auckland and other parts of the Domin- j ion showed up prominently in the Agri-'l cultural Department's display at the Winter Show. These were at once the centre of admiration, and one frequently | overheard the remark: "What a pity Taranaki could not grow fruit like that." i If visitors to the show only knew, and | if the farmers could be brought to real-! ise the fact, there is no reason why apples in certain parts of the province should not some day figure at agricultural shows throughout the Dominion, and also find their way on to the London market. All this, and more, a "News" reporter gleaned from a conversation at the show with Mr. W. Hyde, Government Orchard Instructor for the Wanganui district, which extends from Rangitikei, and includes all Taranaki. Mr. Hyde was asked for his opinion of the fruit-growing proclivities of North Taranaki, and his reply was, "Come and inspect a collection of apples exhibited by a local grower, and that will tell you better than I or anybody else is able." The exhibit to which he referred was staged by Mr. 11. Cole, of Veale road, grown, Mr. Hyde pointed out, in an orchard which had been badly neglected until within the last twelve months.' The fruit had been ctf "-ated by practically an amateur, and >\'as not selected from one particular tree, pampered up for the occasion. The apples, however, compared favoraMy with anything on other stands in the show. They were all, added Mr. Hyde, very clean, and were well-developed and well-colored fruit. A point to be noted was that the collection included such standard market apples as Cox's Orange Pippin, the Northern Spy, Reinette de Canada, and the Five Crown Pippin. The whole formed a striking illustration of the but slightly appreciated fact that round about New Plymouth some of the leading commercial fruits could he produced iin a first-rate style without any fancy treatment, just receiving ordinary orchard care. I A BELT OF FRUIT COUNTRY.

Continuing, Mr, Hyde said it was extremely encouraging to note that there wejre others in the district growing some of the best varieties of dessert apples. He was in a position to affirm this from his observations in travelling round the district. In his travels he had seen any amount of evidence sufficient to substantiate the fact that on the country on the north-western face of the mountain the apple and lemon could be grown commercially, probably as advantageously as anywhere in xNew Zealand. Some remarkably fine-look-ing locally-grown lemons and limes are< on exhibition, and this fact led Mr. Hyde to remark that the country between New Plymouth and Lepperton was particularly suited for their culture on profitable lines. Each locality was specially adapted to the production of certain fruits, and those such as he had touched upon suited the New Plymouth district. TIME TO STOP TINKERING. Reverting to the belt of apple-bearing country, Mr. Hyde, who has had a wide experience in fruit-culture, remarked: "I think it is a fact which wants to be recognised, because there are a lot of men just tinkering with the business of fruit-growing at present, hesitating and experimenting. This is an expensive method, in respect of both money and time. They have not had the advantage, doubtless, of going about, like myself, and seeing the different orchards, and are thus not quite so well aware of the position, perhaps, but after seeing such orchards as Cole's and others, where old-established trees are carrying fine crops, often up to ten and twelve cases per tree, it would encourage them to plant and extend their orchards with i more assurance. Cole's case is not a special one. The five leading commer-1 rial sorts in Tasmania or Australia are all growing here."

OTHER FKUTTS DO WELL. Questioned as to the adaptability or the soil for other fruits, Mr. Hyde replied. "I would rather emphasise those which it suits specially, hut in a general way pears, quinces and plums do very well, although, of course, the other varieties of fruit—apples, lemons and limes—are a more paying proposition. It is essential for anyone going in for this sort of thing to adopt up-to-date methods, involving proper pruning, spraying, picking and marketing. Of late years these methods have improved very greatly the conditions of days gone by." He added that the old style of putting in the tree and simply doing no labor and paying it no attention, beyond picking the fruit each year, was now quite impossible, if success were to be achieved. Mr. Hyde also dwelt- on the benefits that would be derivable by growers by the formation of a fruitgrowers'.association, on the lines of those established at Waitemata, Hawke's Bay, Auckland, and other places. ' The main advantages of such an association were that it secur-

Ed for growers the best market, by means of organised distribution and exchanging experiences in dealing with local difficulties, and the proper way to cope with them, besides heing generally instructive.

Mr. Hyde was asked what he thought of the fruit-growing capacities of South Taranaki, west of the mountain.

It was possible, he replied, that the land was very suitable for the purpose, but not having gone over the gco ml he was not competent to express an opinion. On the other hand, he was well acquainted with the land between New Plymouth and the mountain, and out towards Lepperton and Ingle wood, and as he had previously indicated, it was splendid country for certain fruits.