EXPORT OF APPLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 199, 20 February 1914, Page 6

EXPORT OF APPLES.

THIS SEASON'S SHIPMENT. WILL BE DOUBLE LAST YEAR'S. The inspection by the Government officers of the first shipment of apples for South America this year began at Nelson on Thursday. The shipment will ■ be taken by the steamer leaving Wellington 011 the 211 th of this month. Tnal the importance of establishing an export trade is being realised bv the grower is shown by the fact that contracts have been signed by growers at Nelson, Motueka, Christcliurcli, Hawke's Bay, Port Albert, and, it is said, Central Otugo. It is confidently expected that within the next few years the export of fruit will lie .very extensive; and there is no reason —in* the opinion of those well able to judge—why it should not approach, or even equal, our dairv industry. The evidence shows that th'.' fruit industry will lie of enormous value to New Zealand, inasmuch as it is utilising the poor lands of the Dominion, whilst dairying requires rich land. At Motueka the apple crops are rat her short owing to the heavy storm some little time ago. The quality is good. Ihose growers who did not feel the storm have excellent crops, i Last year New Zealand exported 23,000 cases of apples, principally to South America. This season double that number of cases will be sent away. The export of apples to South America will start in the last week of this month.