DOES FRUIT GROWING PAY?

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1916, Page 6

DOES FRUIT GROWING PAY?

comment on, recent-article. BRITISH COLUMBIA'S OPINION. The modest article appearing recently under the first heading has attracted much -attention by reason of its detailed figures. No comment can, however, be of grpatei. interest than an article by J. G. Bcalby, Esq., author of ''Fruit Ranching in British Columbia," which appears in Chambers' Journal. Tiic arti'cle is practically a general description in most racy form of tho cvery-day life of a fruit-grower. Mr Bealiiy's quotod returns from or-> charu;i are, however, so much greater than those which we, expect and on which we base our figures in New Zealand that it is worth while to quote his wolds verbatim. Ho says: "A seven-year-old apple trap will give over 1201bs of fruit, and it"' crop will sell for 4 dollars 50 rents ()S.; !)d English) up to 7 dollars ,"0 c.-nti (;!is ;:d English), while trees in fill: hearing produce as much as 2801bs u;> to ( )001bi, the gross .profit being from <!".j to I.iOs, or at tho rate of £1(10 to ;E:h!0 per acre per annum." Kr. Bealbv goes on to give instances of chc.-ry trees showing a net yield of .€l4. - These figures 31*0 ?omewhat of an eyeopener ik against our estimated return of £;«) to £4O per acre net. New Zealand, however, still appeals to us as the apple-■grower,;' paradise. Our uniform clim.ite. regular 'crops and alternating seasons against the Northern Hemisphere, are factors unrivalled elsewhere. Especiaiiy r.re wo fortunate in that our producing season is the bare market throughout ih; Old rt'orld. Thouands clamor for our fruit just when we have it to sell. All the- facts are, hov/cvcr, fully stated in '..lie booh ,''F:\ilt.. Lands of the '>crth.'' Copies are obtainable free ir.iiii t.':e Secretary, Box 603, Wellinton lmgtoi;. For the convenbr.?e of local residents, r. supply of the books has been obtained by E. L. Humphries, who will be pleased to hand a copy to anyoas interested. * I * I