NEW ZEALAND APPLE SHOW.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1917, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND APPLE SHOW.

i *&/» •" '.■» ) • 1 THE RESULTS REVIEWED. AUCKLAND'S PRE-EMINENCE, There can be little doubt that the second National Patriotic Apple Show was the largest and most representative display of apples ever seen in New Zealand. The 1918 show was by way of being an experiment, and owing to delays and misunderstandings some districts were not properly represented. Auckland, for instance, made no attempt at a really representative display, as organising only commenced a few days before the actual show. This year every district had ample time and some experience, and the result was a cloee fight for supremacy. A review of the marks given is interesting. First, of course, comes commercial value-ra mark worth more to the orchardist than all the rest put together. The average orchardist is in the business to 'make money, and, therefore, it is the commercial value of his apples that counts The greatest possible marks were 35. Auckland secured the maximum with a display of fruit which, owing to its moderate size, high colour and firm texture, was evidently considered by the judges as fruit likely to appeal to the largest public at the best prices. Otago was very close with 32, and Nelson just be - - hjnd with 30. Hawke's Bay ma.de an excellent fourth with 28, but Canterbury was a rather poor fifth. The next mark was quality of exhibit. Here the long distance which the Auckland fruit had to travel was detrimental, some bruising taking place. Great credit is due to Nelson packing in equalling Otago with 30 marks (the maximum), the local people naturally Chaving the best of it in carriage conditions. Auckland made a splendid second with 28 marks out of a possible 30. The Auckland growers had practically 1000 miles to take their fruit, and there can be no doubt that given the same quality next year Auckland should be first, in this mark also. Next, year the show is to be held in Auckland City. Variety of exhibits is another important mark, the possible being 15. Here Auckland led again with the maximum. This is a point worth noting. Statements have been made that Auckland can only grow about two varieties of apples', yet when it comes to a. show Auckland is able to exhibit a larger number of leading commercial varieties than any other district. Their bay included specimens of all the- high class varieties such as the early, export, viz., Gravenstein, Scarlet Pearmain, Golden Pippin and Cox's Orange; the great main crop, viz, Munro's Favourites, Delicious, Wine Sap and Sturmers; also the two varieties for which Auckland is famed, viz., Dougherty and Pigeoncttcs; while the citrus fruits formed a big display in themselves. Commercial men in the south have inquired as to the prospects of regular shipments of citrus fruits from Auckland, a proof of the value of surii shows. The remaining marks were spectacular display, maximum 10, and get-up of exhibit, "maximum 10. There can be no doubt that Otago deserved their lead in these two departments. As a spectacular display the Otago bay was quite unique in artistic effect, and it seems as if Nelson and Auckland were placed too close in marks. The results—Otago 10 and 10, Auckland !>' and 9, and Nelson 7 and B—hardly seem to allow enough difference between the Otago stalls as against the others. These two lots of marks, however, hardly relate to apple-growing, being purely the result of expenditure of money combined with artistic taste. From a fruit show viewpoint only commercial value, quality, and variety, are the factors. In these the districts stand—Auckland 78, Otago 70, Nelson 73, Hawke's Bay 58 and Canterbury 35. There is no desire to belittle any district, but jt is satisfactory to Auckland to feel that the above result must silence entirely the statements so frequently heard that Auckland could not grow a good keeping quality of apples for export. With the greatest handicap of distance* Auckland has produced a show of fruit which, displayed against all New Zealand, has carried away first place equal in total points with Otago. A great quantity of appleß in the Auckland bay came from the Kaipara district is invited to Write to the Secdistrict is invited to wwrite to the Secretary, Kaipara Fruit Lands Development, Ltd., Box 003, Wellington, and obtain a free copy of the reliable book "Fruit Lands of the North," which is packed with information concerning the fruit lands of the Kaipara. For the convenience of local residents a supply of the books has been obtained by E. L. Humphries, who will be pleased to hand a copy to anyone interested.