FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1922, Page 7

FRUIT INDUSTRY.

PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT HOME-GROWN LEMONS. Various aspects of horticultural development in New Zealand were discussed by Mr. Geo. A. Green, secretary of the New Zealand Association of Nurserymen (Incorporated) in an interview with a Daily News reporter yesterday. The future of the fruit industry was naturally among the first questions asked, to which enquiry Mr. Green replied that the position in some districts such as Hawke’s Bay and Auckland, was fairly satisfactory, but in districts where the export market was relied on the high freights had hindered the development expected,” but, if handled in a business-like way, both as to growing and marketing, he had no fear for the future. He instanced the case of two young men who in 1913-14 planted twelve acres of stone and pip fruit trees. Then came the war—both volunteered, one being accepted and the other turned down, and he carried on with the orchard work. This year they marketed over 2500 cans of fruit out of the net returns for 1921-22. They have each been able to build themselves substantial residences and both are now married.

Fireblight formed the ' subject of an enquiry. Mr. Green (who is a member of the central fireblight committee) replied; “We consider it as dreaded a disease as ever but it can be, and is being controlled where the hawthorn has been eliminated. The committee realise that it is hard on the farmer to be compelled to destroy his hawthorn hedges; they have, therefore, taken a broad view and this session legislation has been passed which will allow of orchard areas being proclaimed where the fruitgrowing industry is paramount, the hawthorn being either eliminated or trimmed to stop its flowering as the case may be. This appears to be the minimum action that will protect the fruit-grower and be just at the same time to the farmer, while protecting the orchardiet.’N “The demand for fruit trees,” commented Mr. Green, “has reverted to about equal to what it was before the boom of apple planting in 1910. Considerable areas are still being planted, especially in stone fruits, while in frost free districts there has been quite a revival in the culture of oranges and lemons. Now that nine-tenths of the New Zealand lemons are being put on the market in a cured state, guaranteed to> keep, it is manifestly having an effect on the sale of the home-grown product as against those imported. This, in turn, is stimulating the planting of new groves.” “Forestry is also to the fore at the beginning of the season,'’ Mr. Green stated, the Nurserymen’s Association having in stock over ten million forest and plantation nursery-grown trees, a number well in advance of, the demand. The keen interest being taken in rose culture was also a topic commented on by Mr. Green, who said that the planting last season had been fully up to the average. At the present time the National Rose Committee had in hand the work of reducing the list of choice

roses to something like reasonable proportions. “With a view of assisting the public in making a selection of the best sorts of roses,” explained Mr. Green, “the co-operation of the supertendents o-f parks and gardens in New Zealand is being asked to eliminate from the beds all that have proved unsuitable or inferior under the local conditions. The New Zealand Institute of Horticulture is already doing some useful work in reducing varieties and improving types. Four committees are now at work, two in each Island.”