MR BLACKMORE AT GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2711, 13 September 1894, Page 3

MR BLACKMORE AT GERALDINE.

On Tuesday evening Mr Blackmore lectured at the Geraldine Farmers’ Club room, under the auspices of the Floral and Horticultural Society.

Major Moore, as president of the Society, introduced Mr Blackmore to the meeting, and expressed his regret at the very limited attendance present, which he assured the lecturer was due solely to there being several counter attractions in the town, by way of Oommittee meetings, etc. Mr Blackmore then delivered an able lecture on general “ Fruit Culture,” introducing a little new matter for the benefit of those who had read his remarks made at Temuka. The lecture, which lasted fully two hours, was listened to with rapt attention throughout, the lecturer receiving a most cordial hearing. At the close of the lecture Mr Blackmore intimated his willingness to answer any questions put to him. Mr John Pye considered that Mr Blackmore had treated his subject in a most able manner, but. 1m (Mr Pye), thought there was one thing in this district worse on the strawberry than the fungus, and that was' the grub. A few years ago at Geraldine they could grow crops of strawberries equal to any in New Zealand; but for the past three years they could scarcely, raise a crop, and what they did the blackbirds destroyed. With regard ;to the scaly "blight, he (Mr Pye), had tried all maimer of cures but none were effectual. The worst pest he knew of last year was a black spot on the apple, by which he lost one ,ton of apples. o Mr Blackmore said that few, orchardists understood the right way to spray their tress. He supposed that he was the only person in New Zealand that'had spent much time and money on spraying experiments. He spent about £BO in importing pumps from all parts of the world, and the only pump that was any good was one from California. He had not got similar pumps manufactured in New Zealand without sending to California. Spraying had to be done so that the spray would fall on the trees as lightly as dew. He mighty state that as far as information on fruit culture was concerned there will be no lack of this issued by the Department, and orchardists should take advantage of it. "What was wanted amongst fruit growers was some association that could hold meetings, where papers could be, read, and general information diffused amongst members. He thought it most necessary that horticulturists, farmers, etc., should study the . life history of insects, so that they could find out ways of dealing effectually with pests. He mentioned an instance wherein a certain species of ladybird was a natural enemy to a pest, and some were imported all the way from the colonies into California to get rid of a pest that was making ravages on the orchards there. Within a very short period of the liberation of the ladybirds the pest disappeared entirely. He (Mr Blackmore); always made a point in travelling to get thousands of ladybirds collected for him, which he transmitted to others districts where they were most needed. Mr J. Winstone asked' if it was not quite as profitable to use apples for cider as to export them. - Mr Blackmore said he had constanly tried to impress on orchardists that the cider industry would become a very big one in New* Zealand, in fact, it was becoming such already. He had been requested by the Department to compile short pamphlets of fruits best suited for the South Island; when he. did so he would make some notes as to the best apples for cider. All apples were not suited for cider. There were few countries wherein such a wide variety of apples could be grown as in New Zealand. This colony was most suited for apple growing. Mr Blackmore at the request of the meeting,. then gave some practical illustrations of pruning fruit trees. Mr M. 0. Orbell proposed a most hearty and cordial vote of thanks to the lecturer. He had scarcely ever heard a lecture 'that had been' listened to with such interest. He #as - sure that every one in the room wawlwntirely rapt up in the subject. It was a great privilege to hear the lecture, and those who Were not present had missed more than they bargained for. (Applause.) Mr Blackmore in thanking the meeting said that it was part of his duties that he should travel through New Zealand to give all the information he could on the fruit industry. He was stationed in the South Island at present, and during the growing season he made systematic visits to each district in the colony, and when he again visited the Geraldine district, he hoped to be able to select an orchard in some central position, where he could give fruit growers an object lesson in the orchard. Major Moore hoped that Mr Blackmore would communicate with the secretary of the local society when he intended to visit Geraldine again.