FRUIT CULTURE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2245, 16 March 1886, Page 2

FRUIT CULTURE.

The follov ring extract from a letter from "Pomona" to the Yeoman is of interest to this district:—ln my notes last year I recommended perseverance in the planting of peach and nectarine trees. Those who acted upon the suggestion have no cause to repent having done bo, for the clean and vigorous growth of young trees, and also of young ones cut back, must be very gratifying to the owners; while those who were discouraged by the failure of the past few years, and who allowed their trees to die out, will be at least one season behind their more fortunate neighbours in getting a supply of thislusciousfruit. Iknowlanitreadingon debatable ground in assuming that the peach has resumed its former vigor and productiveness ; but facts are very stubborn things, and it is a fact that in one favorable season a new growth has sprung up in trees nearly dead with disease,and that crops have been gathered almost as heavy as in former years; and this without the aid of mussel stock or any artificial treatment. At the same time Ido not wish to deprecate the use of the above stock, as it is no doubt hardier than the poach itself, and in the event of a recurrence of bad seasons may be of benefit to the trees thus grafted, I purpose trying tho two stocks side by side; but I am digressing. My object in writing now is again to call attention to what I consider a most important experiment, viz,, the finding of a market in London for any quantity of apples we might grow. Professor liirk, in his recent interesting lecture on "Fruit diseases and their cure," spoke in glowing terms of the future of the fruit industry in New Zealand, pointing out-as I had already done—the possibility of our getting a good market in London for our apples; and he also added America as being likely to become a customer for two or three months in our gathering season. Now, Sir, to test the possibility of our friends at Home giving us their apple orders during April, May, and June, I requested a gentleman, who has just started for England, to make enquiries in tho Covent Garden market as to the demand and the price per pound during the abovo months. I moreover furnished him with specimens of the following varieties to submit to the dealers, requesting him to place the apples in a cool chamber while passing through the tropics:—l Bismark; 2 Stunner Pippins; 3 Margil ;4 Cox's red leaved Russett; 5 Domine ; 6 Reinette. All, with the exception of tho first are choice dessert apples. As there are several other gentlemen who contemplate leaving for England shortly, will some of our fruit growers bestir themselves and continue on a larger scale the experiment already begun; which, if successful, will give a great impetus to the'fruit growing industry, and brinn into tho district annually thousands of pounds.