FRUIT CULTURE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4707, 1 May 1894, Page 2

FRUIT CULTURE.

A Ghat with the Government Expert, Mr Palmer, the-Government Fruit Expert, h at present in Wellington, alter journeying all the way down tha Weßt Ooaat, visiting the various orchards and meeting the orohardistsenrmif*. Mr Palmer found the watu orchards tobe'ohieflywoEeatS apples. There were not many wholly new plantations, those he saw ranging upwards of three and four yearß old, Ot tho apples, he found Coles' Rhymer everywhere doing well, as were the American Golden Russet,, Home Beauty, and the Reinette du Ounada. 'The lastnamed Mr Palmer thinks one of the best apples that can be put down, While in Taranaki Mr Palmer judged at a ahow at which the Reipette was exhibited aa a cooking apple, and he came in for some stroD? criticism by Riving tho prise to tho Ohineimui. This was a new apple, raised in the Waikato, which in the Auckland market would realise $d per pound more, wholesale, than tha Keinette. For an early, eating apple Mr Palmer recommends Rhodes' Orange, whioh does well in the North, m* ' the earliest the Bed ArtrfSrofo reaohes Wellington about ChtKtmaa x .';' is promising well £/ Mr Palmer thinks is in a very bad way, There is no systematic culture, and the arc of pruning it utterly unknown in the majority of instances. Pruning and feeding are particularly behindhand. He Btronglj advocated the formation of experimental orchards neat the chief centres, when thoy would he readily accessible, anc where assured stocks could ho obtained by subscribers, and the various blishl specifics, itißectioides, manures, pumps, and machinery generally, could Br cure an _ exhaustive trial. He doet not believe in State experimen tal farms where they are diffioult o access; but considers that ao many coolc be taught at State orchards and farmi noar the centres that they would amplj repay the outlay upon them. On the subjeot of pruning, Mr Palme: says the utmost ignorance prevails it many quarters. As a general rule hi advises one single clear stem, and for thi reason settlers should plant "maiden' trees,so that they will be able to cut awa] to the Bpot at which they wish to branoh Three branches at right angles are suffi dent, and so three Bhoofcs in that flowei should be lelt. In the following yeai these should be cut dawn to about si inches. People do not prune euougl Peaches are so much weakened dyjfe ease in many districts that tJjjjjjWß the shoots to be well out "bstflyio ge strong wood, and care must he taken t cut to the growing bud,-Pos(.