CABLE BREVITIES. SECOND EDITION Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1894. FRUIT CULTURE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4714, 9 May 1894, Page 2

CABLE BREVITIES.

SECOND EDITION Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1894. FRUIT CULTURE.

Mb, W, J, Palmes, the Government fruit expert, is.now in Masterton, He is ati old Auckland resident, with whom pomology is a hobby, and who leans towards the practical rather than to the theoretical sidn of the pursuit, In this he contrasts with another high authority, recently amongst usj who visited Mr W. H. Bcetham's vineyard, gleanod from him all he know about viticulture, and that was pructicallv all that isknown in this colony, and then published in an Auckland paper all that he hid picked up from Mr Bsbthatn, without acknowledging the source of his information, Mr W. J. Palmer differs from this other ex port, «b he undoubtedly possesses practical experience, and gives his own aid not other people's ideas to the community. We fiatherfrom him that he thinks highly of the Wairarapa as a vintage district, and also considers that members of the prune family generally could bo profitably grown here, and dried for the market. There is, _ of course, very little fruit grown in tbis district, In Auckland, men cuK tivate fruit for their livelihood; here they do not, and it follows therefore that we are behind Auckland iu our methods of cultivation. Even in Auckland sufficient fruit iB not grown to supply a canning factory, and here' any enterprise of that kind is simply out of the question, Some time back an American came (o Auckland with the object of starting a canning factory, but had to abandon his project simply because enough fruit was not grown to feed one. The Government, who do take some lively interest in fruit culture, contemplated securing the services of an American fruit expert for this colony, but even if they did this wo should be no further advanced, Far larger areas must be planted in fruit before any success can be obtained in marketing fruit oa American methods. In the meantime MrW, J. Palmer is moving about the colony, giving practical adyice and encouragement to any set" tiers who are taking intoreat in fruit culture. His aim is to show each district the classes of fruit and the different varieties of them that oan be successfully cultivated, There is, of course, a big future for New Zealand in the wine growing industry and m preserved fruit. Some day enterprises like these will be as important to the colony as butter making and sheep growing. What the Government. is now engaged in doing is the right thing, vig: disseminating useful practical information amongst settlers and encouraging them to make further efforts. ' Here in Masterton, with irrigation, enormous crops of fruit might be raised, but then we have not the pluok to irrigate, and it is not much use talking about our possibilities, ; '