FRUIT-GROWING IN CALIFORNIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1886, 7 August 1884, Page 4

FRUIT-GROWING IN CALIFORNIA.

Mr T. K. Dow, of th« Australasian, deliversd a lecture upon " Fruit-growing in California," in the Narracau Mechanics' Institute. Owing to the steady ' ram which set in during the afternoon, and continued all the evening, the attendance was not large, but those who were present evinced great interest in the subject, ond highly appreciated the information given by the lecturer. Mr James Powel, J. P., who was voted to the chair on the motion of Mr George Auchterlonie, seconded by Mr Ellis, commented upon the valuable character of information relating to the Americon systems of farming, and upon the great public service rendered by the proprietors of the Australasian is sending Mr Dow to report upon the agriculture of the Unised States. Mr Dow gave an interesting account of hia travels in America, dealing especially with tho orchards and fruitcanning factories of California and the circumstances connected with the success of the fruit-growing interest. The Pacific coast was the only part of the United States possessing a climate like that of Australia, and had been taken advantage of to develop fruit culture at a an rprisingly rapid rate. While wheatgrowing could be carried on more successfully in California than in any other part of America, the cultivation of cereals was not extending, but orchards and vinyards were being rapidly established upon the old wheat fields. If the Californians found fruit-growing more profitable than producing wheat, farmers in the colonies were making a mistake in paying so little attention to the planting of orchards. There were no circumstances in connection with the two countries which should make this industry profitable in one case and unprofitable in the other. California had less than 900,000 inhabitants, and wages were rather higher in Victona. Even " Chinese cheap labour " coirfmanded 4s 2d per day, and white men weie paid from 6a Gd to 8s a day. The average price of fruit to the grower was only a penny a lb and yet people were eagerly buying land at from £10 to £20, and up to £30 per acre, upon which to plant orchards. The industry was highly profitable, and neither the rate of wages nor the price of fruit accounted for the fact. The secret of success was the existence of canning factories. The factories open up the whole woild as a market and consequently there was never an over supply. Prices were never high, but they were always remunerative. A penny a pound, always obtainbale, made fruitgrowingproti table to the producerand at that price the factories could carry on, selling the canned fruit at from 4£<l. to sjd per lb.. and sending it to all parts of the world. As Gipps Land has been proved capable of producing heavy crops of the best kind of fruit, the planting of orchards, and the subsequent establishment of local canneries, would undoubtedly produce highly profitable results. Dairying in America had been made successful in a similar manner, through the establishment of cheese and butter factories, and the various producing interest of this colony had now readied a stage requiring such commercial organization as \t ould prevent the oversupplying of the local markets. American railways too, developed the resources of the country. Settlers had not to beg for railways, but the railway companies begged for settlers to occupy the l.vnd along their lines. Freights were not only cheap, but the convenience of the public was consulted, and perishable produce was cariied in suitable cars. Fruit growuig and similar industries, which obtained a large return from a Bmall extent of land, would have to be attended to if ever the colony was to support a large and prosperous population.