FRUIT CULTURE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2752, 4 March 1890, Page 2

FRUIT CULTURE.

Mr Spawn, the American Pruifc Expert, at EUmiltoti.

Ok Saturday nuht Mr Spawn, the Arnerican fruit expert, addressed a meeting at the Hamilton Hotel of those interested in 'ruit aud vegetable-growing, with reference to the evaporation of their products. He explained the working of his appliances, md also the benefits that would accrue to 'he fanners and fruit-growers by supporting the establishment of fruit, and vegetable evaporators throughout the colony. In order to make the thing a perfect success, the plan adapted bv him is the establishment of fruit-growing c'lonies, where the people would lie educated'how to grow the fruit, as he had found that people in the colonies did not understand how to grow fruit ill the quantities th'it would be required to run these evaporators. There was a cry th.it there w.is no sale for the fruit, as too much was luing produced, but he siid that this was a false cry, as not nearly enough fruit was heing produced, but for what was produced too high a price was asked for it. To make evaporating pay apples must he bought at per lb., and this price, he slid, woold pay well, as oiip hundred trees per acre, yielding on an a eragc 3Qoiks., a return of £00 par acre would be obtained, and he did not know of anything else they could grow to give such results. With reference to a inn kef, ho said that was uulioiit'd, the price being rodnced would ere it; a largerloc.il demand for fresh fruit. In a few years, with a vast Hoe of steamers running; to Vancouver, an unlimited uurket wi h America would bi opened up, and, with improved packages and growing the fruit in certain localities it would be sent successfully t" Europe, but the demand for dried fruit aud vesetables would become the chief factor in the industry, as India and Central and Northern Australia are uasuited for growing fruit or vegetables, and in countries like these enormous quantities would be sold. The pests, Mr Spawn said, were very often encouraged by impoverishing the soil between the trees by cropping, but with such improved appliances as could now be obtained, these pests, if not eradicated, could be rendered practically harmless. One of the best methods of destroying these pests was by spraying with various preparation?, and this was found to be most beneficial when done early in the spring, before the trees commenced to bud. In many cases a good deal of harm is done by using bad appliances, which throw out too much of the preparation, weakening tho tree by having much the same effect as an over-dose of medicine. In replying to a vote of thanks accorded to him, Mr Spawn said that with the establishment of his industries in the colony he hoped to benefit himself, but by doing this he would also hem-fit the whole colony, and he si.id that the day was not far disLaut when this district might become one of the finest fruitgrowing countries in the w "rid.