The Fruit Industry.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 700, 3 November 1909, Page 5

The Fruit Industry.

GOVERNMENT INfEXIIONa

" We are trying to establish our fruit industry on the lines of Taamioia," declared the Hon. T. Mac v :uzm [ Minister of Agriculture) to a tYrfds representative at Auckland ou Monday. "Mr Kirk, formerly of the B.j.jJicil Department, has been de-•ju-.ai, with special iustrucuous, to tsosjrcuu the most favorable conditions uu ier wnich this can be done, and for • cf months he has been cou.uc.i>ig experiments." The Minister at .e.l that apples and pens, which are uie ia jsg suitable fruits for export, had oeeu foUod to grow well in tbe interior of Ocago, North Canterbury, Nelson, VVaereuga. Taranaki, of course, was unsutted for fruit culture. Mr Kirk's experiments would be carried out at various experimental farms, and, if successful, the Government would prob tbly carry out their desire to plant small areas and let them out as orchards besides encouraging the general culture of export fruit. The excellent displays of apples at recent -winter shows was, in Mr Mackenzie's opinion, abundant proof of the suitability of Now Zealand soils aud climate for the building up of a successful fruit trade.