EARLY FRUITGROWING

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, 28 July 1943, Page 4

EARLY FRUITGROWING

We are indebted to Mrs A. Taylor, Alexandra, for the following interesting article oh early fruitgrowing in the Alexandra district, and which was written by herself some eight years ago:— Gold-wuining was the magnet which in the first place brought people from most parts of the Globe to live in this, and the surrounding districts. Th;at was in 1863, and at that time most of the inhabitants had neither desire nor intention of remainig to i make permanent homes. The greater part of the population had immigrated from the British Isles, and it wajs their one ambition to get rich quick and, return to their Home Land. But Nature had its own way of settling a country, which, although not even guessed at by man, was capable of becoming one ' of the mtost productive and fertile spots (in proportion to the amount of land available for cultivation—the greater portion was covered with large rocks and stones) in New Zealand. Would I be accused of 'skiting' like the Americans if I said 'in the world'? If one fruitgrower whomj I know would tell how much mjoney—grbps, he has made out of nine acres in, say, 12 years, I think my readers would agree with the latter version. Amj afraid I am getting ahead of my subject, so must return and explain how Nature worked out her scheme (which after many years of toil and hardship to those fine and courageous pioneers) to Central ptago to its present prosperous condition. Apart from fruitgrowing, a large revenue is derived from dairy farming. Sheep farming I am not dealing with as no doubt there woujld have always been big sheep stations throughout the country, at long distances apart. But the intensive Ccloser settlement was brought' about by those early pioneer miners first attempting to grow a few vegetables —then as they succeeded flowers were introduced, no doubt to please the women folk, who certainly " deserved some consideration for their part in the big undertaking of transforming a wilderness into an oasis. After vegetables and flowers, naturally came" the thought of experimenting with fruit trees. To speak personally the first trees planted in our orchard were a very small bundle which had been forwarded ■ by some mfstake to Galloway Station (I think at that time the owner or manager was a Mr Low) through the local storekeeper, the late Mr William Theyers. The "Station" people refused to take delivery, and my mother, hearing about it from Mr., Theyers, simply coaxed and begged "my father to buy them. He said: "What's the use of buying fruit trees. Even if they ever have fruit on them we won't be here then", and my mjofher replied: "Well, I will enjoy seeing them grow while we are here". ~ Then later (again just to please my mother) another! "bundle" of mixed fruit trees was purchased from the late Mr Chas. Sonntag, Brockville Nursery, Dunedin. It was rather amusing, the 'nick-names' if we might apply that word, some of these treas were given after they came into bearing, and each having a meaning. The Jargonelle pears grew so much alike that they were referred to as 'The Brothers'. Then an apple which the butcher's boy was veryfond of was called "Johnny Grindly", after the boy wholse father was a butcher at Clyde at that fifae. No pne ever knew that apple by any other name, and I think there is still one tree left doing double duty as a fencing post, and yielding fruit as well. The pear trees are still growing in the same soil in which they were planted, and bear good crops nearly every year, in one season yielding 90 cases. A cherry tree which was dug out only six yea/s ago ■ was known as "Ted Terry", because .when a boy MiTerry used to come and pick the cherries for market. On one occasion they were wanted so urgently : —I think to sell at a fruit-stall at Blacks Baces, thfat 'Ted' in his haste picked off nearly all the 'spjars', with the result that there was practically no fruit on the tree the following year. Cherry pickers of, . the present day please take note!'Mr Terry later assisted his father with one of the mjost productive pieces of land that could be found anywhere. There were only about two acres under cultivation and it was simply marvellous the amount of produce it returned, and all of first class quality, both in t fruits and vegetables of all kinjds. The late Mr Terry was * one of our chief prize-winners at our Horticultural : Shows. It was often said by other growers that MiTerry made mjore actual profit out of his small area than others did from much bigger holdings, because, for one thing, his expenses were much less, and t the greater part of his trade was local. The really chief reason for his success was, however, due to Mr Tarry himself who made every inch of ground un- t der his control yield a profit. One of- the most important of the pioneer fruitgrowers was Mr A- C. Iversen. He was full of energy and a good fighter for his cause, and was one of the keenest agitators for the Central Otago Bail-! i way. You\ present generation who can take a book or paper, an\d sit leisurely back in a seat in the train, knowing that Dunedin will eventually be reached before the day is finished, can't even imagine how ■. dreadfully handicapped those early pioneers were i with only a small express wagon and pair of horses. ; to convey their fruit to Lawrence 70 miles away r where there was the nearest railway communication,.,.. For thoise who could afford it , (very few "could in thp,se r days) there was 'coach? (which carried'the. s: mails) onwhicll to travel. ! .*>■>■■•■') j.;i:v ■ ..•,,'■.' i ; * 1 SSM 4 V tmi [.-.,; - >;■, fW-d-jy.; ■Pl.t* (To be continued). ", "mi r-eiib 1 *

Business Change Mr E. Waldren, storekeeper, announces that owing to ill-health, he has disposed of his business to Mr Mcintosh, of Dunedin.