A DRIVE TO THE APPLE FARM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4315, 17 March 1884, Page 4

A DRIVE TO THE APPLE FARM.

the Biggest Fruit Growing Enterprise

South of tho Equator,

Animated by a sense of their responsibility to Hio shareholders, and desirous of considering tho ptojeotod work for the coming season on the ground, the directors of the Appl<s Farm Company had determined upon a visit t(j their extensive orchard on Saturday. An invitation to accompany the expedition tM extended to the Press, and with that readiness to combine business with pleasure which distinguishes the journalistic profession, representatives of the daily papers were fotiiicl promptly on ths ground at the hour appointed. One of Crowthcr's bftlkSff, drawn by four horses, had been chartered for ih'B ssrvioe, and started from the "Three Lamps," fonsonby, at 9.30, with 3 portion of the party, collecting others by ths *vay. When complete, tho committee of inspection consisted of Messrs T. Peacock, M.H.11. (Chairman of Directors), J. H. Upton, J. Billington, 6. S. Jakins, and James Mason (directors), arid Messrs A. Stewart, W. H. Conncll, G. L. Peacocke, and the special correspondents aforesaid. Mr Fairburn joined the expedition on horseback at Otahuhu, and fit Cairns, of Mangere, and Dr. Torrens at the homesten-l A splendid twohours' drivo through the pleasafct suburban and farm districts lying between Auckland andOtara, beyond Otahuhu, put the visitors in good humour for tho business of the day. A sniff of genuine country air, and a spin between the well-grown hedgerows that map out in verdant squares one of tho most fertile and picturesque farming districts on this side of the Equator, was a fitting preparation for the arcadian delights in prospect. The farm, known to old residents as Hickson's, is situated in the Tamaki Valley. By the present roundabout route, the distance is computed at 17 miles, but a bridge across tho Tamaki would bring the farm within a quar£<Jr of .in hour's drive of Otahuhu. The* settlers are now considering a proposal to raise the required amount, about £4,000, under the "Roads and Bridges Construction Act;" a rate of one ' shilling an acre on 4,000 acres will suiiice. The road now passes through tho Otara district. Entering tho pathway teding dp to tho homestead by a gate on the main i'oad a fay; hundred yards beyond the lodge of Mr BtysVs well-known farm, tho visitor sees stretching away to his left a tract of ninety acres of slightly undulating land, which was planted last eeason with upwards of 40,000 apple trees. |On his right hand is a nursery containing 0,500 young stock, which were worked for the Compah r by Mr James Mason, of Parnell, this year, and which will be ready for planting other parts of the farm next year. The contract price for 10,000 was £20. The total area of the property is computed it ! about 2-10 acres of rich, well-farmed land. :On some parts of the farm wheat has been ■ grown for aix years in succession without manure, yielding iifea?;' crops; and wheat and potato crops have lately beon reaped undorcontractsletby the owner of the farm before i t came into possession of the Company. The yield of wheat this year was abont JO bushels to tho acre. Tho fertility of the soil is further shown by the fact that the Company have received an oiler of £50 for tho oat crop grown between tho rows of trees upon about eight acres ft orchard, tho distance between the trees being 30ft. In the remainder of tho orchard the interroning spaces had not bsen cropped, but it is intended to plant potatoes noxt season. The history of this very interesting enterprise is soon told. Public attention having been prominently attracted to fruit-grow-ing in tho North, a number of gentlemen last year resolved to make tho experiment on an extensive and systematic scale. The Company was formed with a capital of £10,000, in 10s shares, 15,000 of which were taken up : tho balance are reserved. The farm sincg acquired was offered on terms which left £y,OOO of the purchase money (that is, the whole amount less £G00) on mortgage at 7 per cent.; the directors resolved to accept it. That they could not have made a more judicious selection, must be admitted. In addition to the proximity of the farm to the city, it has the extra advantage of deep ■ water carriage up the Tamaki, giving a freight rate to Auckland of 3s per ton. There is a landing on the estate. Tho soil is a good strong eemi-vol-canic loam, easily worked and well adapted for tho growth of fruit trees. Having decided upon the site, the directors lost no time in commencing operations. They were fortunato In meeting with a thoroughly practical manager, Mr Perry, who proved his own faith la the pecuniary success of the undertaking by taking up 1,200 of the Company's nharee. Tho directors have had no reason to repent this appointment. The good order which prevails everywhere on the farm, and the vigour with- which all its operations have been prosecuted, provo that the supervision is in good hands. The farm only camo into the possession of tho Company at tho beginning of last winter, and before tho season was over 47,000 trees had been planted. Tho plan adopted for the greater pait of tho orchard waa 10 feet distances, in quincunx form. It is intended to permit tho trees to grow at these short spaces for three or four years, and then to thin them as required to about 17 feet spaces. Tho trees were selected from all tho Auckland nurseries, and averaged 9d apiece; the cost of planting was ■«s Cd per 100—a very low price. During tho ensuing season, fifty acres more will bo planted at 30 feet distances, tho ground being cropped between ; 2,300 trees will havo to bo purchased for this purpose, the stock in. the Company's own nursery not being yet sufficiently advanced. Between fifty and sixty acres of grass are being laid down on tho farm) with the intention of taking in horses to graze. In several specially favourable we'l-shcltored situations, orango and lemon trees will le planted. Tho plough is being kept f.t work, in preparation for theso autumn and wintor operations. The party on Saturday made a tour of tho wholo farm under tho guidance of Mr Perry, who pointed out on tho ground what has already been dono and what is projocted, to tho outiro satisfaction of tho directors. In consultation on tho spot, tho directors agreed to various permanent irnprovomonts in the farm, including the erection of a storage shed at the landingplace. The party then returned to the manager's homestead, a modest but pretty' littlo cottage erected by the Company. Hero dinner had boon prepared, and was attacked with sharpened appetites. Afterwards, an hour was spent in examining the trees, which showed remarkably good growth, and an abundant promise of fruit next year (the ago. of tho stock being considered). A number of very fine apples gathered this season wero shown, a Lord SuHield, which turned tho scale at ■10 CMinces, having been "plucked from a tree with!'! a year of budding. Everyone havif^u.oorfoctly satisfied himself that tho Comfmy nfS;" 13 doing tho right thing in tho rjghtvny a2fi^ the shareholders having made s.jn'o in'tS -?stins ! "id exceedingly hopefu^icuiatioSfa-of tho dividends in store, jjjafc w6l . e \\. re-takeri and - a start iido for home£> Ihe +1 ourno/ was v ded by t aki4s H « f round & nt Woltingtonhwd f J^es RemueraL, order t0 viat^l 1*"™8 Mason's fiv favm of 25 acrps at fi -«««*. an inspects O f whicn gavo now assV*™^ to the partU at if f ru it-growing has*** P °* the glitter o\ go ld-mine, it has much mo^f substantial j, speots o f yielding regular* and handsou Of the 23 acres original^ planted by Mr Mason at Sl'V i '-d fo\ acres have been sold to Mr Frank Brod, formerly City Treasurer, who has ore&j a handsome villa! The remainder 5 the orchard is well protected by mon^rg of tho pine f amily judiciously planter suitable distances, to protect without Shading the trees, Besides tho apple t em f u iif ie aring, there aro a largo \ mber of * lemon, and oth* trees in an advanced state. A con&j rab i e amount of fniit \yas sent into Auck ld from this orchard during the past 50,,,. Turning once more homeward, the > rako » went r b attlin? through Nowmarkei and delivered the excursionists at theijL era i homes by six o clock all thoroiighi voll ploaged wit h the day s business