FRUITGROWING ON POORER SOILS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 194, 16 August 1911, Page 8

FRUITGROWING ON POORER SOILS.

THE POSSIBILITIES OF AUCKLAND GUM LANDS. v.\i;n:ni-;s of fruit for PLANTING. 11. The iii.m. tliiitp pnni-ion of proper e , ;;,. r ..I |n\ ing out an orchard i- ; , „ ,-t..,- which often receives fir •.,... Utile attention at the hands of t:Y • i li.n !i-ts. It is IV) uncommon tiling t., I.in,| i.f suitable quality, well prefar-*: aii-l planted with most approved ir'.cfos re.iilt in almost total failure. I .ur.lv because necessary shelter absent. ' It i-. however, seldom necessary t • wat longer than one year after the I . !;, r is planted before putting ini the orchard trees, and in many places. the tree- may b<' planted the same seaSon, a- quick-growing plants ran bo put ii that will provide the no■ e-sary protection long before the fruit trees have arrived at a bearing stnere. The question is often asked, what is the best hedge to plant around the orchard for -belter? This is a question somowhal difficult to answer, soil and local surroundings having- to be taken largely into account in giving the nn-we'r. All shelter planting should be considered under two separate heads, i.e.. temporary shelter and permanent. Temporary Shelter: I'robably first amongst iise'ful plants for temporary use btandi Acacia decurrens, the black or tannin wattle, a plant, which may, if properly prepared be successfully transplanted*, or can be grown readily from seed sown where it is desired to grow. Several other wattles have also been grown with fair success, but the Silver Wattle (Acacia dialbata) is not to be recommended as it spreads badly from the rent. A. decurrens will with good treatment, make as much as 5 to G feet of growth the first season; clips well, the I.ark is valuable, and the timber is of fair quality when matured for posts. rails, firewood, etc. In Henderson. Birkdale and other northern districts, its value has been abundantly proved. In some districts, especially near the coast where salt spray obtains, the acacias do not succeed so well. In these more exposed situations eucalypti (gums I will he found of preat service; the blue pum is of some value, but the pepermint pum (E. amygdalina) will he found of most use both for shelter and alter utility. Pinus insignis and P. murieata are valuable, especially on exposed clay ridges, where they will succeed well, and give a close shelter where other plants often fail. Another point not generally recognised is that both varieties stand clipping well, and ran be kept close and within reasonable bounds with but little expense if clipped say, once each year. In some soils the Cupresus maerocarpa may al*o be plant»d with advantage. Permanent Shelter Hedges:—For this w-ork many varieties of plants are avail able. Hut the Pittosporium crassifolillm (Karo) mixed with Eleagnus -fnponica are two of the best. They are easy to grow, and will even succeed under the -hade of other trees such as may be planted for immediate shelter; will stand clipping, grow dense, and always lock well, whether growing separately or together, t'uprcssus Lawsoniana is most ornamental and satisfactory, especially on in..,!,.rately light and dry soils. while on drained swamp or other deep land the ( hinesc Privet, will prove invaluaolc. growing quickly, easily kept in order, and of good appearance, while some distance inland laurel succeeds well. The common White Birch has been used with some success by a few growers. As it is deciduous, it admits light and air into the orchard trees during the winter months. In small orchards on fair soil the English Privet gives good results, and will give effective shelter up to 10 feet high; near the coast the Pohutakawa and Coprosma Beauriana (Tatrpata) are of value, while for permanent protection at a distance, such trees as walnuts, chestnuts, almonds, may be used with advantage, and in »ome cases loqnats. quinces and American and hybrid Japanese plums will be tfound to give excellent intermediate Bhelter. In anything like exposed country, it will be well to have the temporary shelter belts placed fairly close together, say not more than three to five chains apart, as it is far easier to cut out an extra line of shelter, if proved unnecessary, than to grow an additional row, if proved to be required. As a rule where the confignration of the land will allow it, most of the shelter belt should run from north to south, both on account of the prevailing winds, and also to let the sun in to the tree to the best advantage,frltts to grow. What shall I plant? This is always an important question with the intending orchardist, and one that he finds hard to answer. For not only is he face to face with the'problem of the class of fruit that will succeed and pay best, but there is usually the vexatious question as to what particular varieties are most likely to give a profitable return. There is now more important information available than there was years ago, and intending planters can avoid many of the pitfalls into which the pioneers fell. But still there is much to learn, and many points to be settled, which only time and further experiment can finally decide. The north is a favoured district; lemons, oranges, guavas. tree tomatoes and passion fruit can all be grown near the sea coast, and on the higher levels almost all over the peninsula. The soils that suit these fruits best, are the well drained loams, and lighter lands th.it abound in larger or smaller areas in nearly every district of the north, 13 also the volcanic soils of WhangareL The standard fruits, such as apples, pears, plums, peaches, figs, grapes, persimmons, nectarines, quinces, etc.. succeed everywhere, while the small fruits. Ine-anberries, strawberries, and several of the best varieties of market gooseberries are nt home in most districts. Ahnost every valley from Birkenhead to Whangarei on the east coast, furnishes examples of successful fruit-growing experiments, while on the main trunk line \> .• have only to mention Waikumeti, Waitakere, ITelensvillc, Kau--1 ipakapn, and Pfirt Albert ns examples of what can be a l' - omplished. J v .irMele >n 11V subject under review v. i 'e complete that did not furnish a j list ' virletles snltable for general plant- ' Inc Th.xe. subjoined have all been found

to snroi'P.l wnll in most parts of the North, nnrt mny bo relied on as a rate to crrre sa-t----lrfactl— cm: --"""SP „ ma l kcd "^ hns * w 'th an asterisk, w£i> Dn l? lea:ils '- lr * from .the..Woolly Aphis, m™i^^ e ',?*^r d t arc ™rtetles reeoroand ofw. De L artm<!nt of Apiculture for ,'l thors ln t«<*ted In export, as suitable lor the export trade. American Horn. ;: >•■■ <■ , >*Al'.Bop's Beauty. "- £~ fc. 13-aUara-t £eedliiig<Mtj?~ - ■

*Crtep Russet. •nifT's Seedling. t'LHdlrlous. Dnupherty. 'Ed. Lipplatt (a promising apple of re"•frit disrxibutiouj. ■(••Five Crown (or London) Pippin (re- ■ ]Hires a deep soili. •Gem of recent distribution, bnt old trees have proved It ot value). t*finl'!eii I'ippiu. Ha rues" Red. ■rJouathan. •John Sharp, •lyord Wolscle? (requires a deep poll and rood snelten. 3l"bli's K'>yal (Invaluable for local marke;<. canning or dryinc). t.Mnnr-'.-s Favourite (N.Z. Ohinemuri). •Northern Spy. Reinette rlu Canada, til..me I'.eauty. tl£> uii-r. Priil" of Australia. Scarlet I'earmaln (especially suitable for nan (If clays). Salome (a very promising apple of re cent distribution.!. •Sharp's Nonsuch. •Sharp's Late Red. fSturmer Pippin. •Welcome (early especially valuable for home usct •Willie Sharp. • tWinesnp. | The above thirty varieties arc given as ports from which selection may be made, but it Is urged that growers for market should in every case lim.t the number of varieties planted to just enough to cover the season, selecting what they believe to be rhe best and most sui:sbie to their soil and requiremenis. Wherever it is possible to grow them. Cox's orange Pippin, and Cleopatra, •will be found two of the most valuable export apples to grow, but they have been omitted from the list ns In many parts of the North they are subject to severe attacks of the Woolly Aphis and also canker. TEARS. Tlie following list will be found to con tain the leading varieties that have been found to succeed so far in the North' Iteurre Rose. riouire Clalrgeau. r.eurre Diel. Hcurro Hardy. Doyenne Du Cornice. Fertility. Kieffer's Hybrid. Louise Ronne of Jersey. I'. Barry. Vicar of Winkfield. William's Hon Chretien (Bartlet) Winter Bartlet. PEACHES. Here, agaiu. we should remember that In addition to the number of good sorts that have been introduced, and more or less proved to be of commercial value, n large number of locally raised seedlings have been propagated and distributed; some of these are of proved worth, while others are still under test. The following will be found amongst the best: — Brier's lied May. Prizernker. Carman. Paragon. Kia Ora. founder's Hale's Early, teller's Cling Hobbs Lata. Sea Eagle. Kalamazoo. Tul. Llpplatt's Late Red. Triumph. Mamie Ross. Wheatland. Muir. Wisgin's. PLUMS (English). Angelina Burden. Grand Huke. Czar. July tireen Gag» Coo's Colden Drop. Jefferson. Early Uric-ins. Ponds Seedling, Evans' Early. Purple (iare. Giant Prune. Tukapuna Drop. Golden Prune. Victoria. Green Gaje. PLUMS (Japanese). Akarana. Shlro. Knrbank. Sultan. Klkko. Wright's Early, Satsumn. October I'ur;>le. NECTARINES. Ansenne. New Boy. Early Rivers. Sureerop. doldmine. Rivers Orange. There are also several other promising new varieties which may yet take their places amongst the "commercial varletle.sultable to the district. APRICOTS. Up to the present but few districts of the North have been proved to grow the nprlcot sniisfaetorlly. Perhaps the four best sorts to plant are:— Newcastle. Oullen's Early. Royal. Moorpark. CHERRIES. These have not been grown ns nineli as the price they bring In the market wai rants The six best sorts are:— Black Eagle. May Duke. Black Heart. Florence. Black Tartarian. St. Margaret, PIGS. Among the best are:— Brown Turkey. White Adriatic ORANGES (Sweet). St. Michael. Parramatta. Washington Navel. These will be found valuable, especially Farramatta and -St. Michael, as they can he kept till late on in the season, Then the market is bare, and thus command top prices. Some of the Northern oranges brought ae high as 30/ per bushel case at the holiday season of 1910. .-■.•■ ORANGES (Bitter for Marmalade). Poorman. Seville. Of these the Poorman 1b the most popular. LEMONS. A great future a-walte the lemon growing industry, for probably no country in the world can surpass portions of the East Coast and North Auckland for the production of high grade commercial lemons. There are three leading varieties: Bnreka. Lisbon. Villa Franca. All are of equal quality and market value and nil succeed equally well. Some growers claim that Eureka is rather more dwarf and a heavier cropper in some soils. The principal difference, however, is that the Eureka and Villa Franca are practically thoruless, while the Lisbon carries numerous large thorns. QUINCES. Angers. Missouri Mmnaroth* Champion. Van Pieman.