CITRUS RESEARCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 191, 15 August 1933, Page 3

CITRUS RESEARCH.

TEST AREA PLANTED.

SCHEME AT MOUNT. ALBERT.

Tho first formal step towards tlie establishment of an agricultural wing at the Mount Albert Grammar School was taken yesterday when some 20 citrus trees were planted on an area adjacent to tho school grounds. Two acres are being planted in lemon and orange trees as a test area, which, besides being an asset to the citrus industry in the province, can be used as a means of training the agricultural section of the pupils of the school in tho various horticultural processes. Through the generosity of the Auckland Savings Bank a block of 20 acres has been made available for the advancement of the citrus industry. The Mayor planted the first tree and named it aptly "prosperity tree." Among those at the ceremony were:— Professor H. H. Corbin, president of the Auckland Institute of Horticulture, who was chairman; the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison; Sir George Fowlds, chairman of the Massey Agricultural College; Professor H. W. Segar, chairman of tho Auckland Institute and Museum; Professor A. P. W. Thomas, chairman of the Auckland Grammar School Board; Mr. N. R. W. Thomas, chairman of. tho Auckland Citrus Committee of the Institute of Horticulture; Mr. S. W. House, president of the Citrus Growers' Association; Mr. L. Paynter, orchard instructor under the Department of Agriculture; and Mr. W. H. Rice, former orchard instructor. Scheme Outlined. To a gathering of several hundred of the pupils, Mr. Thomas outlined the growth of the citrus test area. _ The scheme, he Raid, embraced all varieties of citrus fruits grown or to bo imported. It covered bud selection and survey work which was neeeseary to determine the best types to work from, the effect of the various root stocks used or available, suitable localities, soils, shelter, drainage and frost conditions. "One of the first definite decisions arrived at was that there was no need to go outside New Zealand for an orange suitable for use not only as a grapefruit or breakfast orange, but also as a marmalade orange," he eaid. "Originally described by Sir George Grey as the 'Poor Man's Orange,' we soon selected what is known as . Morrison's _ seedless strain of poorman. or, to call it by the new name suggested, 'Kawau Orange.' In sweet oranges we are able to grow quite useful fruit in New Zealand, and if some of the prospects materialise there should be no need for any very great quantity of importations before many years. 'The first record of citrus in New Zealand is the planting of some orange pips of the St. Michael's type at Kerikeri, on August 10, 1818, from which grew two trees, still bearing, one there and the other at Waimate North."

Sir George- Fowlds and Professor Thomas expressed confidence in the value of the experiment and wished it success. The Mayor also thought that economic good would accrue. Altogether it is proposed to plant some 120 trees on the Mount Albert test area.