AUCKLAND'S LEAD

Auckland Star, 12 May 1941, Page 6

AUCKLAND'S LEAD

STRAWBERRY CROP PLANTING IN FULL SWING Visions of next spring's harvest of rich crimson strawberries are conjured up by the planting of hundreds of thousands of plants in the gardens around Auckland. A start was made a fortnight ago, and to-day, although the growers would welcome a fewheavy showers, the work is in full swing. It is expected that the operations will continue until well into June.

"Most of the areas are ready for the cropping except that they are rather dry." said a large distributor of plants this morning. "In the nurseries the conditions are good for lifting the plants, but the rains have been too light for the growers. Still, planting is going ahead as fast as the supply permits."

As in the past few years the season's crop is expected to cover between 70 and SO acres, and the number of plants should be between 1.500.000 and 1.7:50.000. a figure about half that of eight to ten years ago. Various causes have contributed to the decline, particularly the ravages of root trouble and the burden of mounting costs.

"The plant problem is world-wide. remarked a member of the industrv

■'Strawberry cultivation is now "a highly skilled occupation, and the novice has little chance. Plant selection has been helping a great deal locally, and the improved Capt.iin Cook variety is not only hardier than the Marguerite, which has almost disappeared, but also produces a berry of good appearance and size. This has done much to help Auckland to retain its place as the home of strawberry growing in New Zealand. The growers and"the nurseries have combined in the fight to save the strawberry, and they have met with encouraging success." Besides propagating the hardy Captain Cook variety, growers are also giving more attention to drainnge. manuring and the use of new crround. In this way they are able to produce from an average of 20 000 to 25.000 plants to the acre, and to market up to 1000 crates of luscious fruit on the best days at the peak of the season.

It is pointed out that every item of the cost of production—labour fertilisers, spraying materials, marketing and the purchase of plants to-day involve the grower in extra outlay. While the labour problem is greatest at nicking time, when the berries must be picked when ripening there is also a considerable call for labour to assist in planting.