THE Bay of Plenty Times AND THAMES VALLEY WARDEN.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1657, 6 March 1884, Page 2

THE Bay of Plenty Times AND THAMES VALLEY WARDEN.

■"" The Spirit of the Times shall teaoh me speed,' . : — KING JOHN, ACT IV. , ~ THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1884. " FBTTIT CULTIVATION. We are not alone in the views already expressed on the above subject, and we note that the New Zealand Herald has.an article on the culture of oranges, . advocating attention to that particular industry as one specially suited to the climate and soil of this province. In ' a former article we pointed out the general benefits likely to accrue from fruit culture as one of the many strings to the settler's or farmer's bovr if he ! desires to make the soil yield sufficient! increase whereby he may find the j wherewithal to live. The principle is j jiow recognised by leading authorities oil the subject that the farmer, except i in very rare instances, must not depend on one source of nrofit alone. The remarks published in the New Zealand Herald to which we allude are directed chiefly to the culture of oranges as an industry worthy of special attention in contrast to others, and the opinion seems to be gaining! ground that north New Zealand is particularly suited to the growth and productive requirements of this fruit, j How. fair the enterprise is one which would succeed on a large scale is not clear, as there are contingencies to be considered, but there is very little doubt that each farmer might with perfect safety devote a small area of land to the special object of orange growing. There are many parts of Te Puke, as an example, specially adapted to such cultivation, and as a matter of profit the return from the trees is not only quite equal to but considerably in excess ot any other crops oceujjying the Bame space and needing the same care. The danger lies in embarking on too extensive a scale ; for, the required labour and care involves the expense of outside wages for assistance, and in the present state of the market this simply means ruin. A high rate of wages is the first and great check to any productive operations on the soil. Much may be done, and done well, by the settler and his household, where circumstances permit, but any branch of farming operations needing outside labour must for the present be held in abeyance. In the cultivation of oranges one important consideration is that of irrigation, and this is one of the special difficulties to be overcome, as practical men know full well that, at any rate in this district, it is not always easy to obtain a supply of water in such natural position that it can be turned to account for this purpose. And we are not so assiduous as to construct artificial means of irrigation, neither would our labours so directed be rewarded in any measure corresponding to the cost of outlay, owing to the natural formation of the country. Hence we allude to Te Puke, as in the upper parts of the block, surface streams do exist which could be turned to account, and the ranges of hills serve as a great protection against the damage likely to be done to young plantations from the cold winds. The same might hold good of Katikati also, in special localities. But the two points that at once command attention are these : 3?irst, the necessity of avoiding the cost of outside labour; secondly, the position selected for an orange grove of even modest propor-

tions must be with a view to irrigation. The calculations are based upon tile value of oran es from the present known markets of the world, and the the figures show a return of something like £60 per acre. We quite endorse the gene*al principle, and agree with those who notice the apparent neglect in fruit culture. Fruit does grow luxuriantly in our climate, but the fruit we cultivate is of a perishable nature, and in order to profit by an orchard, care muse be observed to produce such fruits as will bear the teat of packing and export. We are in effect beginning to feel our way, and there is no doubt that circumstances and increased requirements for consumption of largely populated centres are all pointing to the same lesson, and the call is for perseverance and energy on the part of settlers in young colonies, and thus until the labour market is such as it is in other colonies and countries where these in* dustries are carried on successfully, the farmer and settler must rely altogether upon his own resources. In time labour must drop down to its proper valuer— until then the question of wages for farm work will always be a check upon fresh enterprises , on an extended scale. Much can be profitably done, however, in many instances without involving outside expenditure.