FRUIT-GROWING.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20333, 4 September 1931, Page 12

FRUIT-GROWING.

INDUSTRY'S SUCCESSFUL YEAR. I.OKI) BLEDJSLOE'S VIEWS. Various phases of the ti'uit-yrowing industry were touched upon by his Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe), when addressing delegates i.> the Fruit-growers' Conference on Wednesday. His Excellency said: "Although in face of a programme iu volving the consideration of no less ■ban 136 remits of varying degrees of importance and persuasiveness I liesiiate to occupy much of your valuable lime in tho pleasant task oi formally opening your conference, I confess to a feeling of special satisfaction in undertaking again this year congenial ;t dutv, a satisfaction which is founded not only on the fact that, the production and export of fruit in Now Zealand have again exceeded all previous records, ;uuj that, unlike most other primary products of the Dominion, have vielded an appreciable margin of profit to those engaged in the industry, but also on the conviction, based upon greater personal knowledge and observation than I could lay claim to a year ago, that fruit-growing in this country, if conducted with the same measure of untcrprise, energy, and commercial prudence as now characterises it (not m oiß district only, but in all)? is destined to bo a confident source of prosperity to grower and country alike in days to come. ~ . . "In these days when the world is impoverished and a commodity sucli aa j'ruit, although so conducive to human health, is regarded by many a3 a Insurv it is specially important that in framing a sound marketing policy the taste and the pocket of the consumer should be duly considered. Whatever may be said regarding insufficiency of industrial organisation and mutual cooperation among those concerned in the production and supply of goods for local consumption, I cannot help being deeply impressed by the mutual helpfulness and cordial sympathy which . haracterise the progressive efforts of all those engaged in the difficult task of supplying markets 13,000 miles away with so perishable a commodity as fruit in Bound condition and at a profit to the grower. Strictly organised marketing is at least' as important as experienced production. Efficiency in Marketing. "As is bo well said in the fifth annual report of the J'ruit Export Control Board, ' intelligent marketing must go hand in hand with efficient orchard practice and successful co-operation in packing and shipping if a large percentage of the good -work dpne in growing the product is not to be wasted. In all sueh. matters as space bookings on the ships, 'the punctual assembly of fruit at a coastal port or railway station, the pooling of supplies in the various provincial districts, the choice of marketable varieties of apples, the determination of their market according to their size and colour, the labelling and marking of the cases, and, above all, the grading and packing of the fruit, there is in operation in this country a commendable systematisation of practice which promises for the New Zealand fruit' industry a measure of security which few other countries enjoy. , . . - "Invaluable help in developing tho organisation of New Zealand fruit export business and in arranging the of fruit shipments has been afforded by the Government's guarantee of 11s per ease gross on the overseas market. But for the evident determination of Dominion fruitgrowers in all the main districts of production (Nelson, Hawke's Bay, Auckland, and Central Otago) to maintain, for their own and their country's credit, a high standard of quality and such a guarantee might well have put a premium upon mediocrity and an unfair burden upon other sections of the community during a period of financial stringency. But so far from this being the case, the guarantee has stimulated, at least in one sphere of primary production, an appreciable augmentation of the nation's wealth from the ultimate and only true source of all wealth, namely, the soil. I learn with profound pleasure that there will be ■ this year little or no caU on the Government guarantee. As indicating that the industry is a profitable one and able, in spite of fierce competition, to hold its own without artificial aid mi the open market of the world, this should bo a source of satisfaction to all patriotic New Zealanders. The guarantee, like Shakespeare's quality of mercy, 'is twice blessed: it blesseth him that gives and liim that takes. Choice of Pruits. "The"choice of varieties of apples fox the overseas trade is all important, ana I would venture to suggest that all fruitgrowers, in planting up orchards or in grafting old stocks, should allow themselves to be guided largely by those who, on their behalf and in their best interests, are studying meticulously the market requirements of the world, ana especially those of Great . Britain and the European continent. Too much individual ingenuity in this respect may prove to result in ultimate financial loss. World over-production need not be a bogey to the prudent and farsighted fruitgrower. In the case of fruit", as in that of other primary produets; there will always be a market for the best. But the word 'best' must be interpreted not only as indicating soundness and choice quality. It must take into account the special purpose for which the fruit is to be used and to some extent the fluctuating taßte of the pampered consumer of the twentieth century. The grower should seek to eliminate from his plantations low quality varieties and reduce his dependence upon those even of admitted merit which appear to be progressively in lessened demand, gradually _ changing over to more popular varieties,-the demand for which is based, . not upon quaint or attractive nomenclature, but upon well-founded and intrinsic worth. "A few years ago it would havo been justifiable to advise growers to concentrate for their export trade upon those varieties of apples which were known to retain their soundness on their voyage to Europe under the widest variations of temperature and humidity, such as Delicious or Jonathan. But' thanks to the invaluable research work of the Low Temperature Research Station at Cambridge University, of which the Befrigeration' Committee. of your Control Board so prudently keep themselves fully informed, this is . no longer of sueh vital importance as it used to-be, except perhaps as regards the condition or date of shipment of specially susceptible varieties, such as Cox's Orange Pippin. There is no greatet guarantee of the' future ' stability of the New Zealand fruit uidu«-

try than the close .attention wliich ia being paid by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to this problem of transport refrigeration nud tho enlightened response of the shipping companies to all reasonable demands based upon new knowledgo of this all-important subject—of more importance indeed to this Dominion owiiitf , to its long distance from its best markets than to any other part of +ha British Empire. Boot-Stock Research. have already referred,to the work of the Low Temperature, Research Station at Cambridge. No, less epoch- , making and revolutionary is the work on root-stocks of the East Maling Fruit Research Station under the able direction of Mr R. G. Hatton, who was recently a visitor to this Dominion. The application of the precise and intensive methods of the laboratory to the fruit orchard has systematised its control and standardised its output beyond the most sanguine anticipations of early research workers such as Dr. Spencer Pickering, who, a quarter of a century ago, was thfe pioneer of the movement on the Duke of Bedford's estate at Woburn. It was deemed essential in the first place to know precisely tho material with which the fruit-grower was working. The first six years of applying systematic botanical work, to the grower's 'stock-in-trade' revealed the fact that the red and black currants and raspberries, which he was planting, were inextricably intermixed, misnamed,, and often ravaged by eertain diseases. The grower blamed his plants for 'running out.' In the case of his tree fruits —apples, pears. pliims, ; and cherries—-it: was similarly shown that though the scion portions were in the main true to name, they were very .variable in their behaviour, and the classification of the multifarious' mixed root-stocks upon which they were grafted suggested that therein might be found at least one sourco. of this varying performance of the tree. ■ " The next phase in the investigations was the building up of true, healthy races.of the small fruits and root-stocks in commercial use so as to ; make possible the exact measurement of their capabilities, and, in the case of rootstocks, their influence upon the tree, by new methods of field technique. For the first time it was demonstrated to growers that a knowledge - of. varietal characteristics of ■"■growth'and cropping, resistance to"disease, and spray damage must .all be. considered in conjunction with conditions of soil and climate, and that such' an appreciation meant the whole difference between profit and loss. To-day it is possible, to recommend to the grower standardised healthy mator-' ial suitable for his particular conditions and jpurpbse.'Not only has East Maling built up and widely distributed a nucleus of such material, but its methods of classification and 'roguing' are now being tHdely and safely adopted as the soundest basis of certification of nursery material." DOMINION FEDERATION. (PBKS3 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, September 8. The question of representation on the Fruit Board was raised at the Fruitgrowers' Conference to-day, and it was decided to recommend that representation be as follows:—Auckland, one; Hawke's Bay, Poverty Bay, and Wairarapa, one; Nelson, one; Nelson Central, one; Motueka, one; Canterbury and Marlborough, one. Interesting comments on the export side of the fruit industry are contained in the interim report of the Fruit, Export Control Board. After dealing with shipping facilities and the marketing, of the crop, the report says:— Ove*-two-thirds of the total crop was shipped after the middle of April. Tho condition of the fruit this season was remarkably good. The shipping companies had continued their • practice of carefully:inspecting each .consignment, but not one complaint had been received. .Cutting and bruising of fruit, which had. been so prevalent ,in- past seasons, had been eliminated by the use : o*£ one-piece corrugated - strawboard. All large -applies, with the' exception of early cookers, had been sent, to the Continent, where they were in "good demand. ;This transfer,, while 'appreciably increasing the. Continental quantities, had relatively little effect -on the quantities marketed 'in the /United Kingdom. | _ ' ■'"'■".<■;■■: ' ; ; '- i 1 TRADING TERMS. COMPLETE REVISION . SUGGESTED. * A suggestion that the time is ripe for a complete revision of trading terms, and that Chambers of Commerce could perform a most useful sprvice by bringing together the trad© associations to mutual agreement and unity was contained in a letter received by the Council of the Canterbury Chamber ot Commerce last evening from the Wellington Chamber. ' The Wellington Chamber enclosed a circular which it has sent to all trat]o . organisations in its district, inviting their attendance at a meeting to discuss the following chief topics:— Standardising credit terms in all trades. Shortening existing credit terms. Prescribing special credit terms for those traders who sell for cash. Universal Action. It was felt that if there was any unanimity at Wellington upon these questions, similar, meetings might be convened by Chambers of Commerce throughout the Dominion to secure the universal adoption of any revised terms which might be recommended. Mr W. Bottrell said the Council would be wise not to take action before the results of the Wellington investigation wero known. Mr V. E Hamilton thought that it was intended to go even beyond tho control of cash discounts. He agreed with Mr Bottrell's suggestion.. SYDNEY WOOL SALES. A FIRM MARKET. tesivtsp : press., association —sx sutcww telegraph—copyright.) (Received September 3rd, 8.46 p;m.) SIDNEY, September 3. At the wool sales to-day 11,482 bales were offered, 9478 sold, also. 526 privately. ■ The market was very firm at late rates, with wider competition. TJie principal purchasers were Japan and Yorkshire, while good support w*s : renewed from Belgium and Italy oh skirtings.: ... .. „■■ Greasy wiertnor sola to Ida.