HORTICULTURE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20919, 28 July 1933, Page 19

HORTICULTURE.

♦ MEETING OF INSTITUTE. GROWING OF SEEDS. After a discussion on the possibility of establishing the garden seed-grow-ing industry in Canterbury, the Canterbury District Council of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, at its meeting last night, decided to set up a committee to go into the matter and submit a report to the next meeting. It was stated that several attempts had been made in different parts of New Zealand to establish the industry and a Wellington firm of seedsmen was said to have lost about £4OOO in unsuccessful efforts. The matter was brought before the council originally by Mr M. J. Barnett, the Superintendent of Parks and Gardens to the Christchurch City Council. There were present Messrs T. D. Lennie (chairman), F. W. Cone. C. E. Foweraker, H. Kitson, A. H. Shrubshall, W. Edginton, J. A. McPherson, J. J. Keatley, F. Thorn, C. E. Gibbons, and J. N. McLeod (honorary secretary). Mr McPherson, upon the chairman's invitation, gave some details regarding the manner in which the Southland District Council maintained the interest of the members in the institute by providing lectures on horticultural subjects at the quarterly meetings. He said that members had been interested in the growing of certified potato seed. He suggested that the Canterbury District Council might give its support to some movement of direct economic value, such as seed-growing. Mr Shrubshall said that there was no difficulty in growing seeds;, the trouble was to get a market for them. Mr McLeod said that he had made enquiries into the matter from those connected with attempts to establish the seed-growing industry m Wellington and Auckland; a Wellington firm he understood, had lost more than £IOOO in its efforts, and the Auckland firm also had lost heavily. Mr Gibbons said that the Wellington firm lost £4OOO. The chairman said that the London market could take all the peas that could be grown in New Zealand. Mr Kitson said that they should aim at starting in a small way, and not attempt at first to grow every seed known in the world. A committee consisting of Messrs M. J. Barnett (convener), J. A. McPherson, A. H. Shrubshall, C. E. Foweraker, C. E. Gibbons, and C. E. Burgess, was set up to consider the question of establishing the garden seed-growing industry in Canterbury, and it was asked to report to the next meeting. Value of Vegetables. The chairman referred to the work of the Gardens Allotments Committee and to the good work done by relief workers last year in cultivating vegetables. It had been surprising how few allotments had to be provided; most of the men had gardens attached to their houses. Mr Kitson said that many had made private arrangements to cultivate vacant sections, and had done very well with tomatoes and potatoes. The psychological effect on the men had been of great value. Men had grown vegetables who, previously, had very little idea of how to grow them, and their children had developed a taste for good, fresh vegetables. Market gardeners might suffer at present from a diminished demand, but would not do so in the long run. When better times came and relief workers were back at their full-time jobs, the market gardeners' produce would be in demand. Mr McPherson said that for a long time New Zealand had been raising its children, as far as vegetables were concerned, on cabbages and potatoes, but now they were getting parsnips, carrots, and beet, which contained vitamins quite different from those in cabbages and potatoes, and he did not think they would be restricted again to the last-mentioned. Persons who visited the Dominion complained of the paucity of vegetables on the menus at hotels. Other Business. A letter was read from the Dominion secretary of the institute setting out certain amendments to the conditions governing the examinations for the diploma of the institute. The principal alteration was that the time within which horticulturists in class B (persons who had had 15 years' practical experience) could enter for examination had been extended to the end of 1934 These persons could obtain the diploma by passing the professional examination, part of which was oral, and part a thesis on a subject chosen by the person being examined. The amendments were subject to confirmation at the next conference of the institute. . On behalf of members the chairman accepted with thanks the invitation of Mr Kitson to take afternoon tea with him the Botanic Gardens on September 9, and to have a look round the gardens.