A CENTURY OF WALNUTS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22663, 18 March 1939, Page 13

A CENTURY OF WALNUTS

STIMULATING DOMINION PRODUCTION STORY OF INTRODUCTION [By G.H.J.]

Apart from many other products which New Zeajanders are to be asked to produce, because of obligations in London, the Government has insisted that we shall grow our own walnuts. To most of the Dominion’s population, it would be interesting to know that most of the walnuts which we buy in this country are imported from South China,

Those conveniently shelled nuts, which one could buy in the shops and which saved so much strain—yes, they came from China, and were probably shelled by sweated coolie labour. However, this is finished with for the time being, and as the people of New Zealand insist on having meir walnuts, the Government has been especially active in seeking out internal producers. . Officials of the Department of Agriculture are searching for every tree that can be discovered, so that they may report to their department just how many walnuts, or, of course, approximately how many walnuts New Zealand can be depended upon to produce. Naturally, their search leads them to the one famous walnut-producing district in New Zealand —Akaroa. Already the Department -of Agriculture has been busy obtaining in Akaroa an estimate of the approximate crop, and they are discovering that the output is not nearly as great as it was in the past; before Akaroa walnuts had to meet overseas competition on their own home market. Actually, there is a controversy as to the first walnuts grown in New Zealand—that is, on a commercial scale. The first and more interesting one of these contentions is that they were first introduced to New Zealand soil by M.S. de Beligmy, agent of the Nanto-Bordelaise Company, who made the voyage with Captain LAnglois in 1840. It is said that M. de Beligmy, who was an enthusiastic and reputed botanist, brought with many other plants and seeds for the French settlers at Akaroa a large number of walnuts. These, it is said, were planted at German Bay (now renamed Takamatua), the settlement nearest to the Akaroa township. In Takamatua there still stand large numbers of trees, remnants of the huge walnut orchards which used to exist there. The other contention is that they were introduced by Mr William (Cabbage) Wilson, of Christchurch. Which ever of these two beliefs is correct, walnut culture, because of the natural aptitude of the Banks Peninsula climate, spread by leaps and bounds, and the district grew quite famous for its walnuts. About 20 or 30 years ago, however, blight became apparent in the trees, and crops began to dwindle. For many years now the yields have been mediocre to poor, and the prices paid have also declined with outside competition. This season, however, began well, as a big New Zealand pickling concern bought many green nuts for pickling, and this is one case in which, with the absence of outside competition, a New Zealand product may find ■benefit from the Government’s orders. The Orchard Division of the Agricultural Department will be able to report to the Government that the walnut industry is at least not on the decline.

1938-39 WOOL SEASON ROSTEE OP SALE DATES The following roster of sale dates for the 1939 season has been drawn up by the New Zealand Wool CommitMarch 23 (9 a.m.)— Wellington. March 27 (9 a.m.)— Auckland. March 30 (2.30 p.m.)—Wanganui. April 3 (9 a.m.)— Napier, April 14 (9 a.m.)—Christchurch, April 19 (9 a.m.)—Dunedin, April 24 (9 a,m,)—Wellington.