TULIP EXPORTS FROM N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25301, 29 September 1947, Page 6

TULIP EXPORTS FROM N.Z.

AUSTRALIAN DEMAND POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY The possibility of developing tulipgrowing as a profitable export industry for New Zealand was discussea l?st evening by Mr J. Hare, of Melbourne, in an interview. Mr Hare n visiting New Zealand on behalf of an Australian horticultural firm. His firm was prepared to spend up to £700,000 a year on New Zealand tulips, said Mr Hare, and could Use all the bulbs the Dominion could grow. There would always be a steady market for New Zealand growers. There were many other firms as well as his own in the business. New Zealand secured most or ne. bulbs from the Low Countries, and when these countries wgre overrun during the war, bulb growing was restricted to a degree. Now many an* ferent varieties were being from Holland and there were n 0 Acuities about getting licences 10 these bulbs. The South island was w#i suited for growing the bulbs. Near rivers or in old river beds, where roe soil had suffered from erosion, was ideally situated for the bulbs. Australian tulips did not compare in six and cleanliness with New Zealand New Zealand had a large potential output, and his firm was trying to(promote interest in the growing of tuiip amongst New Zealand nurserymen, n had been informed that there in Yf ntf some returned men who were 18141 r courses at some of the agriculture leges in bulb-growing. For a special , the growing of tulip bulbs wasl a > • time job. As well as the selling J t the bulbs, there was a ready for cut flowers. nI - At one farm he visited the wire the farmer had begun 16 years W with a few hundred imported bulto a hobby, and fo-day she had p tjR . ing industry whose proquet high quality and in constant aem* • Her tulip fields now pepupiep W** the flowers from which were snipj * to all parts of the Dominion, wn the bulbs were exported m cansid able quantities. At the height of flower season about 15,000 blooms day were picked. The Australian climate was unsui able for the tulip and for replacernen of stock Australian grower! ioo Ke elsewhere. The South Island could come a new home for the tu|ip. adequate rainfall, crisp winter wea ne, and cool spring seasons were sUlia for the tulip’s growth. . ,jn His firm was mainly mterestea the tulip industry, but in a few d» h he was going to the North Wand [J. 1 s a view to buying magnolias, camel • and other lines. While in the S Island he was also making about supplies of hyacinths ana cuses. ..