Tulips From Holland Now Grow At Rakaia

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30366, 15 February 1964, Page 15

Tulips From Holland Now Grow At Rakaia

'A. Dutchman, now a naturalised New Zealander, and his wife, have built up a successful part-time bulb growing business at Rakaia, 38 miles south of Christchurch. They are Mr Nicholaas Busyman and his New Zealand wife, Frances, who came to Rakaia 10 years ago. Although Mr Busyman had grown up with the bulbgrowing industry on his parents’ farm in West-Friesland, north Holland, he did not have any definite plans to grow them when he arrived in New Zealand in 1951 with only £lO in his pocket. It was not until after his marriage and move to Rakaia, where he took a job in a factory, that he thought any more about bulb-growing. Mr Busyman found that the climate and geographical position were suitable for bulb cultivation. Six-acre Block A six-acre block of underdeveloped land became available and he and his wife decided to invest their savings in developing it. Clearing

out the gorse and broom with slashers and grubbers took several years of spare time. “We did it all by hand," said Mr Busyman. “It is not a job we want to tackle again.” Now, except for a few pockets of scrub, the land is cultivated and cropped. In season, a roadside self-service stand sells blooms by the main highway. High quality hyacinth, tulip and gladioli corms sent from Holland by Mr Busyman’s parents formed the nucleus of the crop. All new stock, however, is propagated on the property. Mr Busyman, who is also secretary of the New Zealand Bulb Society, said the supply of bulbs cannot yet meet the demand for them from throughout New Zealand and its territories. The business is still a parttime proposition, but lifting, cleaning, grading and cultivation for the next year’s crop takes time. Mr Busyman gave up his factory work and took over the milk run which supplies Rakaia to be able to spend the necessary time with his bulbs. Eventually the Busymans hope to make their business a full-time job which will provide a good living tor their family of six. Their future plans for expansion include the erection of glasshouses for increased production.