‘Get cracking’ Nelson growers told
Nelson pipfruit growers were urged to take full advantage of the benefits offered by new apple varieties and growing systems at a seminar in Richmond recently. “This district has got a fantastic future — so get cracking,” Mr John Paynter, a grower member of the Apple and Pear Marketing Board, told about 250 people who attended the seminar.
The outlook for the pipfruit industry in Nelson was exciting and the Apple and Pear Board was confident of the future of the whole industry, said Mr Paynter, who is an orchardist at Havelock North.
A depressed attitude had been evident among Nelson growers in the mid 19705, but this had changed with the opportunities and diversification offered by kiwifruit, said Mr Paynter. The advent of new planting systems and new varieties had enabled better yields at an earlier stage and this had given the industry an exciting potential. The pipfruit seminar was one of two lecture sessions held in conjunction with the Top of the South horticultural field days. The other seminar dealt with the kiwifruit industry. The field days were organised by the Nelson Kiwifruit Growers’ Association in conjunction with Nelson pipfruit growers, and attracted about 60 trade exhibitors.
A feature of the two-day event was the programme of working demonstrations of machinery such as mowers and sprayers which enabled spectators to see the equipment in action. The Nelson district is the oldest traditional fruitgrow-
ing area in New Zealand. Pipfruit, which covers 2000 hectares, was established in the early 1900 s and is still an important economic industry.
In contrast, the kiwifruit industry is new, growing from 60 hectares in 1978 to about 1000 hectares today. Having just returned from a visit to Europe, Mr Paynter told the seminar that he was extremely enthusiastic about the future of apple growing. Mr Paynter said he was amazed at the improvement in quality of Argentinian apples on the European market compared with previous years. In some cases the quality was as good as New Zealand’s, but Argentina was regarded as a weak marketer which made it difficult for other countries to compete if the quality was the same. A good quality red delicious was an important part of the apple marketing business, said Mr Paynter, and
this was the reason behind the introduction to New Zealand of the redchief strain of red delicious.
The present strains of red delicious in New Zealand are experiencing colour reversion. Redchief is considered to be the best strain of red delicious available in North America and was chosen after consultations within the New Zealand industry.
Redchief is the front runner for consistent quality, full bright red on red colour and is a stable strain.
The Fruit Industry Plant Improvement Agency — a joint agency of the Apple and Pear Board and the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation — has obtained the exclusive rights to handle redchief.
The variety is at present being bulked-up and will be available to growers through commercial nursery men from next winter as dormant buds. Redchief will not be available as full term
trees until 1985. Growers will have to sign a non-propagating agreement and will be charged a royalty fee, probably between 80c and 51, said Mr Paynter. A royalty was essential if growers wanted to have access to the best material, said Mr Paynter. The proposed amount was not excessive as some peach and nectarine varieties had royalties of about $3. F.1.P.1.A. was formed last year to co-ordinate and administer activities relating to the development and improvement of plant varieties. One of its major responsibilities is to import suitable propagating material and to act as an agent for the propagation and distribution of material for New Zealand plant breeders.
According to F.1.P.1.A., it was essential that the industry honoured its obligations relating to non-propagation. “If we fail to do this it
could well jeopardise future agreements F.1.P.1.A. might seek with overseas agencies to handle other new improved pipfruit strains.” Other projects at present under way include the development of a late red apple, cherry and pear rootstocks and varieties, and cox’s orange crosses. Mr Paynter said it was hoped to establish a budwood repository next year where stocks of true to type varieties could be kept. Repositories were an important part of the fruit industry in South Africa, Europe and Canada.
Proposals for establishing a repository in New Zealand included siting it on Apple and Pear Board land at Whakatu, obtaining a new site, or contracting with existing growers. Mr Roy McCormack, of the M.A.F., Hastings, explained the principles of the French central axis system for growing apples, which he studied last year.
Under the axis method, trees with a single strong leader are planted close together. The benefits include less time devoted to pruning and training, rapid production and good quality fruit. The system was designed for golden delicious varieites and would be suitable for gala, royal gala, braeburn and Oregon red. Varieties not suitable include granny smith, and Hawkes Bay and Harrold red delicious.
In France, golden delicious trees grown under the axis system had yielded 30 tonnes per hectare in year three, and 90 to 100 tonnes in the fifth to six year. Pruning required 30 hours per hectare at year three and 100 hours when mature.
Trees had to be good quality with a strong leader and several side feathers.
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Press, 21 October 1983, Page 28
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896‘Get cracking’ Nelson growers told Press, 21 October 1983, Page 28
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