FRIMLEY ORCHARDS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 419, 30 January 1909, Page 13

FRIMLEY ORCHARDS.

, TBIS SEASON'S OUTPUT: 1300 TONS. A HUNDRED MILES OF PEACH TREES. Iffi. J. N. WILUAMS'S ENTERPRISE. There' is no one who has done ■Sβ much as Mr. J. N. • "Williams, of Frimley, to establish commercial fruit-growing ,in Now Zealand on thorouglily sound and up-to-date lines. Hβ has studied the question, visited California and othor countries to learn'the best methods, and he has invested much capital in the industry at Frimloy, near Hastings, Hawko's Bay., > , To a representative of Tnc Domimon, Mr. J. N. Williams'mado an interesting statement with reference tto the start of the Frimley orchards, their development and the futuio prospects 'of .the fruit-growing and canning industry in the Hastings distinct. y " - Why Mr. Williams Started.. "-"When visiting Califoriia in 1891, I was struck with this tact: That' some portions of the country appeared to.hfc a counterpart of Our,Hawko's Jiay district—in respect to both soil and climate, 'and I 'felt convinced that what they were doing there in the way of fruit-growjng and canning ijo could do hore. At that ffom a Californian point-of ,view, I do not suppose - there was a single orchard in th,o whole of New Zealand —that is, an oichafd run on proper commercial, lines as to pie 'sorts of trees grown, and as to tho way-.in which orchards should bo Kept. These aro ajj-important considerations. That is what strikes anyono going to California from New w&o is new to orchard work—the,absolutely perfect, older in which the orchards are kept. " An, Axiom in Fruit-growing.

" You may take this as an axiom in fruitgrowing: That if jou aro to command success jou must have the very best soil and climate for the particular variety of fruit that ypu want to grow H It seemed to me, with regard to the growing of peaches,' pears, and plums, and some of the small fruits, you could not get better or more suitable New Zealand than that .around Hastings.,-. There may be other places as good, but there aro no places better. ( In reply to a question whether his last remarks applied to fresh dessert fruit, as -nell as fruit for canning, Mr. Williams,said • " The two branches of the jndustry go together.-If jou have got a bedrock price for the stocks that jou produce, you can form' some sort of" calculation' as to frhat [you are' doing , —you know where you are. If there 'was no canning/ you know •nhat would hafrpon ifHhere was a glut in .tho marked-even if ever so little. We will say that 30,000 cases'will supply a certain market, if you send 35,000 cases it may be disorganise that market; and it may be better to slaughter the'sooo cases, and keep the market in. the ordinary routine of supply and demand. • „•■■ ; In fruit-growing sometimes there aro years of plenty'and sometimes there are years of famine; but when you have a year of,plenty, if you naive a place where you can stow an ay i jour surplus fiuit you seeiwhat a boon it is to the whole business.

1 v > Essentials of tho Canning Business.' In the canning business only tho very best fruit can be used Even if the fruit is only a httle # over-ripe it is unsuitable for canning, but it may do for jam-making. What wo should call bad fruit may be simply overripe. Nor must it be under-ripe. ' It , must.be picked and canned at the exact stage' m iwhich it is suitable for that pur'pose. From this statement you can easily ecp the advantage of a cannery boing established in'the midst of a number of orohards . , ' I may, illustiato this also by drawing your 1 attention to the manner in ■nluch the greenpea orop is picked, shelled, cleaned, prepared, ' and cann d'at Frimley. If we took green peas from the shopls the difference m quality would very- quickly bo apparent. I may say that I had no idea of establishing a cannery when started planting my orchard. I commenced by planting frujt trees on experimental laics, and m&inly for household consumption.. Subsequently I decided to establish a cannery, and m ordor to encourage tho industry \ planted 100 acres in fruit trees of suitable sorts, and Subdivided and sold sections of tho land to those people who were deBirous of becoming fnutgrowers. Do you buv fruit from other districts P _"We buy a little fruit, such as raspberries nnd black currants—which up to' the present have not been grown in this distuot in any r quantipv. Apricots are alßo a scarce fruit here. Bufcun a district only a'shorfc distanco from Frimley thero is good apricot country. ' It simply nants planting. The land there is not yielding more than 10s. or 15s. an acre for grassing, and it would bo very hard if you could not get a good deal more than that out of a crop of apricots The aroa of land under fruil, within a moderate radius of Frimloy is now very considerable—approaohmg u some 2000 acres. For instance, there are fine orchards,in the Havelook, Grcenmeadows, and PapaTtura districts, There is ample scope in suitable localities for tho growth of apricots and raspberries on up-to-date lines. , Thero is a large consumption of'canned fruits in New Zealand, both locally-grown and imported, and until that demand n satisfied there is ample scope for tho industry.

: ; -i^.;« / ; vvi/Dutyon; Imported .'Fruit; •' :!:',•;'! ':."::■ replj af * .^-''New J Zealand fruitgrbiving,: industry could be ;?fe-putting;()fljftpij^igh:a^du'ty;tyln liia ': opinion, &>:■ ifJajfl• iiiduatfy;;could:nbt:;livq : with' a small .)Ksduty)St'.waß'not';.fii^fpr' ; 'the'-country. v i;high' '- ': -duty: would keepout healthy': competition'; ; arid ', . :'J'Produceuair : :articlo,?Mi : said-Mrv-*-:r ,- e Wal'' i to\the;imported : ;article::with a.liraitied ■■■.^piflteptio^we;:haye.:-nb':right ; ' : tV»b'e;';caiTying-' v. ■■pn/tiie ' .:P r .?M*'an article equal;to the'impprted, and ; --: with only, a:limited prbteotioh'y and we can do .:.,; -and;the ; ;canners..:.But; ins order ::tp-make it .'v: pay:;the;grpwingKmustbesaone: ; best .;.-: -possible'.manner;;;yofcmust laye:the best ■.'.- ::»rw»^ and^^;niust,be'-canned -brivup-to-date" V ■';. lmesi V or;,yqu : ::will: b'e'now.Kere.'ir It "is ■hardlj' '. '■■■':■ pessary, to; stiy ;that,.if. ypu ; liave'not, a'first- :;;■: flfst-plass V ■:. article:. ;: That is, one'great.advantage , '^hav-' ■■.■■ Wg the ; cannery hvtho midst:pf.tlieorchards. A,; is right, ;;; - :u fli)dvy.ou arofnpt - obliged to; takertho reieEted ,;: v.>v,of; i cannenesi'jQtherwisoi!situatod.: ;: A ' :v-: : :;:-.,

:-«gJWlM(ia|i.bß.,Crpwni'dndMat riot?; %} v *;"iiiyregard?;to:prunes/ <l' -mayMy that r oiir ■ ;■:• oliDiato is..todiMcertain.for! them." Wβ can' >grpp?pluEs;fcff.:.prunes I Vbut::weVcannot comvpete. with/those dried ' jn'th^sun';inCalifor-: ■'■-.? la \""> e .-taVo- not got , enough sun ■ for; : jiatural , ' l dr,Ting:'o:/ : Asil;'-havp-.Beid I ''W!ei , caß ./grow.. v beautiful^olunje'-lifolfVprunesV- and they ~m ake.-most'excellent;jam;::>The'-iiroduotibn; pf .-■■; prunes"-will? not: 'for commercial pur.v.pos.ee. -;>An(lßo'-inregard to cherries ;■ they-db : not;.do: well.'at.-Frimley/: whereas 'fiiie-crops 1 •■;■■ are : grown on the higherlands.'-yWe are con'-'! ■,stantly experimenting with neW;kinds,of.trees-'r:,ff-/o'^r/;t6'/;s'ee:'whi^-'-'Va;rietie's'Vdd-''b'est at let- , • afield. is : w .-■:■ ticklish.-/.vtree/ftttrid-i'.-J'-fruit, --.and.- "is ■'very- .;', touchy,£ .as..■ ■<J;o ;^Ms> ' climate'.:-;.; and t->! soii ;.;"VVe inanagetJto;ke6p pests : of all kinds in' . check' by. constant;, and. indeed daily, attention .-, to the ..trees end; the land. : In• fruiygrowiii" ■ : am industrious -man,- hy.working , ; K^ping;:.hiS';wit3 ; :aboilt,:him ■■can'.tjet'-'a- Jot' .. ;of. money outofv.R small,'area of. land;'but ■;if 'hcdoesriipt-apply, his: wits-to his occupa-'' , V won, it-would-be much-better for hirnto cut : down the trees,and;talio : to:somo other work : ■ v; ln;answer tova: question- as to-vtjie benefit ■ :-.t0. : .0f..: commercial - fruit-growing. ./ Mr. .Williams-said :-"Any . industry- ' whibh : «nab es ■ large numbers Vofpeoplo to occupy - Email pieces : of land-profitably must bo epotU for,.a:;distnct-:, v A'ma'n : '.witli twenty :or thirty. •:; acres;:of ;)and•;;suchvas: -that; about:Bastin{y has got .a big scope-before him.-There is room •:. for iftirther;- , . , orchard-making - in the; : liqighbourhood.-; 'Afpresenfr .the. factory cani not get'a eufncierit.sHpply of .fruit , ;" Looking at .the; industry-frbm ; a.d6mmercial point of

vieWj ■; Mr,\,\yilliams, • it is . gratifying ,to : note, is-perfectly satisfied .''.with the present position of the -undertaking, ''and, feels very confident that it has a successful future. ■;VVr.:r ; ; visit to * >rlmley. ?: ; v■■ ;■-■■.'- ;-; • "The Frimley'; factory is the : heart of the, Hastings ■ fruit ■ district; and. to, that, heart 'there '• is now flowiiig: a '.. constant stream of fruit,-and in return the.heart is sending back to'.the fruit-growers.a stream, of gold., , .' . '■■': The, fruit 'is-'.divided into two classes—fresh ;aiid cooking—for thoimarkot; and special kinds' which aro grown solely for .canning.. This :•;season has been a good • one for fruit; '-The crops are,abundant;. ; .. It is confidently':expected that froni the Friraloy district this 'season 500 tons of fresh:.;fruit—. consisting -principally ■;; '■ of; peaohes, 'apples:; pears, and j>lums—wll be sont to markets all .ov6r ; Now:!&ealandvv'. ~:.■,:■■,:■/. .-.;,•;■'■ ••.■ ; sdOTonsof Canned Fruit.:, ■:-. In a'ddition, , to:this;soo;tdiis, there' Trill, be. 'at:least: another; 800 ton's sent away in l .the. shape'of- canned-■ fruits-and:-vegetables—prin-.cipatly J canned: fruits; The ■ figures will •givesome idea '.of j.tho: development and progress. of the fruit-growing industry inutile' neighbourhood of Frimley, near Hastings, Hawke's 1 Bay.' This 1300-tpnG.of fruit is the;product .of .orchards : of J an/area of 1780. acres.of :trees in full.bearingiwln.:additiqn', ! t6:.the.trees.;in, ■bearing, there is>tt extensive area"on which are growingiiyo.ung'vtree?;;frbni : ;one'year^'old; up to,-those, coming into 'bearing for, the'; first'ti"i6 this season.'^.^':, '■.";. -:: : .^ft' , '.. :';>;.•; '. ;■ '■■'■"/'-■'"■'-■'''•■ : ..;".;--.'.Yleld- ; ;per 'Acre,-;;;/■';. ;^v',k-V;;-.; :< From, reliable;-sources we learn' that-.the: yield from ail up-to-date commercial orchard! in;full bearing" should, not average less ,tbW £80-pQr;e.cre.uet l v;. : ': "n ' : ;;;,;i ? ; IU : ;V'l-V-^' of: Orchards. A .; : v^ji-'---^ '^■.Tlie''.'oiioliar'd'rdJßtriqt^s7hict.?ha^i ; ita'' : :inain-: s.tart ,-'.-at ','• Frimley-T-riow . •• jextends-.- for; some; miles; ni.every/.'directioi",from J 'th'e ; factory,-, ;ex6ept .towards •the.tqwn of-Ha'stinge." Pro-: flting; , by experience gained : in-. Californid' , and ■ elsewherej:: the: 1 Frimley growers- have 'planted! those, varieties. : i)l,fruit which 'areViiiost , -suit-; •able'.; for? canning.';..: thus : >,able to; supply the' New;- Zealand_ fresh fruit 'market, .but; are.-;independent, of itl owing;jio.'.tbe; cer-:, tainty ;:of.-being -able; to \ dispose \ of -/the" •'c,an-■' nipgj.varieties tothe l Frimley fitable , prices; -V^Sucoessfu.l commercial, fruity'i . grmvingys-:'now;'established .in-: the ; Hastings district, j i. All ; the orchards' are.: carefully .kept. free .-from ■) pests';; .'-This,:, of. /course,'.. entails constant .attention;.'.:' The l-'grbund/. on-which i : trees 'are .'growing is almost '•' withbtit a, , 'weed-^the'.barrowß'.:may; ; be. seen , xoiistautly, at. 1 wbrkivbetweeri; the, ; trees—sufficient' space,. s6me.33;feet.betweeii;each.rbw ; bf illo'wed.-fdr;*.th*;.harrow'.to': drawn;;;,?: ,'

;'V'ww : ';:m : v',:'' Peach Croves.: v-.;. ; : \ i^ ■;->■":' ;;:; :A'' : simple" statement:that so;many, acres;of < land. : ;ar6und:, I ;Frimley 'is at t-W,:• present' wM bearing;.' hardly /conveys .to; the", mind of the { '.citydweller: what a vast quantity : of .'fruit ; ; tHefe importance-of cthe/iridustry will-be better -understood by.' stating' the 'fact. thai immediately.Xrpund Firimley- there , !.are. 'about one.hundred'-milesof/peach; trees/;;. In .one'.;orchard,'alone there ; /.aro' , sixty:'rows -of; I'pea'oh''trees, 1 each, :row a; mile .m ; ..trees-.the..rich-' :red ;■ f ruitvis ; : np-iy,'' being;picked/Jplaced;in'.cases, and .carted to the.iactciry; ; to be '.canned.' y-/. The. trees:.are: the -of- health ;• vitality;"- judging j by .tn^.\'orpps:they.'are : growth'of woc^j;'and l , the/bright, clean: , 'green■ leaves;.; Keeping- the trees.free frora'bjight,'. atid'pestsviofiall,sorts, keeping the soil /.in.', ' nihg.the;fruit.gives employment to hundreds; ' off persons'./of' all; ages. V. In: the/present.' holi- • day.'seasbn^.'everi,theichildren: find'healthy, ! , profitable, '■._> ; and , ;■;:. p.loasant '■ ■; occupation,; ;_',in 'i gatheriifgari tho'lfruit and-vegetable/hafyest.; ; Commercial:^^'fruit-growing' , .^^h' a ving: been;'well-;! eßtablißli&di : ,the': authorities .of. the: Frimley 'i fadtbry'. : have/m'adf/provißidny.fo'r'Ocanning ■ vegetables,:, such; i as; .green/pea's,. Fferich' 'beans, 'and There are'/22 acres' bf.green i peas*urider~oultiyation,.l4 ; acres of .'tomatoes, of JTrench/beans,,:, : -,4 ; Canning fresh Fruit/Market^v/; '

; ; :.In, supply ing ■ f rjiit ; to the > f abtory: you i eaye ;the;cost.'Of:caaes,th'e'labburof; packing,/'railT, age, damage iti-transit, .commissions,' etc., and 1:the l; ;demand-'|B ; :is:.fre'quently;' the 'case , 'with the dessert'' fruit '•[ :market.v/.'i,-;'..;;; i, .;;;'/h-!-,;:' ■;;:■,■>.;'■ ;3; \ '■'■ I ' Best Fruit ,Used.«{:^ :' canning, consists, of. a ;certaia : limited number lof /varieties/ and /must', be/'pf •; uniform size and:' , of : first-clase quality./ /'Any,; fruit: ;that.': has. : -/thev slightest /blemish ,'-is ire- / jeeted :by'!the;'so'rters; cbunta ; fbr ; i nrach in canning./, F.ruit ,that : ;may; be : excel-. , , lent fp'r;dessert;';fo'r, : c.ookii)g.or for: jam, 'will. l not'.'do. for .canning.' , '/The following ; are; the principal.-: -varieties'; of /peaches used. , for ! can-; Comet,Hale's; ; ;Earlyj '-Triumph;/,-'Wiggins,.-• Orange Oling; ; ;-Barly«''Crawfordy:.':::Late-Cra.wfbrd, ; i Hobbs'B Ilate, : "and •a i few'.other/sorts.; The:pears:most' , for canning; aro Louis Bon Jersey,: ''and tho.well-known/Bartlett,:or Boh;.Cretien.* Of;i ; the|e.-two.. kuids "Bartlett'is most in-. favouiv-/'i',:/'.;;;';,'-.''; ;^.!A V :V.-'-' 'i'/'^);•:■.:'; -■\ /j■;Cpnipetrtlbn/! With California.; V\tk ' •,'';. miriager;.-' at /Frimley says;that-.labour' conditions:! and. ; .thel. huge,: American:; market ena^lb'^O i^faoto^ei larger margin of : than'can'/at present be'done/here... The New Zealand; producer,, is; now' assisted'.by a .37-1 per'cent: ■duty7.:7".We-can produce as gbbdan; article, '■;said Mr* 'Basil Jones, ; the;able'and .energetioy manager. •-; at Frimley., ' 'We .have iot!;the:sort;pf.JJib.bii'r, they-have,in'America■ 'r-Chinese'iVJapanfese, ahd.othbr oheap.labour.', .purlabour.laws are top drastic for us,to'work •ten '.'or 'twelve - hours ■ a/'day.:' We onjy "work'" eight.hours; i and; ;W_e pay, higher '.wages; than in ■:inost;othor,"countries iwherq;' the'fruitgrowing and: canning' is • carried'on. ', Then .we have no !tin mine's.;,-.We-Kave:to import our;tin plate from ■Swansea^ , ;and- piir ingot 'tin^from , Aus-.traliaV-'-But'.asi'to.the; fruit,'we.cap.;produce that; equally,, ae.iwell': and , equally ',a's good "as ;they;pan■jnyAmerioai;-;;Then':this should be bbi'rie.in- mindi All- our dessert fruit -is'-put up:in first,quality: syrup'/.whereas mubh of the.-American'exported article is put .;upyin : water or jvery- light >or w'eak ; . syrup, which we call :::Where. we put: 51b. -i of' sugar-.to the gallon put only-21b.".' Although the'Frujiley authorities'aro'pleased at the extra-12}"per cont;■:duty imposed by'the. lhst ; Tariff.Act,. ; the'y,suggest that New 'Zed,--■land , 'sbould: adopt, the Australian tariff, of 3s. per.- dpzeji.-for,-;nominal :21b.;:cans./all: round, ■irrespective of the/quality : ofthe: syrup. .This' is!a simpler, and .would be. a more; effective, protection; for,;the/:lfew Zealand-produced; ■article.-■:'■'-■'';•'■■."':V'.r! : -.->'- ; " '■ '!■''■■ ' '"'v' .'■/' - ;v. : .'. ;;, ,

■■'. C : - : , :K'i Frlmley. " : \ ; : KV .It is estimated that the output of the Frim-i ley-factory,; will';be 800 tons' more this year than was;.produced last yean- ; ';,':' , ; ; '..' 'Inicanned green.peas alone-there has been . a , large' increase. , ' Last' seaspnijhe output was 700 caseSj' each two dozen 21b. have already," said, the manager,' ''put.up 3000.cases'"of two-dozen 21b; tinsj and the "season ; for:; green. peas ;; is still v in ' full ■swing;'' Ilicreased production is marked.this .season -in' all varieties of fruit .except rasp-'. '.berries l and gooseberries, the props .of. which ;have'been very short-riri fact,.riot enough to supply T, Outside'stocks have had to be.sepured.in-^additioni to the yield from the' 8000-gooseberry bushes at!Friniley. ; .. ; i.-, • r. . ■■> ;■;!;.Soil' apd Climate, i .'-: The soil.and,climate in the Frimley.district has boon,found to be-suitablo for fruitgrowing. ...Most, kinds do v.-ell there."! An excoption may probably be mado in the case of black ourrants. for .which the Boil is not heavy enough.-But there.are" other parts of Hawke'e Bay where black ourrants do very well. 'At presontithorenrevory few raspberries grown •in Hawke's Bay. "People in other parts of .the country do not seem, to. realise," said Mr; Basil-Jones, "that our climate is asgood ; :as Nelson for this fruit,' but if fruitgrowers woro to come to -Hnwko's Bay, and see somo ,of- tho raepborrioS: already,.: growing here, it would prooably result in a. big "lip being given , to'.this industry. • Vory. few. acres have Been put down in raspborries. Wien raspberrids are selling at Motueka at from 2id. to 3d.:per.lb.,for faotory'purposes it.is impossiblo to" get them in Hawke's Bay under 6d. per lb.. A market is already hero awaiting growers of raspberries, The oanning fac-

tbry.would.take from anything';up to 50 tons yearly."' ■•.■Apricots are grown in' Hawke's I Bay; above the ■ frost line. They do not do welliti other.parts;.but on; the-Havelock hills and- above Mo' , frost lino';■• they grow prolifically*'-;' ; ; .-/' ■;■• '..[■: ;..;'; ■■'■■ ■''■>_•'■•■ •■ .:■-:-.■'■.•■.,:. ■■ ':'■■;. ■'■.■ Some' Curious CanhlngV ; j? ; ■; ■ ; ■■:.-, :;Fo_r : ;spmo seasons -past Frimley. has,' been oanning.igreen peas and tomatbqs,'ibut' this iyear^a.•new.-departure' has been/ taken 'in the oanriing of beetroot;- French .beans); spinach;.cauliflower, marrow, pumpkin, arid: other vegetables suitable 'for .winter .lisp .when, frosh(Vegetables are not on 'the market. ;"This' : is being,tried-;as'.an.experiment',": said the manager;,. ( "ltvis'. a. boon to 'housewives, in tho winter, to bo 'able-to put ,their:harid on.a tin,'of ; cooie.d,vegetables. at .'any Hinie. , ?;.-, a■".-',.';.!■■-1': ■!:■*■> '.■//-•;'.-1 '-'.- /'■ H ..■.'■■:'-'. .'■ : ' : . '■-':.■'■ ■,''..'-:'->'. : .<l.am;maWngi' ; -, \'; j- ';+.';;■ .;,' ,/;.The.-outputi'of.jam-.frb'mJFrimley last'year .was", , about 200; tons. All ■ the jam is put ,up in ■ 71b..".tin5. , !,1t; m>:expected 'that:the'bW. put Tpf jam this year.will amount to 300 tons.

;/:; '.) " .Healthful Hollday ■ Ernplqyrrient.'- /. ;'■ .'.-Spnieiof.'fche'.padclocliß near to the.orchards: are' devoted:■ to; tW cultivation of;vegetables: to;be preserved:in'the factoy a and .here may i be; seen "some -40 .'or ,'SO boys and: girls' busily.' :erigaged '..picking ,peas and '_French : ,..!be'aiis. ■ Each :;has;' : a/basket, 1 which- is" taken-,,whonj ■full.to; in awning erected for that purpose,' at ',tho;.eud;.'of••' the" paddock—an awning; at' each- end. V There the : baskets are received. ; 'checked.; , ■ The juvenile pickers are paid; Isi; per-day, ; arid fiirther^paymentis.inade.for l over ■.',a' v : hundredweighti many gathering two ■• hundreawpight. "a, day, and even, more.': The' ■young: .workers ; : are'hajjpy"' at ;iheir ; ;work an;li look,upon.it, ai; a -Tho-sunshirie\aiid; ;fresh;air is'-'gbod .a.nd jvholesome.for.ithemi; arid' 'one,'caift,-but :think -that ih'e';weeks' of thoir .summer holiday are well and .profit-, -ably spent,, audthey may well; bo, envied by ■their ' small: ', brothers a,nd sisters ih the crowded'xities: , ..The : rows of'vegetables, are planted, in .'rotation, and, >of. course, gathered. accordingly. l ■■■Beety cauliflower.,''marrows are. all•■„ destined \ for the canning factory. ; . The tomato crop: is not !a forward one, .being planted:, latey so that the busiest time may

be-got through, and/all the other fruit;disposed of ...before tlie. to'matoos require : to. be handled. In addition: to canning tomatoes, Frimley; also ; manufacturers ..tomato ketchup, sauces, etc. The. tomato "ketchup especially has/made a:name for itself. ~..v- -~.: -..'..' : The Factory. ''~ -,-jComing- toltlie-: factory buildihgj : what: attracts cone's notice first of all is-the.,pea-' -.shelling machiije, a remarkably, ingenious contrivance for. separating ■ tho peas .' from their; pods.. This machine,docs the .work'of •20Q'|persons, .and is/in.the form of, a' .tube,/ the interior- of. which revolves;,in--such a manner. 'as to "break tho ; pods - apart. ■. The. 'peas:are ihustled and rattled do-iyn.an'in-clined plane, a portion of which is'perforated... ..The peas- fall : through /and ...make"their -appearance on tho ;left./.; The; small light; bits ofv refuse. fall.; oyor. on tho' opposite side of .the maolnnp,"': and- the pods at., the":■' further. - end. ; The■;' peas.; then subjeoted; to';-, a ■-winnowing . process.. ■They ;• are : then; .washed and ; tipped into the; blanching pot;.boiled-a Mw;minutes, washed I'again:/when, they a'reready I'to. be put into the tins ; and 'cooked in : the retort.. : : .'.,.. ,; -.'/ Absolute Cleanliness insured, .-.'■;, : ' : / ■■■ ■'''■ The greatest care .is'requiredun -the pre-. serving of vegetables',' more .so' , even' than ■■ fruit , :■'• iNot tho most.minute , fragment;of * a '.'germ' or microbe may; lurk |in- any 'corner, . or, the:,work 'is ; . in yaipi ■ so. ! ari- unlimited ;supply ' of, water' is/a necessity'. '.; The daily, /.consumption in this factory, is : over; 17,000 ;. gallons v. 'The. wn f er' being: .artesian: is; ' ii course, absolutely puro.': : / '<;'.'■:■- .... ~.' |, /"Beans and other ypgftables are- cut into j. suitable sizes: by. special .machines. 'The peas deserve special ■ iiotice, ; .being. tile most uiffii cult: t^h'd-...troublesome of' all ! "when-ready for -market, 'may bo I bought at any; season of tlie year, at almost jtho ; same p'rico as vgreen peas in season-.. , Fol-: lowing'- 'our ;, > l guidis ) "-';ttJe"itarii'''.tib'- ! the'.!. , tables , where, the 'girls : are preparing fruit.. ''Black' ■currants are. stripped from.tneir'istalks, put through .a machine ; which deprives them; of their. , tops' and; tails; /.next ■ they'.faro 'dous.ed- . in':;the washing tubs, • and ;afe ready for 'the cans, and then' the , syrup : vati |'...; : . ■;..'' i'■■< '-,';: // Uabour-Savlng Devices. v :'i_:" : 'j/ ... -' A;very large /amount. of ■thought h'aa.been devoted to.contrivances /.for; savingvtime.and labour; andrit. may be,..mentioned, that; the management offers: a bonus/to: employees :for, ; any, invention that :.wi11..-atta > in: that 'end. : One;could spend,a. good-.many : hours: in studying' the various./impjements. :Th«s (machine for .''stoning.tho clingstone peach, v so that the stone may /be/removed, witlinut -deslroyin^.■ the anf.piirance: of :i\\%. ■fruit.:is ;Mr. Basil-Jones's 7 o<vn -,invention, ifnd/is. a 'great "acquisition; '■ The arrangement! is'a circular/'bolting;fitted,'with-little boxes. 'In ; eaoh ; little box-.is ■ placedi a /peach with' the groove-uppermost. 1 s The,.belting is then .passed : across a cross-cut >saw in-swift rhbtioni' : . The fruit; is cut.. clean. , ' through, Btone; and all, and .the soyerod .halves' fall. into: a , ; trough' of/water., : The, water, prevents. discolouring, and ..from this; each piece is taken, , ,and the stone easily, removed, withi-b, , spoonj'.; and ;.the.,symmetry /of the. fruit is : preserved.'/. ..'..■.'••'. -.. '•'.••::.';■'..;■' .:'■ ■ :.'■" ■:• ..Then there is.the, apple^utter.., The;apple; is placed in position,'-'a.'.slight pressure.of the, . foot, is applied ; to a treadle, .and the fruit, : djvided -in' four, falls into, 'a! pail, ready for making into pulp or for canning..- ~,-.■ '.-.'■:'■ ,- /; y S '■■'..;Jn'; the/Tinsmith's. Shop, /r' /'•' Here we see a number, of 7 interesting' machines.";. Ono'folcls the lengths' of tin/into 'shape'-and/seams them;' another outs caps, : ■ another.'tops' and bottoms, and so.on tlirough ; the )]ist,' but of /them,/-br: at;';least 'agood, number, will .in.'a.short time/bo supersoded .by'anew and improved iriachine! This' now'.machine is to: receive the;piece .of tin .of; the/required .size/at one : end and 1

turn it out a finished article at the other. The soundness of the tins', is'proved .by; an automatic tester.- The seame are all soldered by hand, ," ■■$■/ \;v';;->/i 1 :/'/'i ..;■■; ~-, ; \ Tho Preserving, Room. / : / ; •■ ■ ■Where the fruit and vegetables are'actually cooked is separate from the.preparing room, arid here are ■ the retorts in whicli the vegetables : aro cooked. , The tins ai;e.lowered, into the ; boilers'on largo round, trays suspended fronr'.a :-crane".'; ■'. Once 7 in, tlie' boilers,: 1 their welfare 'is presided over ■rigorously .by a machine clock,/which 'has. cjuito. a personality of its owii./ Eaoh.boiling is given an-initial letter; the clock is set:to'that letter^with tho" time required. 'When the time is: up,. :tho bell■ riiigs, calling an.attendant-from any part of. the room. The. hand, shows 1 which boiler calls; for' attention,' , and there'is.-no .possibility',of' , over-cooking or .the "reverse. From , the'boilers to, : be .'cooled , is the nest move; then" the tins 'are,taken away; to be greased .to; prevent. rusting, and then .they are labelled and: packed:-: There .are .now in stock 700i000\tins.' of varying; sizes Teddy ■' for use;.;-.- "■-,; .'/; ' .'■'./'/■;■/ '■/;•; ' .■■•'.•.."• .■■■■.;■

■ Consideration for the Employees.-' ; , ,'Tho girls all look bright ancl fresh ;in their blue ; ljnen caps,.and white : aprohs.y The' management provides well.for the comfort of the employees-. :.■■ There are; a .number of. permanent hands who are accommodated'in com-fortable\boarding-houses on: /the-estate.' -:■:' ; ..The "dining-room and social hall; where The girls' have TunchjOis , ' , furnished.' , with V.tables," seats, lockers, piano, library, and'otheriiiecessuries,: and here, they : . hold pleasant' little■ sooials---the girls entertaihihg.one. month:and the men the next; .:.'.■_; .■•.;' '~':.;:'/.■.'.':'■ •■;.'■. ■"■;•■■ The -..management' provides. some Jiecessary articles;of dress at wliolosale! price, and; gives a- good-deal of kindly, thought, for. /th'e .comfort -aucl welfare of- all their employees, \ from the.sun' hats, provided to the: pea-pickers, to the drags engaged at a..cost of: £6 per• week.;;to'coiivey_ the workers as.', far'as .the' station' on their way, homer—many coming •from.Napier and' from tKe, sufrduriJing town"ships.:: The-result of; this -method- is Ithat ;there.-are '■ no • strikes, and no'-.discontent.: All are happy, healthy,' and all work together as merrily as , a hive of bees. " ~;- '■ ...