A CHALLENGE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3122, 28 June 1917, Page 8

A CHALLENGE

'KEW ZEALAND'S APPLE SHOW,

■■ ■'■ -v I Writing in, rcferenco to tho rccqnt -National Patriotic Apple Show at Diraedin, Mr. A. Moritzson says-.—"l am satisfied tho Otago peoplo hardly rcaliso tho significance of tho results achieved at this show. It means that Otugo has jumped into tho premier position in New Zealand in regard to growing apples. Tho position is.;as follows;-;,' . Aggregate of-Kinff Scored by Various ,;:-■;--• Provinces, ■ : '.v''_.ui :•' -\v;- Apples. Pears. Total. : Otago :.......-.;. 198J d-1 212} ■ 55} 20 75} Canterbury -'....,.'..... 28 28Jt. s(?i- - Marlboro/ugh' 13 —" 13 Hawke's Bay 11} i 15} Auckland - 3 3 0 . Otago has, with, ono jump, mado up tho Jeeway of somo forty or more years, ■tho advantage that had been gained by old fruit-growing districts which supplied the markets of New Zealand' heretoforei while Otago was unexplored and . iinexploitcd. . . . Even now, somo of our .neighbours try to wrest from Otago' this . vcTi-carned tribute and its well-earned cichievement. I maintain, says Mr. Moritzson, that from, a commercial point of view, Otago's achievement has not yet. disclosed the commercial value of our position. To support my opinion, I am prepared, on behalf of tho province, to challenge any

other province in New Zealand, and am > willing to pay, if Otago loses, the sum .'..- of 25 guineas to the Patriotic Association. -The competition .to be on commercial - lines, to bo laid down by myself, each ■• province, or district competing to do so ■ without handicap. Eoughly speaking, :'■'. tho following should be tho lines on.' ■which such competition should bo con- ••. ducted. »• . Take, for instance, Otago. The conii petition should, be from five districts,, ' namely, those that competed at the last ; ■". Show, Beaumont, Ettrick, Roxburgh, •• -Alexandra-Clyde, and Upper Clutha. If I five. districts in this province compete, ■: then a similar number of districts should compete in any province from tho north.' A measured acre of an equal number of trees and of equal age to be selected for • each' district, either irrigated or unirri- " gated. The whole of tho -fruit of that " particular acre, whether affected by fungus disease, codlin moth, or any other 1 flaw, should be classed and packed on :'• commercial lines of, first, second, and third grade, and all inferior fruit to bs "classed under-jelly apples; all this'to bo dono under supervision. The whole of tho fruit to be put on the market and sent to appointed agents, or shipped England, and if Otago'does not come, "out on top, from an earning .'point of "view at per.acre, .then. I am prepared,' as already, stated, to donate .25 guineas '.to the Patriotic Association. Spraying, ...manuring, charges of bringing fruit to' market,- and .all other expenses of working each acre to be considered essential. ~:Thi« challenge will-be open to all-oom-_ers outside of Otago in New Zealand for ".the next five years. The competition t to cover apple orchards only.