APPLE EXPORT

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 83, 6 January 1928, Page 12

APPLE EXPORT

TOO MANY VARIETIES A CANDID CRITIC Sneaking last night at tho Nurserymen’s Conferencs, Mr. T. W. Atwood, of Auckland, president of tho Fruit Growers’ Federation, urged that the number of varieties of apples for export should bo cut down to about eight. Mr. Atwood’s address wus entitled •‘Cominercial Fruit Growing,” and he stated that the Dominion was highly suitable for fruit growing from one end to the other, but there were too many varieties of apples grown. He understood that about 1250 different varieties had been introduced, and ho declared that at least 1200 rvere no good. From one or two varieties only in the right place they could build up a successful commercial orchard, and for tho export trade, if he had his way, he would cut ths varieties down to eight, as the others "were not worth tiicir salt.” The future of the apple industry lay with the orchardists in the first place, and secondly in the insulated chambers of the shipping.

Mi;. Atwood also made some remarks on the insect pests. There wore about 175 insect pests and fungoid growths in tho Dominion known to the scientists, and Dr. Tillward had told him that there were about 200 more waiting the chance to get in. Personally he (Mr. Atwood) would not be sorry to see them in, because then the orchardist wotdd know exactly where he stood. (Laughter.) Nine-tenths of these "varmints” the fruit farmer could not set, as they worked in the dark, and his life was spent in one incessant struggle against them. At one time he could not sleep at night thinking out tho different formulae he was recommended to npnly. (Laughter.) Now, however, science was coming to the rescue, and in thnt connection he considered that New Zealand had been very silly in losing the services of Dr. Tillyard.