APPLES AND PEARS

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 146, 21 June 1916, Page 11

APPLES AND PEARS

THE FRUIT-GROWING INDUSTRY.

ITS POSITION AND PROSPECTS.

In the preceding articles an endeavour has been.made to show what the Otaki district is producing, and what it is capable of producing. Milk, vegetables, and flowers have all been dealt with, but the list is by no means complete. There still remain eggs, fruit other than the tropical variety, and honey. Even then ,the possibilities of this prolific district are not exhausted. Let us consider fruitgrowing, first. In doing so. it is advisable to' treat the district as a whole, because the principal fruit-grow-ing centre now is not Otaki, but Paraparaumu NOT LONG ESTABLISHED. The fruitgrowing business along this coastal area has not' been long established. It started in a haphazard way many years ago; but that was before the value of the fruit industry was properly realised. Fruitgrowing then was not taken so seriously as it is now, and the result is seen in the older orchards, which are not laid out on the same scientific plan as the new ones. There is also, in these old-established orchards, a preponderance of trees bearing the least payable fruit, such as plums, and now, in some cases, the plums are giving place to apples and pears. Of all fruits, apples and pears are generally regarded as the most profitable, although they are a little longer coming into profit. "When we have plums," said one grower at Paraparaumu, "everybody else has plums, and it scarcely pays us to send them to the market." This particular grower had replaced many of his stone-fruit trees with apples. SHELTER ESSENTIAL. Although the climate and soil conditions all along the coast are ideal, one essential'is lacking before the fruit industry can be quite as successful as it should be. There is insufficient shelter from the prevailing winds 'which come off the sea. It is surprising how bare- all this country is' of high trees, and, except in favoured spots fruit trees cannot be expected to thrive. Shelter is imperative >if the coast .is going to compete with Nelson, as seems highly likely, Exposed parts are many, and despite the mild climate which generally rules, there will never be a satisfactory growth of fruit trees unless they are sheltered from occasional blasts, which will undo in one day the good done vi several months. Mr. T. W. Kirk, Director of Orchards, in an interview with a. Post reporter, laid special stress on the need, for shelter, and suggested pine plantations near the coast, and Lombardy poplars running across the land. That was all the district needed to, become an important fruit-growing centre. , YOUNG ORCHARDS. Spasmodic and independent steps at providing shelter. ha,ve already been taken, but these do not always bring thfl best Manila. ; However, many. new-_

comers into the district are willing to take the chances, and young orchards are in evidence everywhere. They appear to be thriving well too. As mentioned above, apples and pears are the most favoured. The planting is done on a scientific scale; that is to say, the old plan of digging a plot scarcely big enough to contain a young tree has gone by the board. The fields are ploughed up before the i planting is done, and it is only by this ■ means that the best results can be achieved. ' At Paraparaumu orchards were established as far back as 1844, and ever since then the industry has grown, but more particularly in recent years. There are several orchards with two and three year old trees, and it is likely that some more orchardists will make ,a start in this locality this year. Stunner apples grow exceedingly well in almost any sheltered portion of the district, and some of the trees have this year given remarkable yields. Growers seem more than satisfied with the results obtained all round, and they look for r ward to big profits when their young trees commence to bear. ' A FALLACY. "Pears cannot be grown profitably in the Wellington district." How often has that been assertei? Perhaps someone a few years ago had a bad season, | advertised the fact unduly, and set the story going. That it is purely a fallacy is evident by a visit to the orchards —any of them between Paekakafiki and Munakau, and perhaps further afield. Everywhere the_ peir trees.seemed to be in a flourishing condition. Many a grower, when questioned by a Post reporter, vouched for the fact that pears grew as well as anything else, and better than some things. This year's crops were excellent, and brought in good re-.' turns. • . ■ ■ / PROXIMITY TO WELLINGTON. It seems inevitable that, the coast will eventually become a serious rival to the much-boomed Nelson as far as supplying the Wellington markets is concerned.' The ■ district is much closer than that across Cook Strait, and, of course, the market is handier. Fruit can be railed tp Wellington from Otaki, Paraparaumu, or any other station in the vicinity, much quicker than it can be shipped from.Nelson or Motueka..' In the train journey, too, there is less handling, a very important factor in the marketing of fruit. The conditions for production are all that could be desired, (with the exception of the lack of shelter), and the •industry is bound to go ahead. At present there are about fifteen orchards at Paraparaumu, -besides many other thriving orchards scattered all along the line. Fruit-growing has immense possibilities. If utilised in the right direction the district could grow enough fruit to supply the whole of the Dominion. Even then there would probably be a surplus. SOME PRACTICAL HINTS. Before a man takes up fruit-growing, in this particular district it is well that he should know what to expect,'so here follow a' few practical hints I'egarding the industry. They are given by men who have a. knowledge. of the district under review. First of all, as to the price of. suitable land. It is generally regarded that one man, with tie assistance perhaps of his family, can manage ten acres, and not more. Ha should have that area at least, if he desires to profit, by the undertaking.- Well,; he would have to pay between £60 and £70 per.acre for the loud, which means a fairly large capital outlay on an industry which shows little or no' returrt for some years. First of all, the prospective grower should choose his area, being particular to see that it is sufficiently sheltered. At least nine months before, planting he should plough the land, and then work it until it becomes nice and fine. He must be prepared to work at least three years for -practically, nothing. In the fourth year the trees bear a little, but not to a-profitable extent. In the fifth and sixth years the orchard should easily pay expenses, while in the seventh year 'ten acres of trees should keep a man and his family comfortably, and with- something to come and go upon. Etuit-growing is essentially an industry for experts, but anybody taking it up should not neglect to call on the Orchards Division .of the Agricultural Department, where he will Lreceive. expert advice.