ARGENTINE VISITORS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 71, 24 March 1926, Page 11

ARGENTINE VISITORS

:, .. . • —♦- ■ . SOME FAVOURABLE IMPEESfiIONS1 Speaking.to a representative qf "The" Post" on: leaving.for Tasmania yester-' day, Senbrs Lizer y Trelles and Blan-! chard,; representatives of the Argen-' tine Government, said if the impressions received 'durittg their trip through the North Island were pleasing, cer-' tainly, to-.no less ■ a degrso are thoseleft from their tour, of the South Island, /'.where a benign climate and fertile soil"have joined bands with a scenery of such dazzling beauty, that the traveller who visits these parts for the first time is held spellbound." "In otir country we have a region, very similar to that" which we have just seen, that is the Andine Patagonia, although there, the greater part of the territory is not as yet populated to the extent it is in this -country. . "We have been moro than surprised at ther development of fruit growing, both in Central Otago and nin Nelson, and surrounding country—at the reasonable methods'of cultivation, and at the excellent sanitary conditions of the trees, which may practically bo con?]. sideted to be free of pests; an affirmation which cannot be made about alj. parts. The excellent geographical situation of these Dominions, their midoceanic isolation, and the 'sui generis*, climate, are natural factors that provide the most favourable conditions for the maintenance- of pest-free or-, chards. ;.-■■• , : . FRUIT PESTS. "With the .exception, of a very few fungus diseases and insects, the other pests are unimportant, and are held in check without much effort. The fruit, growers should indeed bq. highly satis-; fled that the terrible injury of which the San Jose scale is capableis prac-i tically unknown, and the same* may bo said of many other pests. Consequent^ ly it is easy to realise the zeal with which the authorities must endeavour to avoid the introduction of new and dangerous pests. Sanitary.barriers and severe carrying out and complying with; the dispositions and regulations that make them: effective; are to-day the' most reliable means'of preventing disagreeable surprises that may be the cause of much regret, when it is too late to remedy the mistake/ "We have been very pleased at the progress .acquired with respect to plant.. spraying with diverse methods, and specially the most modern of all—or-., chard piping—whereby:* central pump.--; ing station, supplies by means of an;. underground system of piping the en?-, tire orchard with spray. - If the results, obtained by this method, are as success-; ful as the orchardists .who have adopt-.-ed the system enthusiastically maintain, we are convinced that it will beV come the only means of economical and, spraying, at least in orchards of certain area, SYNTHETIC IMPRESSIONS, j "It has not been our intention to. make a detailed study of everything we have observed during our trip, but rather to give our impressions in a synthetic form of those features ]that have a.direct bearing on our specialty, without greater pretenco than brevity and truth. In conclusion, as Argentines and as guests in this hospitable country we publicly tender our thanks for the continuous and multiple attentions received (which we appreciate to their full value), as much from the Government, for which we have only feelings of gratitude, as well as from institutions, the Press, and private people who have given us the co-operation and facilitated, our work. One word of esteem for the competent director of tho Division of Horticulture, Mr. J. A. Campbell, who, besides being cicerone, has at all times been a true friend, companion, and adviser." :