HAWKE’S BAY FRUITGROWERS ASSOCIATION.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 430, 9 August 1915, Page 3

HAWKE’S BAY FRUITGROWERS ASSOCIATION.

Mr. IL Wdsou. Mis.-pre-idelit. I'l issled at th*’ u-’ial monthly !»»*■•■*mg oi th.- 1 a* fee’s Kay Fruitgrower* Asmfvtatbai held in the Oddiello"> Halt. Hastings, on Saturday. Tw*-my members were present. The secretary point*-*! out th'' advantage it was to on-liardist' t*> !••■- come memL/rs *>i tl»- association. It enabled them to get their supplies at a slightly re«luc<il rate from supplier*. Mr. F. .J. Earle, who sold In-on-hard ami iinuiiteervd for rl»<r front, temlenti hi* r* signal ion.— It was resolved that Mr. Earle’s name kept <>n the list till th** of the war, and tliat the secretary inform Mr. Earle of this, and also wish him a sale return. Air. Martindale complained ot the artion of til*- Department in taking Mr. Campbell, (anernmi'iit On-haidist, away from the district, as the present time-was the most critical stag*! with orvhartlists. He :ds*i referred to th* fart that a number of orchards had not yet done their spraying, ami considered that a protest should be sent to the Department against Air. Campbell's absence. Several -peakers s|H.*ke of the danger ot small orvhardists not spraying their trees, which tended to breed all sorts of pests. Air. A. Moore said there was too much work for oue man, to have to inspetA “back yard” orchards, ami he would move that the Ib.'partmenl’s attention l>e drawn to the state *>t orchards in the vicinity of Hastings, with a view to some action being taken. Seconded by Mr. Paynter and carried.

Mr. Baylis. Guvernnient Fields bistrurtw. was introduced to the meeting by th*' vice-president. Mr. Baylis gave an interesting and instructive lecture on “ Maintaining the fertility oi tho soil by manuring and cultivation.” The lecturer dwelt at length on the treatment of different soils, drainage and mechanical treatment ot same. Where iruit kind was concerned Inadvised, in the olf season, tho ploughing of the land, and the periodical laying down of green crops, and lhe ploughing in oi green matter Hum good sward--. It was a hard matter to get organic matter in all 'oil-, but inicould l»e correct*’*! by the laying ilovv u of suitable gm-.M”, ami their digging in. Farm yard manure would also Ih.oi asostancv in promoting tho fertility of the soil. It was al.-o e-sential t<> grow different crops, vv hieli dejiended on the nature 01' the sei). Fruit cultivation placed a tar heavier tax <>n the soil than ordinary crop-. Nitrogen in the soil encouraged leal gronti'. Iml if th*- plant- showed rso.ii” growth it proved there was excessive nitrogen in the soil. Potash, used in all soil' was a good sj>e*-itic against disease. Ixitid that was short el fieta-h v. ry much effected the quality of tip.and was easier to control disease. Rock phvsphat* - should )>e more i-xteiisiv ely ilsol. Potash ;d-o played an important part in the stiffetringoi tin- stems <>t trees. Phosphoric acids tomb'd to the curlier production 01 crop-. Lime counteracted acidity in soils. It. was possible to have t<»* mm-h acid in tinfoil, ami lime would help to coimter-a*-t tlii~. In treating various soils drainage was tip., first ins 0.-sity. Supei - phosphates a - a elp-ap iiiaimi '- ami gave lair results. liitr in lime Imiiini’ ilMli'.-, as it grew sorri’il f.nd otla-r weeds. The applii.-atiou oi a model a;.amount of lime, it-*-*! pcriotlii aliy. n;i* g*ejd. He ii>u*ul in many in-tamo.-that where green matte, vas dug in, the growth was more than 50 ami MMnrtimes Jim per ivut. liettcr than artiiirial i’ertiiis rs. Even when grasses were gonin ~ go,.[ height, it coithlea'tlv Is- plonglieil and cover'd in. ami in roniiim tion with fertilisers vi.i, a * (leap iiiiiiii- ol • nri' liing the soil. He revolt, mended the Us*' of in:* ground lint.- in heavy soil. )>,,; tlp-re w;ts a h-t 01 organic matter burnt linn- coiilil i»> us» >j. I>l answer iv a qir'.imn. Mr. Ba,'l is said lupins was hr-t el.-t-s matter to grow ami phmgii in on hghl -oil-. I>ut wa- really a >1 . !. ss thing f profit. For g,x.*t - >:l lie 1 ..comm.ml- d the growing "I i-m’.son ’-lover, which was a qni« k giow.-r ,>r,.| could !>.• tirrn♦■d to pr**iital>b' at e. nut In lore digging in. loi- jvotato gi’-viiig. go< 1 results could Is' "lit.*ii*»-I l»v Using l.a -ie -I ig. After tip - !•-< tui' i- lui'l ausw. 'in] a nuinljer of otln-r qm-sti »ns Mr. Paynter J>r*»|H»sed am! Mr. A. Mw;-.- ,*-eoml d, a Itvartv vote ot thank, to Mr. Baylis for lii.s instrut!iv e I'-cmi -