DOES FRUIT GROWING PAY?

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 268, 28 October 1916, Page 2

DOES FRUIT GROWING PAY?

COMMENT ON RECENT ARTICLE. BRITISH COLUMBIA'S OPINION. The modest article appearing recently under the first heading has attracted much attention by reason of its detailed figures. No comment can, however, be of greater interest than an article by J. G. Bealby. Esq., author of “Fruit Ranching in British Columbia,” which appears in “Chambers’ Journal.” The article is practically a general description in most racy form of the every-day life of a fruit-grower. Mr. Bealby's quoted returns from orchards are, however, so much greater than those which we expect and on which we base our figures in New Zealand, that it is wovth while to quote his words verbatim. He says: “A seven-year-old apple tree will give over 120 lbs of fruit, and its crop will sell for 4 dollars 50 cents (18/9 English) up to 7 dollars 50 cents (31/3 English), while trees in full bearing ’woduce as much as 2801bs up to 900 lbs., the gross profit being from 43/- to 150/-, or at the rate of £lOO to £3OO per acre per annum.” Mr. Bealby goes on to give instances of cherry trees showing a net yield of £l4. These figures are somewhat of an eve-opener as against our estimated return of £3O to £4O per acre net. New Zealand, however, still appeals to us as the apple-growers’ paradise. Our uniform climate, regular crops and alternating seasons against the Northern Hemisphere, are factors unrivalled elsewhere. Especially are we fortunate in that our producting season is the bare market throughout the Old World. Thousands clamour for our fruit just when we have it 4o sell. All the facts are. however, fully stated in the book “Fruit Lands of the North.” Copies are obtainable free from the Secretary, Box 603, Wellijigtou. |