FRUIT GROWING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16805, 15 March 1915, Page 11

FRUIT GROWING.

LOBURN ORGHARDISTS

A VISIT OF INSPECTION

The fruitgrowing industry has taken a firm iioiu m tfie Louuru district, tiie warm slopes of tne downs being specially well adapted for the purpose. A iaigo area was brought into cultivation last winter and planted mainly in apples, and in spite of the very dry summer season tne trees have made satisfactory growth. Most of those who have entered into the industry are residents of Christchurch who intend when tho trees come into bearing to take up their abode on their properties. in the meanwhile the orchards are being cultivated and tho trees attended to by the Messrs Ivory, of the Rangiora nursery, on a contract system. On Saturday the owners of the orchards had a; field day, which proved most enjoyable. A party of between thirty and forty, accompanied by Mr W. J. Courtier, the Government orchardist, left Christchurch at noon in a motor-’bus and cars for Lob urn. On the way a call was made at Mr C. Lange’s” near Kaiapoi. and his flourishing young orchard was inspected. The party was much interested in what 'they saw and gained some useful information regarding tho planting of shelter belts of poplar trees. On arrival at Loburn the party, which was joined by local residents interested, went to the Public Hall, where lunch was provided by tho Messrs Ivory and. was heartily enjoyed. After lunch an inspection of the different orchards was made, and Mr Courtier imparted some very useful information regarding tho best methods to adopt in the cultivation of the trees, planting, pruning and spraying being thoroughly explained. . This occupied attention until fire o’clock, and the oarty then made ready, for the homo journey. Before leaving (Mr IT. Wyatt, on behalf of all, thanked the Messrs Ivory for the lunch, and also expressed tlm satisfaction felt at the care taken of the orchards, and at the progress made bv the trees. He also heartily thanked Mr Courtier for the keen interest he had taken m their fruitgrowing venture anfi for the valuable advice he had given them. On the wav home Mr Waites’s orchard at Kaiapoi was visited, and the oartv was gren+lv interested in the heavy crops of fruit then to be seen. P°ar trees were shown wbicb had yielded U p to seventv bushels of fruit oer tree, and heavily lad”u apnle trees were much admired. T , m members of the T>srtv were exoeofbnnlv well T>leSSed w (fV, +b»lr ou+ing. and with the general eo"/i’+mns and future prospects of their holdings.