LOBURN ORCHARDISTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17097, 21 February 1916, Page 5

LOBURN ORCHARDISTS.

VISIT OF INSPECTION. At the invitation of the Loburn Fruitgrowers' Association the members of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association on Saturday undertook a motor tour of inspection of the orchards in the Loburn district, for the purpose of seeing the progress made since the last inspection of the kind, which took place about twelve months ago. The party included Mr W. J. Courtier, Government Fruit Expert, Mr S. I. Fitch, president of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association, and Mr •). Longton, managing director of the Fruitgrowers' Federation. The party, which numbered about, fifty, made the trip iu a motor omnibus and two tour-

ing cars. The party first inspected the orchard of Mr C. W. Lang, at Kaiapoi. an orchard grown on especially good land, principally for tho purpose of comparing the results attained with those arrived at on the poorer land in the Loburn district. Needless to say, Mr Lang's orchard was in excellent condition, and the giowth of Lord Wolscley pnd Sturmer Pippins, the two principal varieties of ;poles grown there, was very-good. Mr Lang had obtained very good results by planting a shelter belt of poplar shoots six or seven feet long. Tito usual practice is to use shorter shoots than these.

The party then proceeded to the Loburn fruit settlement, where they inspected many orchards. These orchards are mostly of two years' growth, and the quality and quantity of fruit varied somewhat' in ratio to the amount of cultivation they had received. Some of the orchards seemed to be suffering from insufficient shelter, a drawback which time alone can remedy. In most instances shelter belts have been planted. Cox's Orange. Newtown Pippin, Jonathan and Statesman apples showed clean growth in one of the orchards, that of Mrs Twentyman. and the orchard of Mr Elwood showed evidences of good cultivation. Lord Wolseley, where the variety had been grown, did not appear to flourish, doubtless owing to the insufficiency of shelter, the variety requiring a well-protected situation. As a general rule the visitors gained the impression that the Loburn orchards could be much improved by closer attention to cultivation.

Tlie visitors were entertained at luncheon in the Loburn Hall, by the lady friends- of the Loburn Fruitgrowers' Association, and. many interesting speeches were delivered. , Mr Fitch, on behalf of the visitors, thanked the Loburn Association for its hospitality. He emphasised' the necessity for adequate shelter as an essential for successful fruitgrowing in the Loburn district. Great progress had been made since the last visit to the district, but time was required to demonstrate the. full success of the experiment which was being made on the Loburn lands. He advocated greater attention to cultivation, to pruning and to keeping the orcahrds clean. Jf attention wove paid to these matters, there was every prospect of good returns in the years to come. Mr F. Sisson, a past president ol the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association, and one of the oldest and most successful orchardists in Canterbury, said there was no doubt the land at Loburn could grow the fruit, and it the growers tackled their problems seriously they could achieve success. When the district could' produce sufficient quantities of fruit, a market would be found for it. as had been the experience of other orchardists. Mr Longton, speaking on behalf of the Fruitgrowers' Federation, said that, the federation's principal function was to find and develop overseas markets for New Zealand fruit. lie briefly outlined the lines upon which the federation proposed to work and the system whereby it was proposed to finance it. It was hoped, he said, that the federation would be in proper working order before next season came round.

Other speeches were made by members of the visiting party, after which Mr F. Wilkinson, county clerk, Loburn, replied on behalf of the Loburn growers.' He emphasised the keenness of American rivalry for the fruit markets of the world, and the necessity for keening ud the reputation or Now Zealand fruit "by proper grading. On the return journey the party visited some of the orchards in the river bed near Eangiora.