PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1909. FRUIT CULTURE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 59, 5 March 1909, Page 4

PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1909. FRUIT CULTURE.

The fruit-growing interest is acquiring special prominence just now, not only on account of the recent and pending prosecutions by the Inspector, but by reason of the fact that a meeting ,is called for Monday evening next for the formation of a fruit-growers' association. This is n step in the right direction, for without co-operation very little can be effectually performed. It is oooperation that has secured such magnificant results for the fruit trade in Tasmania. There it is not the individual grower who ships his crop to London. It is the co-operative society that takes hold of the shipments.

and .subsequently apportions the net results amongst the growers. Under the guidance of expert advice furnished by the association the fruit is picked, graded, and packed, so that uniformity of quality and condition throughout several shipments is maintained, which could not possibly be.the case if each grower undertook to forward his own. There is another advantage in this co-operative method of treatment. Tho salesmen deal with the officers of the association, who are generally keeu business men, rally alive to'the interests of the growers. Expenses of transit and of sale are reduced, for while these are apt to fall heavily upon the individual shipping a few cases, a company sending a shipload is. able to exact appreciable concessions. Then, again, m the matter of purchasing implements, iertilisers, trees, etc., a company or association can obtain, better terms than the individual, and in many ways such a combination would be found to safeguard tho interests of growers. In the matter of fruit spraying, for instance, an association of growers oould take hold o* an admitted evil which is a constant danger to their best interests, and by concerted action wipe it out. This is best expressed in the language of one of the fruit inspectors, whoso recent report to the Department ot Agriculture contains the following paragraph:—"The greatest difficulty in connection with the enforcement of the law is encountered in securing the proper .spraying of infested trees in small neglected orchards, and in small gardens adjacent to the various towns and cities. The tenant or owner of such infested trees is often too careless, the spraying being ineffective owing to the applying of proprietary washes often recommended, or when spraying with standard remedies it is performed in an unmethodical, desultory fashion. Infected fruit is occasionally offered for sale by small growers, generally those with "a few trees in or near the towns, who, have liittle knowledge of the nature or identification of pests, and who are innocent of any intention to violate the law. In such cases where the fruit was found badly infected it received the same treatment ,as that from the large or commercial growers—it was condemned and destroyed by burning, or if slightly in- : fected it Avas allowed to pass, and the owner warned for the, future to comply with the law. The system of not permitting diseased and infected fruit to be offered for sale or distribution will have a far-reaching effect; it will stimulate growers to endeavour to'raise a better quality of fruit by adopting intelligent methods of cleaning up their orchards." Here is where a combination of those who grow for commercial purposes could materially assist an inspector by insisting on everyone keeping his orchard clean. There is much more in this valuable report of the greatest interest to orchardists, to which we shall refer in future issues. Our present, object is to emphasise the incalculable benefit to the district that would be derived by the establishment iof an association cf fruit gnnvers bent upon advancing i the interests of the district, and de--1 veloping this important industry to its highest pitch: One of the first aims of such a body, should be the establishment' of Vorks Avhere fruit may be successfully preserved. For while, the market for soft fruits is uncertain., ancj..' 'otten involves the grower in. considerable loss, there is a steady market .and a certain sale for jam and canned fruits which would, place the industry upon a safe and certain basis, and encourage present growers to increase their output, and others to embark upon the industry. There is no estimating the importance of such an industry when conducted upon right lines. Here is Avhat an inspector says upon this aspect of the case concerning his Nelson experiences: "The importance of the industry to a district when developed on commercial lines Avas well illustrated during one of my visits to Nelson, when there were staying at one of the hotels no fewerthan seven representatives of Wellington fruit houses .who Avere looking after the business interest of their respective firms. The orchard-extension in Nelson and the increased output therefrom is equal to, if not more extensive than, that of any other district of the Dominion. Land convenient and easy of access, suitable for orchard purposes, AA'hich could have been purchased a few years since from £10 to £28 per acre, is now realising £50 and upAvards, and is rapidly being set out to orchard fruits and Avorked as a commercial business on modern lines. Then, again, the older commercial orchards show a marked improvement in methods of. culture and management; the fruit product therefrom is in consequence improved in quality. It is also better graded and more carefully packed, and shipped in clean, new cases. In respect to neatness of packing-cases r Nelson growers set an excellent example, Avhich needs to be copied by the groAvers of several other districts. At no distant date and in favourable seasons the total output of fruit, particularly apples, from the Nelson District Avill come as a surprise to many."