ORCHARD PESTS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 101, 27 April 1909, Page 6

ORCHARD PESTS.

The Carterton inspector of orchards appears to have the same trouble with small fruit growers that is experienced in this district. The correspondent of the New Zealand Times writes: The inspector of orchards is making his presence felt in this district. People who have a few trees think it a great hardship that they should be held responsible for these few old favourites. I took the opportunity of interviewing some of _ the Greytown orchardists on the subject, arid I find that there is a consensus of opinion in favour of a strict interpTe-

tation of the law. One man, who has invested ia very large sum in, fruit trees, and who is also a shareholder in, the fruit-growing company of Grey^ town, said., "We are looking forward to the development: of the fruit-grow-ing, industry here, and expect that in the course of years we shall have quite a large development. This means much to Grey town interests, and if, those;who do not know nor care what diseases exist among their trees are allowed to go on neglecting the simplest of precautions, any chance there might otherwise be to make a fruit trade here will be destroyed. There are some cases in which men who have a few trees will do nothing, and these few trees might breed enough pests to destroy the whole of the orchard work done in this part." Speaking to one of those who was fined, he said that he considered the law pressed very heavily upon a man who was not able to undertake work that was demanded by the inspector. "There are too many inspectors," he said. "We got on well enough before there wepre any of these fellows coming round. Why couldn't %hey leave us as we were? Nobody was doing any harm." When I told him what the opinion of the orchardists was, he replied, "It's, all very well for them to talk. They've got money. I haven't." Asked if he realised that his small lot of trees might destroy all the other people's trees and ruin the fruit industry' in Greytbwn district, he said, "What's that to do with me? Let every man fierht his own battles, and away with Government inspection." Then I left.