FRUIT CULTURE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 63, 15 March 1911, Page 2

FRUIT CULTURE.

ADDRESS BY MR BOUCHER

There was a fair attendance of the public at the Orange Hall last night) to hear an address by Mr Boucher, Government Pomologist, on the sub^ ject of fruit-growing in Marlborough. Mr J. Conolly, president of the Marlborough Fruitgrowers' Association, presided, and in a few words introduced Mr Boucher, saying that he regretted there was not a larger attendance of those interested in the fruit-growing industry to hear Mr Boucher's address.

Mr Boucher said there was no doubt that the climate and soil in Marlborough were in every way adapted for fruit, culture; in fact the Province was as well suited for fruit-growing as any in the Dominion. Of course, the industry was yet in its> infancy in .Marlborough, but everything pointed to a successful future for those who had made a start. Mr Boucher expressed the opinion that apples were the most-popular of all fruits for marketing purposes. There was no doubt that apples would grow as" well here as they would in Nelson, and as this fruit was to be the mainstay of an important industry too much care arid attention could not be given them. Mr . Boucher referred to the rapid' strides made by the Nelson .fruitgrowers, which was due, he said, to the'fact thatI'they had gone int6 the ousiness in a proper manner. In' order to get good, clean fruit special attention should be given to the spraying of trees. He recommended the arsenate of lead spray mixture for the eradication of pests from orchards.

Mr Boucher thought that the success of the fruit industry in New Zealand depended upon the way the fruit was handled, and he expressed the opinion that instead of the producers selling to several different agents in the large towns, they should «ell to one:; ■' He pointed out that the fruitgrower "competed against himself by' selling his.:fruit to more than one agent in a single ttywn. The reason for this was that :\v^re t there were several' people .deaKp'g^Hi, fruit they'wdrlted' against* each otfl&r;', and if a grower 'supplied'them'till with fruit he'was helping to keep "the price of of his own fruit down. If an agent were appointed by the different Associations in each of the •distributing centres the difficulty, would be overcome, and furthermore i an idea of the supply or quantity of fruit offering would be gained without any difficulty. . This matter was to be discussed at the annual conference of fruitgrowers to be held in Nelson', this year.: when'he'hoped that; the Marlborougk Association woui-* be represented. " Another matter of vast • importance which would be, dealt with, at this conference would, be the preparation of fruit for the markets. It should nob be supposed that the packing which, sufficed tor local markets was good enough -for export purposes. This had been learned by the Nelson fruitgrowers from experience, and they, were now learning how to grade and pack their fruit for the London , and foreign markets. This should also be Jearn«d by local,fruitgrowers. In regard to other fruits, Mr Boucher said that pears and peaches could be grown W with success, and so .could plums; but the last-mentioned fruit Sid not pay, as there was not a-good demand for plums. -Fruitgrowers should also go.in for. tomatoes. Cape gooseberries, and onions. Each ot these paid Handsomely, and was suW ays saleable at a profitable pric£ Mr Boucher pleased to know that an orchard 100 acres in , area had been planted here, and he XpreW the hope that the re^ would 5 many more such areas planted beW long. The Department, would he only too please to send one of its officerTto assist the Association^ Sany time they appM for his services in connection with any particVl A voW thanks to Mr Boucher terminated the meeting.