MANAWATU FRUITGROWERS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1808, 5 May 1921, Page 2

MANAWATU FRUITGROWERS.

——. WORK OF ASSOCIATION'. If is not generally known that the Manawatu Fruitgrowers' Association, which has now been in existence for one. year, was formed by a few local fruitgrowers in order that, by coming into contact, with each other, exchanging views, discussing' matters appertaining to. and connected with fruitgrowing, dealing - with orchard pests and insects, members might further their knowledge .'ii/d thus arm themselves to combat the ever-increasing difficulty which is experienced in New Zealand in the growing of perfect. fruit. The local Association is affiliated to ."The New Zealand Fruitgrowers' .Federation," which thus enables its members to receive all the benefits that are extended to the large growers. One benefit, and that by no means a small one. is that through the channels of the Association, members may purchase their spraying- materials at a very much lower figure than they can be purchased outside. The Committee of management has In view for the coming year, a series of scientific lectures, which should prove very useful. These would be followed up by demonstrations in the laying-out and pruning of orchards, Though the membership at present is small, it is very influential, and it is hoped that, all local growers will enrol and thus swell the membership for mutual benefit. The Association held its first annual general meeting at the Opera House on April 29th,' when the report and balance-sheet was presented and adopted. The officers elected for the en. suing year were as follows: —President, Mr J. Nairn; vice-president, Mr A. Rush; secretary and treasurer, Mr T. F. .Conway, Fitzlierbert, Palmerston North; committee, Messrs F. H. Owtram, Gilbert Lyne, L. Johansen, J. Jones, W. Ellis, and H. G. Grovor. A remit was forwarded from the meeting- to "The New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation" \irglng that moneys be spent, on the destruction 6f blackbirds by the purchase of their eggs. All the members wore unanimous that these birds are a bigger pest than any other the fruitgrower has to contend with. Another pest that is a great source of trouble to the orehardist is the hare, which is multiplying much too fast. One member, who had recently planted a young orchard, reported that over 200 of his trees had been completely destroyed by hares ring-barking them. It was decided that this matter should also be brought to the notice of the Department of Agriculture and to urge them to make hares a pest and class them with rabbits. The Association holds meetings once a month. ,