OUR OWN OPCHARDISTS

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1936, Page 4

OUR OWN OPCHARDISTS

It is gratifying' to note that the publicity recently given by the ‘‘Northern 1 Advocate’’ to the possibilities of extensive plantations of citrus trees in Northland, particularly in the Kerikeri district, has come under the notice of the authorities. According- to a statement by tbs Prime Minister

published today, the prospect of a large supply of oranges and other fruits from Northland ivi.ll be among the matters taken into consideration when, negotiations arc entered into between the Australian and New Zealand Governments with a view to terminating the potato and citrus fruits embargo. At present a normal season’s output from Kerikeri is in the vicinity of 20,000 eases. However, as was shown in the “Advocate” last week, it is estimated that there are 25,000 orange trees planted in Kerikeri, the majority |of which are from five to seven | years old. Orange trees are in I full bearing in the ninth or tenth | year, and it is then anticipated that each tree will yield an average of of five eases. It will be, seen that in another five or six years, Kerikeri will be producing iOO,OOO cases each year, this figure will become progressively greater as planting operations are continued. The Government apparently is fully alive to the very important contribution which Kerikeri and other Northland districts arq capable of making to ‘the New Zealand market, and it, is reassuring to have the Prime Minister’s statement that our own citrus orchardists arc to receive consideration when quantities for import are under discussion.