RIWAKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 17 November 1922, Page 2

RIWAKA

F IMJ FIT,"1:0 WE lIS' -.A SSOOT A TIG N MEETING

{From Our Own Correspondent.)

The monthly .meeting of the Riwaka I 1 rn.itgrowers Association wus held m the Oddfellows’ Hall on Tuesday evening. when Mr 0- Stratford (Ore-hard lust nu-lor) gave an address on ■■Current Orchard Work.' Correspondence was rceeu eu 1 1 0111 Tim New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation. enclosing a revised price list- of orchard requisites, and asking lor payment of spray .material used in connection with experiments carried out in Riwaka last- season, under tin; supervision of tin' pres ions orchard instructor, Mr W. T. Goodwin. Tim Agricultural Department. Motueka, reported on the recent experiments carried out on 19 trees in Mr Amici son's orchard, will) vislolene. for the control of pear midge, il was stated that the trees had received tour sprayings with vistolcne. 1-100. I'hey are vonng trees and were badly a Heeled last season. No midge was visible when first spraved on 9th October of this vear. The ground underneath each tree was thoroughly soaked with spray to act as a, deterrent. A week later. l<th October, when a second spray was put mr, a large number of midge infected leaves were found on the trees. They received a third application of vistolcne on October 25th, at Hie same strength. The midge appeared much worse; practically the whole of the young foliage on tlie leaders and laterals were curled up. A fourth spray was applied on November 2nd and when examined on the 10th. spraying with vistolcne was found to he entirely ineffective for the control of pear midge. .... Some discussion took place wit.i reference to paying account for spraying material used in connection with experiments last season. The material in question had been oar-marked by the Federation for experiments only. If re-

suits did not give 50 pur cent, of first grade fruit they (the Federation) would defray expenses up to £IOO. The chairman (Mr Harry Everett) was of the opinion that the Riwaka As sociation had bought the material, but the meeting, in the main, considered they had not and wore not liable. After jnrther discussion n was resolved by ".Messrs, Anderson and Fowling that the secretary of the spraymg committee he asked to render a report of the spraying experiments to the Federation. An amendment was proposed by Messrs; Young and Everett that the .matter he left in the hands of the spraying commit lee to deal with. When put to the meeting Hie amendment was lost by one vole.

Mr Harry Everett brought up the matter of a representative going Home this coming season to. look after the interests of the growers. He stated Unit. Mr G. Stratford had previously represented (he fruitgrowers in a most able maimer. He (Mr Stratford) knew the mu of things and was a very desirable party to again represent them, Mr Everett then moved the following resolution:—“That, provided the GovATfirnent is sending a representative to England this coming season, the Riwaka Frnitgrowers' Association respectfully ask the Department to take into consideration the capable way in which Mr G. 'Stratford. Oorchnrd Instructor, had on a previous occasion represented and watched over the interests of the fruitgrowers of the Dominion. -And that the Department, urge upon the Government the advisibility of. again sending Mr Stratford Home/’ That copies ot this resolution be .sent to the Director ol Horticulture and the Director-General of the Agricultural Department. Mr Anderson said he had nothing against Air Stratford, but*thought that m view of Air Attwood being the Director of Hie Federation be was the right person to go- to England on behalf of the fruitgrowers during the export season.

Air Stratford, replying, stated that he had no special cfesTre to go Home, but one o'i his chief recommendations had been that a Government representative should go to England for three seasons. An official is allowea to delve in delicate matters and mysteries, while a business man, no matter how good he may be, is debarred these opportunities. Prices were not the only thing; many other matters just as vital to the fruitgrower, yet out of reach of the business man, had to bo attended to. Resolved (Anderson and Rowling) that in addition to a Government representative, this Association heartily approve of Mr Attwood, Director of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation going Home this season on behalf of the fruitgrowers. ■ t Proposed by Mr Debbie and seconded by Mr S. Rowling that Mr Hamilton he admitted as a member to the Riwnka Association. The chairman then called upon Mr Stratford to give his address. .The speaker commenced by stating that in current orchard work, five points had to he observed, spraying, cultivation. thinning fruit, attention lo_ grafts and case making. Spraying —llu; orchardist spravs to secure clean fruit and a healthy tree. At the present time the fruit, is growing fast and, consequently, it is necessary to spray often in order’ to keep the fruit well covered. Mr Stratford enumerated the pest A and diseases found in the orchards now and stated that considerable damage would lie done if neglected. Different sprays for different pesti were mentioned, also the strength and application of these. The speaker then gave some interesting information re Nova Scotia scheme of Bordeaux and sulphide of iron, lip to the present the results from those sprays have been most satisfactory. Cultivation.—To derive the best results it is necessary at this period to break' down the land and reduce it to a fine tilth. Cleanliness around the trees must also be observed su'that there will be no harbourage for pests. Thinning fruit.—lt is a rather sore point with the average, fruitgrowers to thin his crop, hut quality should he considered ‘ Overbearing tends to 'thq-streagtlv and vitality (req- and .weaken Ihutning has. tKri 'tcpdency; ,f.o average: crops -ti flVsf 'graft*friHt' eVitj'V; season. Mr Stratford advised two tbiiP nings; the first one, when the apples are well set, and about the size of hazel nuts and the second, when about halfgrown. The remainder of the. crop will then receive the full benefit and more (ban repay the fruitgrower for his trouble. When thinning a space ot two to three inches should be left between each fruit according to size of the apple at maturity. Attention to grafts. —lt is a failing of the majority of fruitgrowers to give grafts little or no attention, while growing. All shoots should be' removed from the stock at ihis period, and also see that- the bandages are not strangling the grafts. The speaker slated that he, was not an advocate of leaving several branches on the stock of the, average tree to divert the sap to prevent silver blight, but rather Jet the growth go into the grafts. Casemaking.—.Cases should be made up at convenient moments and stacked in such a manner as to allow a free/passage of air through the whole stack. If this is not done the timber soon becomes discoloured and looks unsightly.

On concluding Mr Stratford was heartily applauded and the meeting thrown open for general discussion. The chairman remarked that these talks were most interesting and a good deal of benefit was to be derived from them. He had much pleasure hi proposing a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Stratford, who- had kindly consented to give another address at the next meeting.