MARIRI

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 4 October 1924, Page 7

MARIRI

Jn the spring the . or-chan lists fanny seriously turns to thoughts of spraying, fur though the coining of spring; brings tlie orchavdist some hope of reward, it is purchased at a price; the price of eternal vigilance in his fight with the various pests and parisites with whom he has to contend for the right of existence. The first round has already begun with a vigorous onslaught against black spot, a seasonal infection that is much favoured by the showery conditions usually prevalent about the blossoming period, of which _ this season promises to be no exception. A fairly largo proportion of the fruit exported from this district consists of • Cox’s Orange Pippin ; this variety went nil wrong last season ,arriving in London in a more or less wasty condition There is reason to believe that this loss must be largely attributed to the heavy rain which fell during last summer. This . climate is usually ideal for the ripening of all kinds of fruit, bright and sunny, with a minimum of rain right through the. months of December, January and February, but last season nfust have been the exception, which proves the rule, for there was an exceptionally ' heavy rainfall during. January. This would account for the poor keeping qualities of last-season’s Cox’s, which were picked for export about the middle of February. In spite of set backs in the past, growers are nothing daunted and art prepared to push their fortunes to the extreme test of endurance. Only one absentee orchard has been partially cut out and replanted with pmus insignia. The question of tobacco growing is receiving a good deal of attention just now. Some .good results have already been obtained from leaf grown in this district, for which the soil and climate seem well suited.

The proposed bridge and road over the estuary from Wildman’s corner to Mariri received further consideration when Mr Sharp, of the Marine Department, Wellington, and Mr Dixon, District Engineer, recently visited the site and discussed the pros and cons of the scheme with a number of Hill residents.

After going carefully into the matter it- was decided to further consult the settlers arid local bodies with a view to arranging finance for the increased estimate of cost from £6OOO to £9OOO, the extra money being required for a longer bridge than that originally proposed.