BERRY GROWING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 30 December 1938, Page 8

BERRY GROWING

' THE NEW BOYSENBERRY TASMAN FIRST IN NEW ZEALAND NORTHERN REPORTS CONTRADICTED Mr J. A. Sladen, of Tasman, states that his attention has been drawn to an article that appeared in a northern paper dated 15th December, 1938, in which Mr W. Andrew, of Pamnure. Auckland claimed that he had successfully propagated the Boysen berry this season for the first time in New Zealand Mr Andrew certainly cannot claim that distinction as the writer produced a hundred or so of these berries last January 12 months ago, and this can be verified. The fruit was a very fine sample, and fully justified the claims made for them by the raiser (Mr Rudolf Boysen, of California), both as regards size and quality, being fully 4 inches long and from jf to 1 inch thick and having a distinct rich flavour and almost devoid' of seeds To those interested in this berry perhaps a word of advice would not be out of place. To successfully grow this luscious fruit there three essentials: (1) A good moist situation should bo chosen (not wet), open to the sun. with a good water supply handy when the fruit is forming. ( 2> Spraying is absolutely necessary, first when the leaves are just starting: to form (green tip stage) with a lime! sulphur solution to prevent the borer!

I entering, also several lead sprays late) for caterpillar and grubs, etc. (J) Substantial posts and two wires to carry heavy crops produced; libera manuring and constant cultivation dur ing the grow ing period, j A good deal of work is also necessary l in wa y °f tying up and cutting r oul suckers, etc Mr Sladen lias several hundred ol these plants, all doing well, and intend* to grow' them on a commercial scale. Some idea of the growth of these plants can be seen from the following Mr Sladen has the plants Juft apart and on tying up on the wires it was found that most of the runners had passed the first plant and dug themselves into the second, and in many instances into the third <3oft». HOW THE PLANT WAS PROPAGATED The plant lias been propagated by Mr Rudolph Boysen. superintendent of Pecks of Anaheim California, by crossing Loganberries, raspberries and blackberries. The result is a prolific vine with berries of an average size of about 11 inches in length, and most succulent and appetising. It is stated that in California it has been necessary 1o market these berries in pound baskets in place of the usual half-pound used for other berries; that the best field of Boysen-berries made 15.000 one-pound baskets per acre (nearly six tons), and that they sold at nearly double the price received for blackberries and Youngberries; It is pointed out that the surest wav to ascertain the comparative size of an average basket as they come in fi om the field and count the berries required to make a pound. For the Bo.vsenberry the average number is 55 to 65 per pound, and in comparison Youngberries, 90 to 100 per pound, and the different varieties of blackberries

from 120 to 160 per pound. The Department of Agriculture. U.S.A.. states that "Under favourable conditions 50 of the largest berries fill a quart basket.” PROLIFIC YIELDS j The nursery people selling this plant lin California state in their catalogue ! that last summer they had twenty | acres of Boy sen berries and that at the height of the season they used 125 pickers. "Back in prosperous times and when Youngberries were new in California (1927) we soA 1.520 dollars 1 worth from an acre of Youngberries. | ; which record we have never since equalled, until our Boysenberries broke the record in 1934 Our returns per acre were 1.760 dollars in 1934 and again in 1935, the returns, from our best acre were 1.737.50 dollars." All the above sales were rc- ; tail direct from roadside market at the farm. Wholesale returns were lower. Mr Sladen is giving the berries an excellent try out at Tasman in a ; special 1\ selected portion of his orchard on a small flat near a creek It would appear to be necessary to : guard agaist allowing this plant to run wild. By trailing along stout wires, the heavy vines are kept from suckering on the ground and the fruit receives the maximum amount of air and light.