PROPOSED FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9436, 6 August 1889, Page 6

PROPOSED FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

Mr. J. Ha>'lon, Whangarei, writes as follows ;—Are all the fruit-growers of Auckland dead ? It is evident they are not alive to the best interests of their industry, or most surely some of tbe leading growers would have accepted your invitation to express their views on the proposal to hold a grand fruit fair and growers' convention in Auckland next year. Week after week have I taken up your paper. and scanned its columns in vain for any ideas on the subject. Afc last I, an outsider, take up my pen to ask the reason why everybody interested in fruit seems so apathetic on the subject. Ib must be evident to all who sent fruit to Auckland during the past; summer that the time has about arrived when the industry must 'stretch its wings and attempt a flight to wider spheres. Already shipments, of certain fruits have been made to London, 'Frisco, Melbourne, and Sydney, with .varying success, and they have proved that with proper care, and reasonable charges, the world is open to us as a market. The days of rushing our fruit in gin cases and candles boxes pell-mell into the limited, glutted, and disorganised Auckland market will soon be a thing of the past. I, for one, feel convinced that such a Provincial Fruit-growers' Convention as that proposed would be a most valuable meeting, and tend to develop the industry to which the members have chosen to

devote their energies, and which ere long is destined to be a leading one in our province. There is no reason why the fruit exhibition should not prove a success, if properly managed, and made known to the public. Although I am well aware that latterly the Horticultural Society's shows have not been a financial success, I think that in mainly their own fault in not blowing their own trumpet. For instance, h year nr two >H*n I was »" Auckland when the Autumn Fruit Show was held, and I, being interested in fruit, of course attended the show. That evening at dinner I spoke about it, and although there were ten or twelve persons at the table, not ten minutes' walk from where the show was held, none of them had heard of it. As a result of my making it known in that small circle, four attended the show that evening. One large item of expense, prize money, might be saved, and good certificates awarded instead. I remember years ago the Auckland Society held a show without money prizes, and I think I am right in .saying they never had a better one. The idea of locating the various districts in separate spaces is a good one, and likely to cause emulation.

If the convention and fair were made known in California, and an invitation to manufacturers of evaporators, &c., to exhibit their machines and sampio cases of prepared fruit, most probably Borne would avail themselves of the opportunity of establishing another market for their goods, and .thus another item of interest and

instruction would be added. Tho central committee in Auckland would of course have to make arrangements with the steamship companies to chargo a mere nominal fare, eay, enough to cover cost of meals, and to obtain free passes on the railways to fruit-growers attending the convention. I may bo wrong, but if I know anything at all of human nature, these concessions alone will 'make the convention a success numerically at least. Perhaps a few items from the proceedings of the last State Fruit-growers' Convention in California may be of interest, as showing how successful these meetings are there :— The convention held at National City last May was tho eleventh meeting under the auspices of the State Board of Horticulture, and was a most valuable meeting, not only to those present, but to all growers of fruit throughout the State. Fully three hundred practical fruit-growers were in attendance, men and women, who are devoting thoir best energies to develop the industry they have chosen to work at, Many more, running up into the thousands, came and went as visitors to look in on the workers, and especially to see the grand exhibit of fruits and flowers. The reception of the visitors at National City was most cordial, and ho or she who wore the guest's badge was given the freedom of National City nnd all the country round about. Mrs. Flora M. Kimball's address of welcome was more than realised, and the generous hospitality will always be remembered by those present. Tho programme for the three days' convention embraced papers and discussions on insect pests and their extermination, pruning, the olive, irrigation, storage and distribution of water and protection of water sources, picking, storing, and marketing of fruit. The fig varieties, culture, and curing; deciduous fruits, nut.?, drying and canning of fruit, citrus culture, animals and birds in horticulture, flowers, and beautifying of homes j horticultural resources of California, and last, but not least, excursions.

The conventions are similar to the farmers' institutes now held in many of the eastern States, and are educating tho people in their profession of farming or fruit-growing, and are becoming more and more popular each year. At National City each guest was furnished with a badge whicli was worn on all occasions. Thus badge wa3 recognised on every motor line in the San Diego County. Conductors seeing that badge on a person, asked no questions, aDd the bearer was entitled to ride as often and as far as he liked; and while the regular trains were run as usual, extra trains were put on which were run under the direction of the chairman of the committee of arrangements, and no part of the convention's programme was ever cut short because it was time for the train to start. The train always waited until the convention was readv, oven to carry a crowd of people from whom tho company would not take a cent.

The various papers read showed that the subject of horticulture was receiving thought, study, and practical work ; that progress was being made in all directions by earnest men and women who have adopted horticulture as a profession with a view of making it pay. Tho discussions that followed called out the experience of thoae present, telling -where they had nmdo mistakes and how corrected them, of experiments, tosts, and practical work and its results. It is thus the work, progress, and interest in fruit culturo is pushed on by our cousins over the way. Cannot we 'do likewise ? Or has tho hated property tax crushed all the energy out of our settlers, so that they are unable to do more than jusb stand by and let things rip ?