SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11433, 25 July 1900, Page 3

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

i FRUITGROWING IN AUCKLAND COMPARISON ; WITH CALIFORNIA.

A CHAT WITH SIR. W. A. BOUCHER. 1 A Herald reporter recently had the pleasure of several meetings with Mr. W. A. Boucher, the New Zealand Government Viticultural Expert, who has been for some time examining Auckland vineyards for signs of the dreaded phylloxera. Mr. Bouoher is not only a viticulturist; he is a''• horticulturist of high standing, and it only' requires a short acquaintanceship with, him to find that with his scientific knowledge there is that type of practical wisdom and commercial experience which seems found only in the Americans. As a matter of fact, Mr. Boucher is a Califomian, and has spent the greater part of his life in that greatest of all fruitgrowing countries. He has managed for some years one of tho most up-to-date fruit farms in Los Angeles, and has been intimately associated with some of the leading men in tho Califomian State Board of Horticulture. No matter where Mr. Boucher has had hi* training, he is of that character to quickly find out for himself what methods are the most practical, and to use his scientific knowledge on lines of utility. Most Aucklahders aro interested in seeing such an important industry as' fruitgrowing flourish, but wo have heard so often the plaints of the careless and the pessimistic— " The Auckland climate is too moist for fruitgrowing;" "pests are too numerous here;""the codlin moth cannot be kept down;" "there is no market;" "fruits rot on the ground," etc., etc.—that it is quite cheering to' have tho opinion of a man like Mr. Boucher, who is able to comparo Auckland with California, and to give the practical side of 'the question. Mr. Bouchei speaks plainly on the necessity of regulation against neglectod'orchards, and every practical and up-to-date fruitgrower will side with him, especially when spraying and other remedies havo boon proved successful. " Is tho climate of the Auckland province adapted for fruit culture?" asked our reporter. " In answer to this question," said Mr. Boucher, "there is such abundant proof that individual opinion would read almost as presumption. In what other country can we find authentic instances, such as we have bore, of extensive groves of wild peach trees, their brandies bowed down to the very ground with leads of luxurious fruit, upon which herds of cattlo ami pigs fed to repletion? Thero are still a few isolated groves, distant from tho beaten track of tho European, whore apples, peaches, cherries, and grape vines (the fruits most planted by the Maoris) aro as healthy and boar as well as of yore, and better proof could not bo furnished that climate and soil are now what they always havo been, cxcollentlv adapted for the cultivation of all classes of fruits. The question will probably be asked, ' Why have these groves disappeared?' For a reply, we must consider the groat changes that have taken place since groves of fruit were first planted by the nativos. Diseases, insect and fungoid, had not then been scattered far unci wide, and for tho change that has taken place of late years wo have to thank a system which placed no restriction whatever on the introduction of trees and plants, clean or diseased. Following upon the introduction and rapid dissemination of various diseases, such as no trees could resist without assistance, came tho change which we now so much regret, and as the first result the speedy decay of the native groves. Fruitgrowers can no longer trust to soil and climate, unaided, to produco tho fruit which is so much in demand during the warm summer months, as tho Maoris could do in days gone by, but must now endeavour to gain a thorough knowledge of the diseases and pests introduced through a carelessness for which we must expect to pay the penaky for all time. The production of good fruit will no longer be a chance mattor, but the result of knowledge, skill, and application of those who study fruit trees and their diseases.' In comparing the climate of the Auckland province with that of the fruitgrowing districts of Southern California, ono notices the greater annual average and more even distribution of rainfall throughout the year, and in this tho advantage rests decidedly with Auckland, for whereas in California provision must be made for an irrigation supply, here careful and thorough cultivation of the soil to check the capillary attractive force that; drains the ' subsoil. of moisture during a continuation of dry weather will so conserve tho moisture as to prevent any check to tho growth of the treos or crop during the driest season we aro likely to experience. Thus New Zealand growers are spared the expense of rates for water for irrigation purposes, to say nothing_ of tho labour and cost of preparing for and distributing the water over the land. The cultivation of the soil, without the irrigation, which it invariably follows in California, is all that is needed here to bring about the same results. T) compensate for the absence of rain for many months, California has the advantage of a dry atmosphere, so that the drying of fruit crops by sun heat is accomplished at a minimum of cost. In this branch of the industry we can hardly hope to compete on an extensive scale, on account of our more humid climate, but we can, and should, compete in fruit-canning, a branch of the industry that is equally profitable, and not affected by humidity of climate." " How does Auckland compare with Cali- , iornia in the matter of yields?" "This is a question that is frequently raised, many people doubting whether trees produce as abundantly here as in California. For mv part, ~>. have often boen surprised at the yield of trait from trees that have had no care oi attention since thoy were, first planted, a condition under which the trees themselves could not exist for many years in California. This, to' my mind, is convincing proof that with care and cultivation the yiold from New Zealand orchards could hardly be surpassed in quantity and quality. But it better proof were needed, we have tho evidence of regular yield, so abundant as frequently to need thinning out, in those orunfortunately, comparatively few in number-where consistent cultivation is practised. Beyond this, it is not possible to go." "Are fruit pests more numerous in Auckland than in California?" " It is doubted whether pests such as we have here have proved a? great a trial in California, some asserting that the climate here is more favourable to thoir rapid spread and destructive propensities. This is an error, for perhaps no climate favours the rapid multiplication of all species of insect pests more than that of California. The humid climate of the North, it is true, is particularly favourable to tho rapid spread and destructive action of parasitic fungi, which hitherto have roreived but little attention, principally, I judge, from want ot knowledge of their appearance and destructive capabilities. Callfornians, however, havo long had the advantage of New Zcalandcrs in legislation, which has secured uniformity of action among growers themselves to control such pests as they have, and which, by inspection of nursery stock, has checked the spread of many pests and prevented the introduction of others trom outside of California, by the examination of imported trees and plants. The argument, ' because the pests are so troublesome,' advanced against legislation, appears to mo the strongest argument in its favour, If there were no pests, or if the posts were not troublesome, and increasingly so, where would be tbo necessity foi legislation oi even discussion? It is the very fact that because the pests are becoming so increasingly troublesome as to threaten the existence of fruit culture as an industry that makes the question oi legislation one of serious importanco. New Zealanders in many instances arc dismayed at the idea of having to spray for tho different pests, and this is in a great measuro due to the planting in one orchard of a num.bei of varieties of every class of fruit, semitropic? and temperate. Each class ot fruit hat* its own particular pests, requiring perhaps somewhat different treatment at different times. If growers here, as is the case most frequently in California, were satisfied with giving their attention to one das" of fruit, as, fo. instance, peaches, they would have but those pests that attack the peach to contend against, and would find it not such a serious matter after all, The question of the expense of tpraying and whether the returns will justify the expenditure is ono that must be considered. I am quite prepared to admit that tho cost of spraying many orchards here, as they are now, would be almost double that ot places of similar size in California, and in this connection I must again draw attention to two previous statements: (1) The necessity for adopting a system of pruning that will produce low, compact trees, instead of trees that, unpritnod, for years have grown beyond all reasonable hoight and spread, and t3 thoroughly spray, • which ' must involve great waste of both material and labour; (2) tho advantage to the, commercial fruitgrower of confining his efforts to the production of the best quality of one, or, at most, two classes of fruits." ~ ".'-<•' "What can you suggest fo; the.benefit of the fruit industry in New Zealand?" ; ,;: • ■. " Having made many statements favourable t: fruitgrowing, lest through '. them anyoiio should be. induced to attempt fruit culture, I wish to candidly express my own opinion that, having had . experience in California of the benefit<of legislation for the control of pests, I consider that the'future progress ami prosperity i of; the industry 'as' a 'whole, 'rind the individual .grower, depend on such legislation as will protect those who adopt fruit

culture as a means of livelihood. \ I cannot overlook tho fact : that • anyone ; investing ' his capital in fruit culture in' New Zealand hae no ; protection ; tinder the law for ;money so 'invested, for, despite all his efforts to establish a. clean productive orchard;' his neighbour may cultivate for him an' abundant annualsupply of pests, insect and, fungoid,' and so render all his efforts to obtain a profitable annual xeturn for his investment abortive.'No doubt tho first fruits of legislation will be a considerable change ?in * the management ;of existing orchards. Many troes that now uselessly cumber the ground and breed pests innumerable will be' destroyed. *' 'This change must tako place if fruit culture is to become an industry of colonial and commercial importance, and tho sooner it happens the better. Hundreds of thousands of trees are annually planted out, and for what purpose? Tho majority not to produce fruit of any commercial value, but simply to swell tho numbers of those post-producers that are the stumbling-block of all who desire clean,' healthy trees and sound, wholesome fruit. In my opinion, formed after careful consideration of numerous districts visited, fruit culture as an industry in New Zealand has now arrived at that critical stago when, assisted by legislation, it will rapidly progress, and becomo an important industry, adding to the general prosperity by an oxport trade; or else, with the trees given up wholly to the pests, will tako a steadily retrograde movement, which'tnußt result in an even larger import trade than is now shown by the Customs returns." "What is the _ difference between the methods pursued in Auckland and in California?"' . "This is p question that is by no means easy to deal with, for as yet there is no recognised method prevailing among any numbed of New Zealand growers. In very many instances pruning is entirely neglected, spraying religiously avoided, but on one point perhaps the majority are agreed, and that is to sow down the orchard in grass, if not at the. time of planting, at any rate,.within two or three years from that time, or, failing that, to crop the ground between tho trees.' In the selection of varieties to plant, each grower take 3 one or more catalogues, and.from the hundreds of varieties offered orders those that please his fancy as being extra' early or late, oi as having some special quality, which he fondly imagines will give tho fruit produced a high value in the local markets. ' As the result, ono finds the markets stocked with a small quantity, each of an immense variety of fruits; a varied collection, with such "a mixture of qualities, that they can be put to no other use than immediate sale for dessert and kitchen use. In California there is a recognised system oi pruning adopted by the majority of growers, a system that, while not altogether original, has been modified and improved to suit the requirements of present day fruit culture, which demands economy in every operation of orchard work, in the cultivation of tho soil, pruning, BDraying, gathering, and marketing of tho fruit. Under that system the cultivation of tho soil can be accomplished at a minimum of ..cost, pruning is accomplished with the least possible labour, spraying without waste of material or time, gathering tho crop wiUi an ease and speed that is hardly known in New Zealand, all tending to an economy of labour and expense which allows a good margin of profit where it might be expected that no profit could exist. _ In tho selection of varieties tho grower' has a definite object in view, so that in most districts such a supply of fruit cf varieties suitable for drying and canning, and for export in that form, is availablo in such quantity as to demand the attontion of merchants throughout the world."