FERTILITY OF GUM LANDS
FRUITGROWING PROSPECTS.
The object lesson as to the productiveness cf Auckland's "poor" gum lands, which is afforded by the exhibit of root crops at the Winter Show by Mr. Knight, made a deep impression upon the Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. T. Mackenzie). As the Minister expressed it, he has been "looking round a great deal" during his visit to Auckland, and on Wednesday he paid a visit to Albany, in order to investigate the capabilities of the gum lands in that district. In his speech during the harbour excursion yesterday, Mr. Mackenzie stated that what he saw at Albany had not caused him to alter the favourable opinion of the gum lands that he had formed during his visit to the North a year ago. He saw a large area of land which could be brought into profitable cultivation. Ho could not speak as to what it would cost for fertilisers for other crops, but there was no doubt whatever as to the fruitgrowing capabilities of the land. If the fruit export trade to the Mother Country was properly developed, as he hoped it soon would be, it would be much belter that this land should bo made to produce fruit and not fjrass. Although the two shipments of New Zealand apples that had been sent to London had not carried well, owing to the temperature being too low, this difficulty should be, and must be, overcome. With the advantage of water carriage here to so many parts of the district, the Auckland district ought to play an important part in the future fruit export 'trade.
Whilst at Albany, Mr. Mackenzie added, he had had brought under his notice an area of four acres which it was proposed to devote to experimental purposes. He had agreed, on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, to supply tho trees and fertilisers for half the area, and the remaining two acres, he understood, would bo provided for by some of the enterprising people of Auckland. He would, ho added, await the result of the experiment with tho greatest interest.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19110526.2.87
Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14690, 26 May 1911, Page 8
Word Count
351FERTILITY OF GUM LANDS New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14690, 26 May 1911, Page 8
Using This Item
NZME is the copyright owner for the New Zealand Herald. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence . This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of NZME. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Auckland Libraries and NZME.