MODERN FRUIT FARMING

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14971, 19 April 1912, Page 9

MODERN FRUIT FARMING

COLD STORAGE FOR APPLES. t A SOUTHERN EXPERIMENT. A well-known fruitgrower of Papanui, Mr. Frank Sisson, entertained a number of those interested in the fruit-growing industry last week (says the Christ church Press. The occasion was the opening of tho first cool chamber and refrigerating plant erected in connection with a New Zealand orchard. Such places aro recognised and usual adjuncts to fruit farming in America and Australia, but, so far, the experiment of placing apples as soon as they are picked where they will be in a steady low temperature between 36 and 42 degrees Fahr. has not been tried in '• Now Zealand. Amongst thoso present were the Hon. I). Buddo, M.P., Messrs. T. H. Davey, M.P., G. Witty, M.P., and ; W. J. Courtier, Government fruit expert. , In taking a reporter over the plant Mr. Sisson said that he had always i been of tho opinion that apples should he kept, in a comparatively low temperature, and about two years ago he had experimented by building; a large cool -. chamber, having double brick walls filled i, with 6in of sawdust, and having the roof similarly treated. The experiment was not successful, it being found that apples kept no better in the coolroom than they had done in the old strawthatched placo used before it. Mr. Sisson having read a good deal on the subject, and -given it serious thought, decided to expend £1200 on a complete refrigerating outfit. Ho had a special building erected, \4oft by 25ft inside measuremerits, capabVs of holding 4500 bushel cases. Great attention was given to the matter of insulat'on. The walla are double, consisting of 9in>of brick, 3in of "dead air," -Jin tongii.i-aud-groove boarding covered- with mtlthoid, gin boarding again, 6in of sawdu.it, and then a wall similar to that already described. Mr. R. S. Williams, who installed the plant, addressed thoi ■* present briefly on the subject of refrigeration. After tea had been paV'aken of, Mr. Sisson spoke to his guests. Ho said that his father, who was v .lso an orchardist, had been as kecri\ upon the subject of cool storage as he\ was himself. Papanui apples kept vtery well, but not well enough to allow [ of their being kept over the periods of ) glut and allow them to bo placed on tl/ie market at times when apples were note plentiful. His scheme, if successful, woAild enable local fruit to bo used in place hi imported. Ho believed that it would enalple apples to be available at all times at arji even price, to the benefit of the consumer and pro'duter'" > aftoiC; Ho was confident, for in Australia Vout-X 001 " 8 a o° " e visited a farm which was running &PS coldjrooms; now that farm had ten\storeV^ ! ' c fi T ot the , ze of the one he had erected. "' Hh\^ a ?,, the first plant installed in connection ttivt a New Zealand fruit farm. If the scheme? was to bo a success, the cool storage had to be on the orchard itself, as the fruit began to ripen as soon as it was picked— perhaps more quickly during the first few days than later. Mr. Buddo said that the public were once again indebted to Mr. Sisson for haying taught them something more about I fruit.

Mr. G. Witty, M.P.. spoke in a similar strain. He added that he believed that the Government might do more for fruitgrowers. As, for instance, in the matter of box timber—(hear, ' hear)— which was subject to unnecessary charges helping neither th& Department nor the grower. He called for cheers for Mr Sisson, saying that he was entitled to praise for having made the venture on his own account, instead of going hat in hand to the Government.