ORCHARDS IN THE MAKING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16366, 21 October 1916, Page 5

ORCHARDS IN THE MAKING.

SYSTEMATIC SUPERVISION FOR ABSENTEES. Nor many people aro able to give up their present occupation, live for five voars on an unproductive orchard, eating up th ?ir savings, whilo waiting for the returns which at tho end of that period will mean a thoroughly good income. It is therefore obvious that the average man going orcharding must make other arrangements. He cannot buy an improved orchard as the cost is too great. A manager at £150 p.a. is impossible. The solution is co-operation. Such as is practised on the Komiti Estate. Hero are employed a consulting horticulturist, a resident supervisor, and a staff of men. _ The fee for supervising your orchard till it comes into bearing is £1 per planted acre per annum, plus actual cost of work. Extensive co-operation renders these low fees possible. Supervising hundreds of acres enables the companv to employ high-salaried men. This opens tho gate to every young or middle-aged man to secure the* com petence _of a well-kept orchard. This supervision also enables an intending orchardist to spend holidays on hi? orchard and to learn under' the super visor's teaching. On finally taking up residence the supervisor's services may still be retained. The scheme is excellent, and is being carried out with great success. The consulting horticulturist on Komiti is Mr. G. A. Green, well known to all orchard ; «t? throughout New Zealand. The resident supervisor is Mr. Reg'nald Shepherd, or Port Albert, an oreharcli.4 mid ihe son of an orchardist. His fruit knowledge ■ and local experience are invaluable to ' planters. The book " The Fruit Lands of the • North " will tell you all about these ' gentlemen. Get a' com- free from the ■ secretarv. Box 603, Wellington. Next • article " Apples for Export: Excellence or ' Northern Product." For the convenience i of local resident.* a supply of the boo*' has been obtained by Messrs. Gray and ■ Cockroft, Qneen Street, who will *. • pleased to hand out a copy ;to anyon« ' interested.