FRUIT IN THE WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 995, 27 March 1891, Page 20

FRUIT IN THE WAIRARAPA.

It is a disgrace to the country districts of the Wellington province that the Empire city has to import green fruit, apples especially, from over the sea. There soil and climate suitable for growing the finest quality of apples In unlimited quantities, not only in the Manawatu and JRangitikei districts, but also in the prolific valley of the Wairarapa. A proof of this is seen m the magnificent specimens of apples submitted for our inspection by the energetic secretary of the Wellington Horticultural Society, Mr H. G. Pilcher, and grown by Mr Blomquist, of the Park Vale Nursery, Carterton. The soil In Mr Blomquist’s nursery, according to his own statement, is of poor quality, and yet his crop of apples this season shows that even poor soil, that is clay land, will grow fruit of splendid quality. One sample from his orchard consists of six specimens of the apple known as Beinette du Canada, one of which turns the scale at 17i ounces. Another sample is six of the Ohinemuri Dunne’s Seedling, the largest of which weighs 15£ ounces. These apples are really very fine specimens, splendidly grown ; the flesh is firm, the shape good, and the colouring delioate and healthy. They are as near perfection in their class as it is possible to raise them. Mr Blomquist claims no secret for growing suoh grand fruit. His first point was to secure true strains, then followed oareful cultivation and unremitting attention ; nature did the rest. Now what Mr Blomquist has done at Carterton can be done by dozens more in the Wairarapa. It can be done by hundreds in the Wellington province. Enough fruit can bo grown to supply not only all the possible requirements of the Empire city, but the whole of the Colony, with a large margin for export. All that is required is courage to start and energy to con tinue. Mr Piloher intends selecting the finest apples of tho specimens sent him, and, packing them well in powdered charooal, will send them to London for exhibition in a prominent place, to show what really can be produced in the Wellington province. The apples will certainly tell a rare tale of the prolificness of our soil and climate. But with such apples as these in our midst it is a disgrace to send money out of the province for the fruit we require. Cultor.