EDITORIAL NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1160, 25 May 1894, Page 5

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Unlike many other industries which

have been started in New Zealand within the past dozen years, and died after a mushroom exis-

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

tence, the dairy industry has evidently come to stay. The secret of this suecess may be attributed to two causes : The Colony is especially suited for dairying purposes, and the method of butter making which prevailed here • in the past has been completely revolutionised. In the case of many industries that have failed, we had the material, but we lacked the necessary capital and experience, and depended upon the fictitious aid of high Customs duties to enable us to supply even our own markets with goods that could be imported at a less cost than they could be manufactured here.

It was hopeless for us to expect to open up markets for such goods in the countries of the Old World where capital was plentiful and labour cheap. With the butter trade it was different. It is true we havo boon for many yoars able lo supply our home consumption, but with an inferior article. The very great improvement effected in the manufacture of butter has not only contributed to increase the homo demand, but has also left us a largo supply to meet the requirements of the trade in the United Kingdom.

If butter were like other goods, capable of being kept over from one season to another, our prospects would not he so promising. As it is we get our butter to London when the dairying season in Denmark, Normandy and Ireland is over. Hence it is that the likelihood of our being ever forced into an unequal competition with the pro ducers of these countries is very remote. There are other signs of encourage ment. The great competition that is springing up between the steamship companies must gradually have a tendency to lessen freights, whilst the many scientific discoveries that are being made must undoubtedly lead to the adoption of better and less expensive methods of freezing and preserving perishable food products. The prospects of the dairy industry in this Colony are therefoie very encouraging, and such as to induce many settlers who have hitherto held aloof to embark in it.

It is with much pleasure we notice that this question is being taken up in a practical and energetic manner in various parts of the Colony. The settlers reoognise that this is destined to be one of the staple industries of New Zealand in the future. There is an unlimited market for butter in the United Kingdom, whilst very little competition need be feared at the season when we cau send our supplies. So long as the promoters of creameries and factories proceed in a careful and business-like manner they have nothing to fear.

There must be co-operation and economy in the management of such ventures. It will not do for every dozen settlers to start a creamery and factory on their own account, for if they do the expenses will be too great in proportion to the output, and the profits will be swallowed up in the salaries of officials. This is an age of co-operation and competition, and we know from practical experience that unless business is conducted nowadays at a minimum of cost it cannot prosper. We believe that it would be far more profitable if a number of creameries, instead of each having its staff of secretaries, managers and directors, were to affiliate with some large company and thus save the expenses necessary to the sub-division

of clerical and other work. Then, again, there is sure to be more uniformity in the article produced, whilst it is patent to anybody that a large company that sells ics goods under the guarantee of a well-known trade mark can always secure a better price for an article than a number of small producers, whoso brand is practically little known to buyers.

We know that there are mAiiy persons who take a different view of the matter, and advise intending promoters of creameries to run the business independent of any outside aid or advice. We believe that this would be an unwise policy where the quantity of butter to be turned out is not large, for as we have pointed out, the oo*t of management will be out of proportion to the value of ihe article produced. Besides, if the promoters of small creameries only combine with wellestablished concerns they will get some practical information which will save them many a pound. They will be shown how to avoid the rocks upon which many of their predecessors were nearly wrecked, and the sand hanks upon which they were financially stranded.

It is much to be regretted that more

FRUIT GROWING.

attention has not been paid to fruit culture in this Colony in the past.

Experts and others tell us, and we know from practical experience, that there are few parts of the world where there would be so little difficulty in putting this industry on a paying basis Here and there orchards have been planted in something like a systematic manner, but, unfortunately, these instances have been few and far between. Perhaps one of the causes which have led to the neglect of this industry in the past has been the length of time intervening between the undertaking of the work of planting and when a return will be got for the expenditure incurred.

Shoep and cows repay some of the money expended on their purchase within twelve or eighteen months, but with fruit trees it is much longer. But when an orchard begins to bear, the percentage of returns on outlay is much larger than that received from any other product of the land. The initial step, however, in starting an orchard is perhaps the most difficult, and fraught with the most serious consequences to the success of the undertaking. A man cannot change his fruit trees every year as ho can chango his stock. A bad beginning in the selection of suitable tre< s throws back the orchar list for a dozen years, and very often gives him si disgust of the whole business. The time is now approaching for planting fruit trees, and consequently wo take the opportunity of strongly urging on our country readers the advisability of commencing the nucleus of an orchard wherever the situation and tho nature of the soil are suitable. If they once make a start, however small, there are hopes that the matter will be followed up. The cost of purchasing and planting say fifty or a hundred fruit trees will be a mere trifle. The ground will not be wasted, as it will grow crops of potatoes or other vegetables for the next three or four years, just as well as if there were no trees on it. The care necessary for the trees during the same period will be very little, as there are very few settlers who have not a few spare hours on their hands occasionally during the winter months, when the pruning could be done.

It is absolutely necessary, however, that special attention should be paid to the varieties of fruit trees to be procured, as on this depends mainly the success of the venture. We were informed by a gentleman quite recently that he knew a place where the finest peaches were successfully grown, and another place, not ten chains away, where the same variety could not be got to come to maturity. Now it is evident that as there was no apparent difference between the two localities, there must have been something lacking in the soil. In many places in this Colony there is a great want of salts and lime in the soil, and these two chemicals are as necessary to plant as to animal life. It is said that the great success of fruit growing in California is due to the presence of an abnormal amount of salt in the soil of that country.

Now, not alone is it necessary that the man who wants to commence fruit growing should hay© ft complete know-

ledge of the varieties of fruit for which he can secure a ready sale, but also the most likely kinds of fruit to succeed on his land. Very few persons have this knowledge, and therefore the best thing that an amateur can do is to apply to a well-known nurseryman and ask hia advice. He will have to pay a fair price for his young trees, but at the same time he will have the satisfaction of knowing that he is getting good value for his money. The selection of suitable kinds of fruit trees and good varieties is half the way on th® road to success in fruit growing. The next thing is the preparation of the ground and proper planting, but to deal with these subjects would make this article too long so we propose to resume the subject in a future issue.