THE FRUIT INDUSTRY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1717, 25 January 1905, Page 65

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY

A VISITOR FROM ASIA MINOR. M. Jasques P. Solari, a merchant Largely interested in the fruit trade in Smyrna, Asia Minor, is at present on a business visit to New Zealand. In conversation with a “New Zealand Mail” representative last week, M. Solari said that, though he was not an agriculturist, he was clearly of opinion that fruit could be grown with great success in this colony, chiefly because of its excellent climate, which he considered very like that of Asia Minor. For wine-making black raisins are used in Smyrna, and these grow very freely, and require little cultivation. An enormous trade is done in figs and Sultana and Eleme raisins, sent out from Vsia Minor to various countries, including New Zealand. Statistics show that •, e quantities imported into this colony are increasing. It is well known that Smyrna figs are highly prized in t !- e markets of the world, hut one curious fact related by M. Solari is not so well known: The growers, if they wish to ensure that the fruit shall reach its fullest maturity and best condition, must hang some wild figs upon the trees, and from the wild fig a wasp issues which transmits to the new fig certain qualities which bring it to perfection. M. S'olari read with great interest recently in an Australian journal a review or a book published by a Californian fruitgrower who claimed to have succeeded in introducing this wasp into Fresno with beneficial results to the figs grown in that country ; but ho is inclined to doubt the success of the experiment, at all events until he is more fully informed about it. During the fig season in Asia Minor, from August till about the end' of October, thousands or people are employed in the industry, many workmen giving up their ordinary occupations for this purpose, because of the extra money they are able to earn. The firm in which M. Solari is interested employs about 800 men and 400 women during the season. It is a significant circumstance that it costs more, as M. Solari says, to put Miidura raisins upon the market in Melbourne than it does to land Smyrna raisins in New Zealand. The price of labour is much higher in Australia than in Asia Minor, for one thing.