FRUIT-GROWING IN CENTRAL OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2569, 10 June 1903, Page 79

FRUIT-GROWING IN CENTRAL OTAGO.

— «» — POSSIBILITIES OF A GREAT INDUSTRY. (Br Our Special Kepobter.) CLIMATE AND SOIL. Hicher than the harvest of gold is that of ■wine and oil, and nobler the products of the soil when tilled and kowh than the yellow metal delved from gravel beds at the expense of that fertile eoiI; it would seem that- Nature had net been, altogether guiltless of a grim irony when she concealed the precious dust beneat-h the richest and most fertile of soils, for if im.n. chooses the gold, the soil, which would produce wealth in. "jirodiice for' generations and ages to come, 'must be destroyed. In the goidfields of Central Otago the province also possesses a fruit-growing area unsurpassed in the ' -whole colony, and it must be a matter for everlasting regret that it lias been found necessary or expedient to causo the de"struciion of co much valuable land. From Roxburgh to Alexandra, including Bald Hill Flat, and thence to Clyde and Cromwell, including portion of the Dunstan slopes towards Tarras, and some of the Pisa country, stretches tho great fruit-growing stone cf Central Otago, and where a few scattered orchards now represent the total fru't culture there should be endless areas of vines and peach, plum, prur.e, apple, arricot, nectarine, and cherry trees. All that 13 needed ia irrigation of the land and tho enterprise of capable orchardists, for tho coil and climate aro there. Too much attention cannot be paid to the great industry of fruit-growing in this colony, for it should be one of llie greatest sources of national wealth, and the Government would do well to give this subject more close attention, iv view of tho enormous strides made in fruit culture and the enormous areas planted in orchards in other countries of recant years. There can be no question but that tho future of the Alexandra, Clyde, and Cromwell districts is in fiuit culture*, and justly aro those areas accorded the palm among?t orchardkls. Iv summer but an infinitesimal rainfall is registered, and tL"re ale long, bright hours of sunshine to nce<6:ary for the ripening cf fruit a:.d the open air drying process ; and in winter ih-pre is t-now and frost, both aid 3in the cultivation of nil fruits grown in the tsuiperate aonce. The coil is largely inorganic — that is, containing a preponderance of mineral matter ai against organic or \cgctable molter, — and around Alexandra and Clyde I Uiink the proportion might be taken roughly at ninctenths ir.orgai.ic ma 1 tor to one-tenth organic. ( Such a proportion pro. ide^ a fdil almcst unsurpaeicd for fertility, and it only requires water. The inorganic constituents arc dorived from the crumbli.ig t f rctks in the "" denudation'"' procoi=, and the chief of these aro sandstone, lime-tone, and clay; in 11-c toils of the di-trict referred to there is alfo salt and a soda. Of courte, in considering the fertility or otherwise of an, area of land, the density of the soil must be taken into account, and ids capacity for absorbing moisture and retaining heat. Then the humus, or orgamo proportion, contains nitrogen — perhaps the mo=t important of all plant foods, — and if this is not present in euificient quantity the deficiency raunt be supplied. A necessary agent in the production .of nitrogen from the humus h the free, circulation of air ia the soil, but Naluie has provided that in the case of the fruitgrowing zone of Central Otpgo, as there are no peaty or swampy soils; uhere drainage from the hills creates a damnnes-, too gicat for orchard purpose?, an efficient whnne h necessary for the drawing off of surplus water, and a supply of li-ne will then accelerate the formation of nitrogen. For all lands watered by irrigation, drainage is very necessary, as otherwise there is apt to be a stagnation somewhere in tho =o'l. resulting in the production of a cheinii-.d action highly detrimental to plant life. To the fertility of a soil the pre.'Tc; of certain substances ministers ; a fertile c oil contains in its organic proportion elementary carhon, hydrogen, oxyrpn, nitr-geu. sunhur, and phosphorus, and, in its niorj.nvo proportion sand, o'ay. lime-, potaali, soda, lnnernes'a. om'Jc of iro:\ o\.de <: f manganese, sulphuric rid, ph^phonc acd, chlorine, iodine, bromine, ai.d fluorine. These con^litutents are present in the soils of Central Otago in most approved propoition, r>-d h'lico the remarkable results of irrigation. Some portions of tho di»tri< t oonra.n p greater propoit.on of rhoGphcrio a<-ul and pota-h than othf*ri<. cuch as at G-allrway Flat, and con^rquently these area = , when watered, are the nio=t lic'-ly prodnct v.^. The replenishing of the land -nith soire of these con<=titiurtE— the particular constituent and qu?ntity reqnireMil being depend nt upon the lutmo of crops growr — is naturally necef.,.iry from time to time, as the vegetation ):il:-s f,<-m the pel crtain oi-gar-.c and .'noreanc Mib-t-u eps, pri>: cl p a lly phespnerns, potash, ard nitioger. : but. given the fertil-* toil to ronnneno? with, tliere itio diffcultv about manuring to n-aintim the standard of fertility, or cvpn to incr°ase it. Giv?n the n.o-t fertile «o;i in the world, however, it would be v =(-!<>= for the purpo s rs of fruit culture v\itl>rut the rr>qui=it© climatic condition'; bat lnprily both mo in combinaiion in the fiuit-growinf zone of Centra ! Otago. Thf» thrca gieat adir-nlacf? ob'aining in tb-s district are abundant li«a f , c'rv atir.o--phe-re. and continuous funsliJne, which are not only p'cessary for the pcifectmg aud ripeninsf of fruit, but also for tho curing of tbe ftuit in the open air It is nef>sFary for the successful and profitable culture of the grape, apricor, peach, and pn-ine plum that there should be a freedom from c-x-tr<»nie«, and the characteristics of the climate 1 have mentioned do not exist to an excessive dearer" jn the AVxandra, Clyc'o, acd CroTiwell distrietp. Tliis is an ad\antage th° importance of which cannot be overestimated, as a very tow" percentage cf atmospheric humidity, and especially if in conjunction with a dedicating wind, would be unfavourable to fruit culture, as in corBCquence there would result a greater evaporation from the leaves than tho root' could supply. On the other hand, an extremely dry air allows of a parching tiui

heat at one time, and at another assists heat r?diation, in til a rapid decline in temperature induces severe- frosts. The MolyRCUX "Valley, however — and, indeed, the whole of Central Otago, though in a lese^r degree — has a higher summer and lower winter tempo-ratme than the seaboard. It will be readily understood, as Mr Blackmore, the Government pomologist, has pointed out, that there will bo local modifications of climate governed by local conditions, and there will be found special situations and looalitiea mere favourable for fruit culture <than other 3. For instance, in all interior valleys the c 1 mat© adjacent to thf» foctlvlls is considerably modified by the di c positi<-n of cold air to settle in low places, while the air rises along the adjoining h'l'.sides. and is a preventive of frost by iU constant motion on the slopes. Such situations would be producthe of early perfecting of the fruit, splendid growth, and abundant fruitage, and would. moreo\cr, be especially adapted for th.2 cultAPtiCn. of tho grape, peach, apricot, and prune phm. Taking these fsc!s irto con-ide-ration. the Molyneux Valley is most admirab'y suited to the culture of ma'iy frui's which wi'l bo enumerated later. For area of land mo=t suited, to the eulrivation of tho vine Central Otogo 's easily ahead of any other district in the whole colony.