Canning Fruits. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 11

Canning Fruits. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — I was not a little pleased at noting by your report of Mr Blackmore's address at the opening of the canning factory at Roxburgh that that gentleman was induced to mention the names of varieties of fruit specially adapted to canning. During all the years that Mr Blackmore has been.pomologist to the Department of Agriculture this has been, I understand, the first occasion on which he has made a pronouncement of the kind, although it would have been better for all concerned had he advised tho planting of those fruits some y-Sirs ago. A pomologist possessing a knowledge of those fruits the colour and texture of the flesh of which renders them peculiarly suitable for canning, should have certainly advised fruitgrowers to plant those particular kinds before to-day. As it is, the more intelligent of our fruitgrowers have anticipated Mr Blackmore, and instead of depending upon inconclusive hearsay have sought

the advice of intelligent Californians, from whom lists of the names of fiuits peculiarlysuitable to canning and drying are always to be procured. Some two or three years back the Department of xVgriculturo was selling fruit trees, but, if my memory serves me right, those specimen trees were merely for experimental purposes. Had the department introduced a few thousand young trees of Phillip's clmg peach from California the country would ha\e been the better to-day for the presence of such a splendid canning peach in our orchards. It- is to be hoped, Sir, the officers of the department will take immediate steps to have this peach introduced into New Zealand by the thousands next season, and that a few young trees will be distributed gratis to young planters In the South, as well as in the North Island, in order to ensure a wide distribution of this valuable canning peach. — I am, etc.,

February 24.

A somewhat unfortunate predicament was that in which a Roxburgh angler fauna himself la^t week. According to the local paper the fisherman referred to had, while engaged in fishing, slipped into the creek and received a thorough wetting. He thereupon decided on divesting Hm^elf of almost all his garments, and with the aid of a small fire raroceded to dry them. He continued fishing, but on returning shortly to his drying piece found that his garments had been destroyed and were in ashes.