THE FRUIT-GROWING INDUSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 10

THE FRUIT-GROWING INDUSTRY.

INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNMENT CANNING EXPERT.

Taking advantage of Mr Jaques's visit to Dunedin, a Daily Times representative waited upon Ir'-n on- Wednesday in order to ascertain his views on the prospects of the fruit-canning industry in this colony. Mr Jaques was most courteous and obliging, and hip, observations on this important industry will no doubt be appreciated by those interested in the subject. It should be borne in mind that that gentleman views the question from the point of view of a canning expert, and not as a horticulturist. Asked what he thought of the prospects of fruit-raising in -Otago, Mr' Jaques referred .to what had already been done in this respect, notably in the Teviot district* where jery extensive -planting had beenf and was still being,. 1 done. He believed the industry had proved "very remunerative to fruit-growers in that district, where he had seen -apricots, apples, and pears equal to anything he had -yet seen in the colony. As to peaches, Mr Jaques said : " I have seen large quantities of excellent " peaches at Teviot, but. unfortunately, largo numbers of 'trees bearing fruit unsuitable for canning purposes have been planted in the past, but this is now remedied in accordance with the lessons taught by experience. I believe, however, thab the North Island will eventually prove a formidable rival in the matter of peach-rais-ing. The quantity grown at the present is, however, small, but is increasing steadily, but this should not discourage southern fruitraisers, and I only wish to give honour I where it is due." What do you think of the suitability of the varieties at present grown for canning? ''Unfortunately many varieties have been planted which are not at all suitable for canning as a first-class article, although they may be very excellent for marketing. The peaches are unorthodox in colour, besides being unsuitable in other way& Some of the apricots are correct, while others do not can well. The only suitable jaear for canning is not yet grown in commercial quantity." What do you suggest to improve in this respect ? " Much is being done already, and I trust it will be continued. Suitable varieties should be budded on to otherwise worthless sorts, and an endeavour should be made to raise new varieties with suitable characteristics. In order to stimulate 'fruit-growers in this direction prizes should he- "awarded j for new varieties best suited ' for * requireI merits Further, the Government should be urged to establish small experimental orchard section's in various parts of the colony in order to prove if standard canningvarieties of fruit will succeed in the adjacent localities. Some varieties will thrive admirably in one situation, and fail miserably in another, and vice versa. The varieties best adapted to a particular I locality can only be determined by careful

experiment and selection, and much valuable time would be saved and information obtained if my suggestion could be put to practical use. The matter appears to me to be so important as to call for more than ordinary notice." Will you please name varieties most adapted for canning purposes? " The principal sorts of fruits to can are apricots, "peais, peaches, plums, and apples. The best varieties of these are: — Apricots: Moorpark, Royal, Blenheim, Hemskirk, Mansfield Seedling, St. Ambrose, elc. Pears : William's Bon Chretien only. Peaches : Any of the gcod lemon or orange clingstone variety, such as Nicholl's Cling, Phillip's Cling; also late Crawford, Susquehana, and Yellow Italian. There are others which can well, but the colour is not satisfactory. The colour of the flesh should be a distinct yellow, and clingstones produce the most writable fruit of the kind referred to. Plums: While Magnum Bonum, Yellow Victoria. Coe's Golden Drop, Orleans Jefferpon, Washington Greengage, and Reine Claude dv Bavay. Apples: Any good cooking sorts having clean, firm flesh. Dessert opplcs are unsuitable for canning purposes." What apples arc most in favour on tha London market? '"The Sturmar is easily first; Munroe's Favourite, Rome Beauty, French Rennettes, and, recently, Jonathan has come to the front. As a dessert apple I think it will soon supplant all others. 1 ' Do you think there is a good opening in this colony for the establishment of fruit evaporating factories? " This process is usually in adjunct to a cannery. It is little use. evaporating in a domestic way, because the colour and flavour can rarely be retained. It usually provides an outlet for rejected fruit, for you will understand that if it is desired to n/ake- a s-uccess of fruit-canning only tho be»t varieties of suitable fruit should he raised. Several plants have already been installed in this colony, but. unfortunately, failure has resulted more or less on account of the machinery being defective in Drinciples of construction. I think there is a very goad opening here foi evaporating room.?, both for evaporating fruit and vegetables, the possibilities in this direction opening an extensive field for enterprise-. At present large quantities of exosllent, sound fruit are simply wasted which otheiwise could be immediately utilised if a drying plant was available. Many varieties of fruit which are unsuitable for canning could be made to yield a handsome return if evaporated and placed upon the> market. The increasing demand for evaporated fruit and vegetable is simply astonishing, and thero is no reason why New Zealand growers should not capture a share of the trade, both locally and abroad. These products are admirably adapted to the requirements of South African and Australian markets, and there is no reason why New Zealand growers should not capture a good share of thf* trade in this respect. lii order to accomplish this it would be necessary to adopt the latest and most up-to-date methods and machinery, because the latter have quite superseded the old processes."