THE TEVIOT FRUIT INDUSTRY

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 6

THE TEVIOT FRUIT INDUSTRY

ORCHARDS IN FINE CONDITION. ENERGETIC AND ENTERPRISINGFARMERS. There is no pretence that Roxburgh is a very extensive fruit growing area-, as it is confined to a narrow strip of land between tiro ioothills and the Moiyneux River, a few miles long and mostly one orchard deep. Owing to tho orchards, which are chiefly, on one side of tho road, forming a long line of trees, the extent of the fruit-grow-ing area is apt to bo presented to the stranger in a somewhat exaggerated light For tho area it occupies, however, it is an exceedingly interesting experience to view, this industry in Roxburgh, and it can bo said with much warmth of appreciation that the people have entered heartily and energetically into the spirit of the business, and the trees grown in the district, almost without exception, are exceedingly healthy, and prolific, and the impression of the personality of tho fruit-grower, ae a fruit-grower is invariably a very pleasant one. Though: it has been remarked that the areas of the orchards aro apt to be exaggerated, the peculiar quality of tho soil in its suitability for the growth of- tree life—requiring also the growth of roots, and a prolific bearing of branches and fruit buds—is quite unmistakable. Tho controversy as to whether this area was once an old creek bed, aa some people say it was, or the original bed of the Molyneux River, a theory that ' is held by other observers, is in itsolf a "secondary thing; the fact remains that the character of the soil is that of a gritty silt of considerable depth, with probably no extraordinary fertility, but with a supreme advantage of extreme mechanical stability. Tho opinion formed with regard to the soil, which occupiers say can best be.described as soil of exceptional fertility, is that that view may not be correct, but that the supremo advantage of • this soil is found in its mechanical side; which may be compared with the state produced by the new system adopted in America of growing fruit trees in land which has been first provisionally shaken by the use of a largo number of charges of high explosives. However, fruit trees thrive uncommonly well in this soil, and nowhere throughout the fruit-growing districts of Central Otago aro finer or more healthy trees to be seen than in the orchards at Roxburgh. The principal trees grown are cherries, apricots, peaches, and apples. There _ is no very noticeable growth of smaller fruits.There are some pears, but these are few by comparison with tho other fruit trees mentioned. A visitor to these orchards cannot help being struck by the high state of health of both trees and fruit. This is the proud achievement of tho Roxburgh fruit farmers, and they are entitled to every credit for it. It is something of a surprise _ to visitors to an orchard to observe the immature condition in which it is tho custom to pluck the fruit. If a person erfters the store sheds of a leading Roxburgh fruit grower ho is not. offered any of the fruit there, nor would he eat it if he were. It " has been found necessary for commercial purposes to pick., the fruit in this condition. The hospitality of the orchardists, is however, unbounded, and instead of selecting fruit for their, guests they confer upon them the freedom of the orchard, where the visitors can select beautiful fruit ready to eat and far different from that being prepared for market. The secret of this business is that fruit picked while on the green side travels better, _ and naturally the question of transport is a big one, particularly to the Roxburgh people, where the nearest railway is some 30 miles distant. From the commencement of the industry the growers have found this matter of transport a very serious .one. For some years it was inadequately tackled with the result that the private grower suffered serious loss through mishandling! and other incidents duo to imperfectly organised transport. The Roxburgh fruitgrowers, however, are nothing if not enterprising and energetic They have seen the futility of pressing for railway advantages during this great war, and they livo in hopes that in happier times the necessary extension of the railway from Beaumont will be made. But in addition to their other characteristics, they are patriotic, and have refrained -from pressing upon visiting Ministers an expense which they feel cannot bo through which wo are passing. In addition to tho railway, they now have a motor lorry service between Beaumont and Roxburgh, a number of the leading fruitgrowers having combined to rescue the district from the serious disadvantages under which it is placed in comparison with other fruit growing areas, such as those in Motueka, Nelson, Marlborough Frimley (in Hawke's Bay), Alexandra, and in some . districts in North Auckland, all of which are oarried on round the track of the rails. Similar disadvantages mijrht have daunted settlers less courageous than the settlers of Roxburgh. These have not been daunted, and the result has been the establishment of an excellent motor lorry service which parades the roads between Roxburgh day and night, aud causes, amonsr other things, a few, unpleasant trrumblinK from the sleepers in the local hotels whoso slumbers are apt to bo disturbed through the blowing of horns and) tho rattling of gears and other furious noises common to the motor lorry. So fax as the space in the shape of railway facilities at Beaumont is concerned, the observer has means of satisfying himself that the department has recognised and accepted its responsibilitv in the matter. Tho transport service organised by the Roxburgh settlers has been ably and to all appearances efficiently seconded by the efforts of the Railway Department. Fruit is carried from tho terminus at Beaumont as speedily as possible to the various markets to which it is consigned, and the general impression gained is that the requirements appear to have been met as adequately as far as it is in the power of the authorities to meet them. The loud complaints heard in the past of the hampering effect of the want of transport have diminished rather than increased, and for this result the settlers and tho Railway Department may fairly divide the credit. Something might be said of_ the difficulties incidental to fruit-growing in Roxburgh. The district was subject to waterspouts' on tho hills, and hailstorms if they occur at particular times are apt to destroy in the course of a few hours entire hopes of a year. Incidents of this kind_ are only too obvious even to tho casual visitor, but tho indomitable spirit of the. Roxburgh fruit growers makes light of theso somewhat disastrous possibilities and concentrates its hopes upon the saving of each

successive crop without interference from natural cataclysms. One conspicuous instance is that of an orchard which was visited, and which 12 months ago suffered from the effects of a hailstorm sa:d to bo of only 10 minutes' duration, but which brought about in that short space of time a loss running into four figures; something like, in fact, the entire revenue of the year. The' condition of the orchard to-day is splendid, but the spirit of the occupier is not more cheerful than it was a week after the havoo caused by the hailstorm a year ago. There is no possibility _of guarding against such sudden visitations, and a philosophical attitude is thereforo called for. Even the Roxburgh fruit grower cannot stem a hailstorm or dissipate a waterspout in harmless streams. Their spirit of hopefulness is their protection against any form of discouragement, due to these fortunately rare occurrences. It may be mentioned that the ordinary consumer who is among the first to ■ purchase retail fruit from the early output of a Roxburgh orchard is apt to be somewhat disappointed with the appearance of the fruit. This is due to the system already described of plucking it in a hardly mature condition, this being a necessity to ensure the commercial success of the fruit, and being partly the result of the absence of a railway in "the district. Consumers who are apt to experience this disappointment should •wait until the fruit is in a fortnight or so, and their opinion will change. It would change even more quickly if they could see, as a visitor to the district sees, the fruit on the trees at its very best. No one scarcely ever leaves Roxburgh after a visit without wishing the settlers the one thing necessary to complete their .happiness—the extension of the railway to the town itself. That is all that is required to ensure the great success of the Roxburgh fruit industry. The completeness of the equipment of the Roxburgh fruit farms—chiefly the larger ones —is both surprising and pleasing to the visitor. It is a matter of extreme interest as well as congratulation to observe the remarkably ingenious and expensive machines which are used in connection with the cultivation of the ground, and especially those used for spraying the fruit trees, ©praying is one of the principal and most necessary operations in the conduct of a modern fruit farm. It is equally surprising to find in connection with a comfortable enterprising homestead a complete equipment of electric light. Telephones, of course,, are universal. These are most valuable in connection with the farmers carrying organisation, and enables the growers to guard against the possibility of the lorries being overloaded at one time or travelling with half a load on another. <»> It is also worthy of mention that the homes of the settlers are substantial and comfortable. These are for the most part supplied with garden plots, a, portion of which is set aside for the growing of flowers, so that the general characteristic of the Roxburgh fruit grower is that while assuming the profitable paths indicated by nature he is not insensible to beauty also. The devices for the suppression of the small bird are both • curious and interesting. Another department of the fruit-growing industry is, of course, the picking and packing of the fruit. Very careful inquiries were made as to the kind of labour found most effective for this necessary purpose, and it is pleasing to record that the testimony of the growers in general, and that of Mr M'Phail, manager of" the Birchdale orchard, in particular, of the efficiency of the school boys in general, borders on the enthusiastic. It has been noted in connection with the farming industry that this feeling towards thte average boy is not quite so pleasant as it would be desirable to record; but in the fruit growing industry the boy appears to have found one of his true spheres, and the sight of happy children inarching through gates from the fruit farms of a night when a circus or a moving picture show is available in the township Is one that is particularly pleasing to the oasual visitor. The boys are paid £1 per week and found, and Mr M'Phail states that they are well worth the money paid them. "With regard to the irrigation of the orchards, the impression produced is that this perhaps is in a less forward or less Bcientific condition than most of the other enterprises connected with the industry. A great deal has been done, but partly because of the scattered and undermined character of the hill streams and partly, too, because of the somewhat uniformly level nature of the orchards the problem of irrigation has been somewhat complicated and is not yet nearly met. The development of this very necessary department of fruit culture is in hand, and it may be that before another season comes round it will have reached a more adequate stage. Though the use of artificial manures has not, up to the present, been very largely called for, it has been .to some extent part of the normal operations of the fruit growers in the past. Experienced fruit-growers, however, regard the element of potash as being the fertilising element most called for by the necessities of the Roxburgh soil. The practical disappearance of potash from the market owing to the" closing of the German mines to export has not so far produced any noticeably deleterious effects on the trees of the district. Nevertheless the growers look_ forward somewhat eagerly to the possibilities of the discovery of a new channel through which potash might bo procured in sufficient quantities to meet requirements without having to depend upon the enemy for thensupply.