SOME FINE ORCHARD LANDS

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 7

SOME FINE ORCHARD LANDS

OTAGO CENTRAL ENTERPRISE. Among the most striking instances of the conversion of arid lands in the Central Otago district into splendidly cultivated areas is that of Fruitlands, a property of about 1000 acres in the Bald Hill Flat district. It is owned by a company whose members are principally Dunedin citizens, and tho work of development was undertaken four or five years ago, the intention being to cut up tho land into moderate sized sections, and proceed steadily with the planting of apple trees, selling the sections at moderate prices as opportunity offered. After considerable delay satisfactory arrangements were made for a supply of water for irrigation purposes, the services of a pkilled orehnrdist were secured, tho land broken, a;:d "the planting of apples of approved kinds commenced between three and four years since. Great vigour has ahar».cter;fl^d' tho operations of tho cornway, and there are now 300 acres planted In apples. Tho 40,000 vigorous, healthy, sturdy trees have mado growth during the past 6cason, and these in count-

less rows are a striking feature of the landscape at the present time. This is 0110 of the big apple-growing ventures of the dominion, and some of the directors and shareholders of the company who have just returned from a visit to their propcrty feel justly proud of the result of thenenterprise, although they quite recognise that some time must elapse ere they get any return for their investment. In addition to the great orchard which it is establishing, the companv has this year an area of nearly 200 acres of the property devoted to the production of grain crops, and the wheat and oats give promise of most satisfactory yields. They furnish another example of what can be done by irrigation, added to the splendid soil, rich in phosphates, of which the estate is composed. This company's undertaking is not on quite the same scale as that of the Cromwell Development Company, of whose operations' the public have been interested readers' and spectators during the past few days, but it is of similar typo, and it is gratifying to know that there are in our midst men who are prepared to back their faith in the productive powers of portions of tho lands of the interior which only await the investment of capital and the display _ of energy in their development and cultivation that characterise the operations of tho two companies mentioned.