APPLES FOR LONDON

Otago Witness, Issue 3555, 2 May 1922, Page 11

APPLES FOR LONDON

TIIE CENTRAL OTAGO SHIPMENT. Mr W. T. Goodwin, on his return to Wellington from Dunedin, told a Dominion reporter that a great deal of interest centred in the initial shipment of 5000 cases of apples going forward to London from Central Otago by the steamer Cornwall this week. “The crop is a very good one,” said Mr Goodwin. “It is the first lot that has come into bearing, and will very favourable compare with the best shipments from Nelson. Central Otago is, as you know, entirely immune from black spot. The area cropped for apples lies between Island Block and Pembroke, and export apples are being .taken from Ettrick, Roxburgh, Alexandra, and Clyde. Preparations are going forward for extensive planting at Cromwell, further up. The trees there are not expected to produce for export till next season. The chief varieties in the present export parcel are Cleopatra, Scarlet Nonpareil. Stunner, Delicious, and Newtown Pippin. The? are fairly evenly divided. A few pears are going forward, of the Winter Nelis variety.” The local instructors of the Agricultural Department’s staff have been assisting in getting the shipment up to a commercial standard, in order that it might meet with a profitable handling at Home. The chief difficulty at present was in packing, owing to the scarcity of experienced men in this trade in the district. REMARKABLE IMPROVEMENT. “It is four years since I saw this district, and I am pleased to report that the improvement has been remarkable. Although there is no apparent increase in the acreage, a lot of y<?ung orchards are coming into bearing. In its solicitude for the welfare of the trees, the department does not permit export until they are seven years of age. The holdings run from four to a hundred acres, but I suppose the average would be about twenty acres—the same as in the Nelson district.” Mr" Goodwin added that the growers were guaranteed a minimum of a penny a pound for export apples, in order to encourage the industry. The Cornwall’s shipment was going forward under consignment to various agents, nominated by individual growers.