FRUIT AND THE FRUIT LANDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3595, 6 February 1923, Page 7

FRUIT AND THE FRUIT LANDS.

ROUND ABOUT ROXBURGH. A REMARKABLE SEASON. Tn a vague sort of way a whole lot of people are under the impression that a. considerable quantity of very good fruit comes frqm Central Otago. They are correct. But how few people even in Dunedin and other partH of the provincial district, to say nothing of those elsewhere in New Zealand, really know to what extent fruitgrowing is carried on in ‘‘Central” ! A somewhat trite saying is peculiarly apt: “It must be seen to be believed.” There is much 10 amaze the visitor, who probably has been led to believe that rabbits rule in this region. One can only hazard a guess at what would be the feelings of a traveller who, say, has not visited the locality during a 20-year period. Then the cheerless, rather barrenlooking aspect of the countryside; now the eye is gladdened at the sight of thousands of acres of fruit lands, for the greater part beautifully kept, and dotted over with trees each bearing an abundance of luscious fruit of its particular variety. The writer set out upon a tour of “Central,” and after a painfully-dreary tram journey duly arrived at Beaumont, the railhead on one side. From there to Roxburgh a distance of 28 miles, is covered by motor car —a journey a little less distressing. Roxburgh, sleepily situated on the banks of the rapid Molyneux River, is the centre of the Teviot fruit district, which extends from Miller’s Flat on the one hand to Coal Creek on the other. In some instances in the area fruitgrowing has been in existence for 40 years, but in more recent times there has been remarkable extension. To-day the area under trees is approximately 950 acres. VARIETIES AND PESTS. Practically every variety of fruit is grown —apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines, and strawberries (the last mentioned in limited quantity). Apples and pears, too, are grown largely, some of the former being particularly fine. Apricots form the staple crop, and of. the “Central” apricots it may be of interest to recall the fact that a world-famous fruitgrower once expressed his opinion that they are the finest in the world, with those of Western Australia coming second ! The main variety rn apricots in the Teviot area is from locally-raised stock, and is known as the Roxburgh Red. It is truly a delightful fruit. Other apricot varieties which do very well in the district are the Newcastle (an early cropper of good commercial value), Moor Park, Royal, Emskirk, and Oullain. It has been found that the best varieties of peaches are the Sneed, Briggs’s Red May, Alexandra. Hales Early, Wiggins, and Carmen. The Sneed, while not of outstanding quality, is of much commercial value; it is a very early peach, for which the price of 8d to 9d per lb is realised. Of the canning varieties of peaches experience has shown the best to be the Muir, Alberta, Lady Palmerston, and Clingstone. In regard to apples growers are of opinion that the Delicious are the finest, but others which run them close are Sturmers, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Scarlet Nonpariel, Dunn’s favourite, Cleopatra, Statesman, and Jonathan. Sturmers realised the highest price on the London market in the first export shipment last year, bringing 20s 6d per case. This was not actually the top price, as small consignment of 25 cases of Cox’s Orange Pippins wore bought at 23s a ease. Naturally enough, however, this is not taken as a fair indication, as the very smallness of the consignment and the fact that they were purchased for Buckingham Palace were considerable factors in the matter of price. Central Otago fruitgrowers congratulate themselves that in ihe matter of blight they suffer considerably less than growers in other parts of the dominion. But still they have their difficulties to contend with, and to their credit be it said they have tackled the problem in a systematic and successful manner. So far as”inject diseases are concerned, apple trees arc to a measure affected by woolly aphis, but the trouble from cocllin moth is insignificant. . There are no insect diseases m stone truit. In the matter of fungus diseases growers are only very slightly trouble by blacx spot on anples, and are not apprehensive of the future. There is always a certain amount of mildew, but this is easily controlled by systematic spraying. In the last couple of years a. new disease has made its appearance, this being brown rot on peaches. It has also slightly affected nectarines and cherries. A good deal of anxiety was at first felt in regard to peaches, but growers are now becoming more confident respecting the methods of treatment. Taken all round, and of course speaking in the comparative sense, the district is unusually free from any serious form of disease. The sprays in universal use for fungus diseases are: —Bordeaux mixture, with lime sulphur for summer application. Arsenate

of lead is used for codlin moth, and “Black Leaf 40” has been found to he a very successful summer spray for woolly aphis, the bugbear of the apple grower. RECORD YEAR FOR GROWERS Despite the fact that more rain has fallen this season than for many years past, the crop so far has been a record one. No figures are yet available as to actual yields, but some idea of the enormous crops may be obtained in the information that up to date this vear the Teviot Fruitgrowers Association, which is the buying mediurm for the bulk of the growers, has sold to them upwards of 150,000 cases for fruit. It is considered that cases supplied to growers through other channels will total well over 20.000. The growers’ market extends as far as Auckland, and apricots have been selling in the North Island at- satisfactory high prices. At places near at hand, however, including Dunedin, prices have not been quite so good. 'This condition of affairs some growers attribute to the tact that, recently the canning factories reiused to take further consignments, and that the fruit was placed on the open market without a great deal of discrimination. That the growers have such abundant results is no doubt largely due to the thoroughness of their methods. Indeed, some of the orchards simplj; .seem to be gardens where weeds do not grow. Others may not be quite so well kept, but they in turn show ample evidences of a very considerable measure of attention. In the matter of appliances they are all up to date, including the latest motor apparatus for spraying—-w T eirdly wonderful contrivances, which at. first glance seem akin to destructive engines of war. As in almost every case _ the _ methods adopted are practically identical it would, perhaps he idle to particularise individual holdings. Amongst the growers _ of longstanding may, however, be mentioned the Birehdale Orchards, 50 acres; Messrs Bennetts 59 to 60 acres; Mrs 8. Toms, 20 acres’; and the Messrs Tamblyn, 50 acres. Amongst the newer growers some of the most, prominent are: Waight and Sons, ou acres- George Brothers, 30 acres; J. B. Gilmour, 20 acres; T. P. Michele, 15 acres; and W. J. Manuel. Mr Gilmour in addition. has a considerable quantity of grapes under glass, and from these he secures a handsome return. So far as spraying and general attention to their orchards are concerned, it is claimed for them that the growers of this district rival, if they do not excel, those in any other part of New Zealand. . .. . As just one indication of the possibilities of the fruit industry, it may be mentioned that given the right variety of trees, an area’ of 10 acres is regarded as sufficient to afford a man a comfortable living. Last year on one block of 11 acres, consisting of 800 Sturmer trees and 500 Delicious, the yield Was 4000 bushels. On this area, moreover, there were some 500 trees that were not hearing! TRANSPORT AND ORGANISATION. STie matter of transport is a vital '-one, it being essential to the grower that there should be the minimum delay from the time the fruit is picked off the trees to the tune it is placed on the market. Hours, in some cases, make a very great deal of difference. To cope with the vast output 10 motor lorries are employed on the road from the Teviot area to the railhead at Beaumont, some of them making as many as three trips per day, or, rather, per day and. night. On a recent day one lorry started off from Roxburgh at 5 p.m. and delivered its third load into Beaumont Station at 9 o’clock on the following morning. These lorry men make “ good money,” but it is strenuous work, and lasts for only a shoTt while ' in the year. The lorries generally talc* five tons, and the freight is 6d per case, 225 cases of fruit weighing a ton. Railway transit is hardly so satisfactory. A half-case or case of fruit is carried anywhere in the South Island for Bd, and bulk lots are charged according to quantity and distance. An ample number of trucks has been available, but, although some slight improvement has been shown, growers are not satisfied with regard to ventilation. The XA wagons have louvre ends, but growers desire the side to be similarly treated. It is, however, pointed out by the department that these wagons are used for other purposes when the fruit season is over. And it is contended that, if the fruitgrowers’ latest suggestion were acted upon the effect would be to render the vehicles unsuitable for the purposes for which they would then bo required. Growers are still living in hope. Tlie Teviot growers have a live organisation, of which Mr J. H. Waight, jun., ia secretary. There are some 70 members, and the organisation does all the buying. Goods for growers are sold to them at cost price, plus freight charge. For 1922 the turnover of the association in this direction was in the vicinity of £7OOO, and the management expenses amounted to only £llO. To cover this members were charged a levy of 2 per cent. The association is final oed by aguaranteed account at the Bank of New Zealand, one condition of membership being (mat the grower signs a “joint and several”

at the bank. Discounts are given for cash or credit, but aWthe end of 30 days bank rates of interest are charged on unpaid accounts. It is generally recognised that the scheme is one of the most successful little co-operative organisations in existence in New Zealand. ABOUT WATER. On the west side of the country around Roxburgh there is little or no irrigation,' as it is generally understood in Central Otago. Most of the growers have their private rights, leading the water from a spring or creek on the property, and it is used for about three days. All that is required is permission to use it. On the east side, however, the orchards are irrigated from the old mining race knqwn as the Ladysmith Race. This is at present controlled by the Electric Power Board, but is to be handed over to the Public Works Department at the end of 12 months, when the hydro-electric scheme will be well advanced, if not completed. This water is at present supplied to the orchards at a cost of 15s per acre per annum. taken “by and large,” as the sailor hath it, a visit to Central Otago at this time of year is indeed a revelation. The region is one of pleasantness and plenty.