APPLE EXPORT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16542, 9 January 1928, Page 11

APPLE EXPORT

TOO MANY VARIETIES Speaking at the Nurserymen’s Conference in Wellington, Air. T. W. Atwood, of Auckland, president of the Fruit Growers’ Federation, urged that the number of varieties of apples for export should be cut down to about eight. Mr. Atwood’s ‘address tv as entitled “Commercial Fruit Growing,” and ho slated that the Dominion was highly suitable for fruit growing from one end ro the other, but there were too many varieties of npplfc grown. lie understood that about iSnO different varieties had been introduced, and he declared that at least 1200 were no good. From one or two varieties only in the right place they could build up a successful commercial orchard, and for the export trade, if he had his way, he would cut the varieties down to eight,' as the others “were not worth their salt.” The future of the apple industry lay with the orchardists iii the first place, and secondly in liie insulated chambers'of the shipping. Air. Atwood also made some remarks on the insect posts. There were about 17a insect pests and fungoid growths in the Dominion kinTwn to the sei ontists, and Dr. Tillyard had told him that there were about--200 more waiting the chance to get in. Personally he (Air. Atwood) would not be sorry to see them in, because then the orchardist would know exactly where he stood. (Laughter.) Nine-tenths of these “varmints” the fruit farmer could not see, as they worked in one incessant struggle against them. At. one time lie could not. sleep at night, thinking out. the different formulae lie was recommended to apply. (Laughter.) Now, however, science was coming to the rescue, and in that connection he considered that New Zealand had been very silly in losing the services of Dr. Tillyard.