The Fruit Industry.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 91, 16 December 1890, Page 3

The Fruit Industry.

{Continued from our lasi.) It will be well for fruit-growers to hear in mind that only the very best /fruit should be packed for shipment. The question then arises how best to dispose of the residue. This problem has been solved in Canterbury. The Styx Apple Company have erected a cider plant, and have succeeded in manufacting an excellent article, which is highly spoken of by competent judges. There can be little doubt but that this beverage will find a ready market in this colony, and will supply a wholesome and a much-needed beverage. It is anticipated that a considerable trade will also be done in Australia.

The following information lias been kindly famished by the manager of the company referred to:— Cider.— “ The very best cider can be made from a judicious blending of different varieties of apples. The great secret is to crust the fruit when thoroughly mellow— i.e., it should be allowed to remain exposed to the sun for at least one month after it has ripened on the tree. A far longer period is necessary to mature late fruit. Ail well-coloured and wellflavoured apples will make good cider; but large green and pale-yellow varieties must be avoided. It is absolutely incorrect to suppose that good cider can only be produced from apples of no value for any other purpose. The quantity of juice obtainable from a given weight of apples varies with the kind, and, of course, with the amount of pressure. With our machinery we get about one gallon of juice from 16lb of apples With the steam-power which we hope to have in use next season we shall largely increase the yield. To produce really good cider great care is necessary after crashing, to check fermentation before the drink becomes too acid for any but a Somersetshire man. Cool cellaring is, I think, almost indispensable. In an ordinary year cider could be produce at from 2s to 2s 6d per gallon— U., for first-class, bright, fairly-sweet cider; racked several time. In a pentiful year and with a large demand it could be profitably manufactured and sold at from Is Od to 2s per gallon. I should estimate bottling at 3s 6d per dozen, including corks, wire, and bottle Allowing a reasonable profit to the bottler, and for a little waste, 9s per dozen quarts would be a fair price.” Soft Frames (small). — (1.) A great impetus would be given to the production of small fruits for the manufacture of light wines if the manufacturers were allowed to sell it in less quantities than 2 gallons. (2.) While sulphurised fuit-pulp is admitted from Tasmania at -|d. per pound, instead of at Ud as formerly, there is little encouragement to the growers of small fruits. Public markets in all the large centres of population, for the sale of fruit and all other'perisbable goods, would he a boon to the producer as well as to the consumer. I notice that a movement is on foot for the establishment of such a market in Wellington. According to the recent statistics there are fifteen thousand seven hundred and seventy-one acres _ of orchard in New Zealand, of which, ten thousand are under apples, which, at 120 trees per acre yielding 2 busbies each, at Id. per pound net on 801 b. == Gs. Bd. per tree = £4O per acre. Thus we may form some idea of the value of this industry if properly carried out. The following is a letter read before the committee by Mr Charles Holdaway, of Masterton. Masterton. — I have noticed through reading the Canterbury Times that you have taken very great interest in tbe cure of blights, &c., affecting fruit-culture. I take the liberty, therefore, of writing to you, giving yon my experience of scaleblight, codlin-moth, and currant-moth. I got some valuable hints from letters written by Mr. Geo. Remnant, of Ngatimoti, Nelson, and published in the papers there. I have experimented with Ids cure, with the best results. I have completely eradicated the scale from my apple-tlees, and have had fair success against codlinmoth. My neighbours havo allowed their gardens abutting mine to become a hotbed for breeding codlin-moth, but, in spite of that, I have succeeded in entirely saving more than half of my fruit, and tbe whole has been fit for use, whilst the whole of theirs has Pfallen off completely useless. Had I an orchard isolated from others _ I could have saved the greater part quite free from damage. -Mj plan is to boil fr gallons of water, stir in 61b, of best'lime and 41b. sulphur, boil for half an hour, keeping it gently stirred; then add 21b. softsoap and half-pint of kerosene, and boil for a few minutes longer, until the kerosene is mixed with the other ingredients; strain the mixture, washing the thick sediment, and mix with 70 or 80 gallons of water. Spray the trees ones in October, after the fruit is well set, and again, in November. For codlin-moth add one teaspoonful of Paris green to each 4 gallons of liquid, and spray the fruit once or twice in

December, and once in January. For currant-moth spray the bushes at the same time as the apple-trees; the syraying should be done while the trees are dry, because a fine film is formed on the bark by the solution drying; this firmly adheres for months. The liquid is quite harmless to either fruit, bark, or leaves. I have had no experience of Icerya purchasi, but if its life-history is anything like the common scale, then by attacking it in its earliest stage, just as it hatches out in spring, it ought to be killed easily. My apple-trees were infested badly with red spider, but after spraying with sulphur and lime they soon disappeared.