FRUIT GROWING IN VICTORIA.

Colonist, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5980, 8 December 1890, Page 4

FRUIT GROWING IN VICTORIA.

Mr A. F. Spawn, the American fruit expert, hag sent us a copy of the 'Horsham (Victoria) Times,' containing a very interesting account of a fruit growing colony founded by him near the town of Horsham, in the rich Wimmera district. The block operated upon is 400 acres, and is subdivided in sections principally of 10 acres, and the prices paid were from £8 to £10 an acre. About 200 acres of the block have been taken up, Mr Spawn himself owning 20 acres. The work done already, says the • Times,' is very considerable, and although the season for planting may not prove to have been the right thing for all the cuttings, trees, &c, put in, most of them are expected to " take." Mr Spawn himself has 930 fruit trees down, 1860 vines (mostly of the raisin grape), and the other plantings comprise :— 28,800 rooted vines ; 25,500 cuttings of vines, 1280 apricots, 688 peaches, 580 pears, 410 apples, 695 figs, 925 prune plums, 100 quinces, 445 almonds, and 100 cherries. Altogether 120 acres have been planted out ; 67 acres with vines and 58 with fruit trees. The ' Times ' gives a long description of the luncheon given by Mr and Mrs Spawn to those who had been invited to inspect the colony. A canning establishment is to be started immediately, and several evaporators will shortly be at work. During the oourse of his speech Mr Spawn said that when all the families who had taken up land were settled here it would add 100 soula to the community.