TASMAN FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15075, 19 May 1919, Page 2

TASMAN FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual general meeting 'of the Tasman Fruitgrowers Association was held on Wednesday evening, Mr. James Allan presiding over a. moderate attendance. The report and balance-sheet as presented by the secretary revealed "a satisfactory position financially, and the chairman in his report referred to the various activities 'of the association, and strongly urged members to | 'carry on," as there was evidence that the meetings had done good. He regretted that owing to labour difficulties and the extremely busy season it had not been found possible to arrange i a field day as originally suggested, but! he was hopeful that the matter would not be lost sight of and that in the future something worthy of the district would eventuate. . Mr. W. T. Goodwin, Orchard Instructor, was in attendance, and at the j invitation of the chairman gave a brief : address' on the advantages to be de-j rived from the co-operative fruit-test-' ing area at Tasman. Mr. Goodwin Stated that if the members of the. association would interest themselves, j he felt sure that both Mr. McKee and his department wpuld be pleased to' carry on the experiments for a further period. So far as testing the suitability of the soil for growing certain varieties of apples was concerned, the plot had fulfilled its functions, and it! now remained for them to devise some ■means of utilising the plot for cultural and spraying experiments. If this idea were to be given effect to it would be almost necessary to regraft the whole block to good commercial varie- i ties, as it was impossible to get reli- ■ able and definite results. in experi- ' . mental work, when dealing with a very large number of varieties. Even if the orchard were regrafted, it would not be the ideal place for experiments, as, in the case of insect pests such as red mite and mussel scale, these had to be present in considerable quantities before the experiments xjould be of much value, and even then, one successful application meant that the experiment was at an end for a considerable time. He invited the growers to set up a committee to devote an even- j

ing to a full discussion of the position' with him, and ho would then lay th*, recommendations of the committee be-' fore his department 'and endeavour to have a definite policy fixed which could be carried out over/a number of years. During-*the discussion which' ensued it was - mentioned that the varieties which have given the best results in the Tasman experimental area have been the six varieties most planted in the district, viz., Cox's Orange, Jonathan, Delicious, Munroe, Stunner, and Statesman. Other varieties which had done well were Pomme de Neige, Mackintosh Red, and Shorland Queen. Asked nis opinion of the commercial value of the last three mentioned varieties, none of which have been extensively planted in this district, Mr. ; Goodwin stated that he was not ac- ! quainted with the Mackintosh Red, but | from what he had seen of it he cdn-i sidered it worthy of further trial. ] The Pomme de Neige was one of the very best early apples for the local markets, but he would not advocate | extensive planting, as it was scarcely : suitable for. export and would clash | with other good varieties of the same i season. The Shorland Queen was un-1 doubtedly a very superior apple, both , for export and local market, and in I suitable localities should be much more extensively planted, as undoubtedly it ! would be as soon as its qualities were better known. The tree was a vigorous, clean arid upright grower, of excellent constitution, while the fruit was superior in many respects to either ! Jonathan or King David, and was bound to become popular in the markets. , ■'•■"; Questioned as to powers of the soil to carry over the spores of black spot from one season to the . next, and i whether treatment of the soil by lim- ■ ing or other means would be likely tt» ' retard the development of the spores, Mr. Goodwin said that undoubtedly the spores were carried over for very considerable periods in the decaying leaves and fallen twigs of the trees, and subsequent cultivation in the following spring was likely to bring them to the surface and start them off on a fresh mission of destruction. He advocated spraying with Bordeaux mixture or strong lime-sulphur, before the leaves had fallen from the trees, where the Black spot was prevalent in any con r i siderabl© degree. This should be -fol-

lowed up by.very carefuliy collecting^

au prunings ana twigß, to be burned instead of being ploughed under in the autmn. or winter. .

Mi\ Goodwin was heartily thanked' for his- address, and it was arranged that the new _ executive, with, power. to add to their number, should meet Mr. Goodwin forthwith and discuss ; with him plans for the future working of the testing area. j

The election of officers resulted as follow s:—President, Mr. H- Benzies ; vice-president, Mr. G. W. Darvall ; secretary and treasurer, Mr. R. G. Hamilton; executive, the' officers and Messrs. J. A.' Sladen, T. T. Wards, and H. Johnstone.-