IL—29

36

HORTICULTURE DIVISION. REPORT OF J. A. CAMPBELL, DIRECTOR. The Fruitgrowing Industry. The fruitgrowing industry has now reached a stage when the prospects are very encouraging. Satisfactory prices ruling on the Home markets during the last two or three seasons have stimulated growers to renewed activity, which is evidenced by the general improvements adopted in orchardmanagement and the installation of up-to-date appliances. The horticultural year under review has been a very satisfactory one generally as far as the grower of apples and pears is concerned. In the Canterbury District, however, a severe frost which occurred in October did considerable damage, and practically destroyed the whole of the fruit crop. The Government granted relief in the nature of loans to the worst sufferers, who were in need of urgent financial assistance to enable them to carry on. The stone-fruit crop in Central Otago was considerably reduced by frost damage ; otherwise this crop in other localities was a fair average one. Late frosts and unfavourable weather conditions interfered to a large extent with the tomato crop, which was below the average in most localities. Small fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, etc., yielded fair crops. Citrus-trees were retarded somewhat by frosts in the early spring, but made a good recovery, and a good average crop of fruit is in sight. Considerable development is taking place in the planting of citrus orchards in the North Auckland district, where several large blocks have already been planted and fresh areas are contemplated. A number of these blocks belong to absentee owners, and are being cared for until such time as they are sufficiently advanced for the owners to take control. The industry is also continuing to make steady headway in the Tauranga district. Passion-fruit culture on a fairly large scale is receiving attention in the northern districts, the vines being planted between the rows of young citrus-trees as a means of securing some monetary return until the trees come into bearing. Some 200 acres were planted in commercial orchards during the 1929 planting season. A number of orchards that had been abandoned by the owners were cut out, leaving the total area in commercial orchards for the whole of the Dominion at approximately 27,000 acres. Orchard pests and diseases, generally speaking, were kept well under control, the majority of growers realizing that one of the first essentials in successful fruit-culture is the production of clean, sound fruit. A careful watch has been kept on fireblight disease by officers of the Division, and reports to hand indicate that there has been no further spread of the disease during the year. The cutting-out of fireblight cankers and eradication of hawthorn hedges in the commercial fruit areas is keeping the infection well within bounds. The collection of fireblight-tax in those districts where Fireblight Committees have been set up has been attended to, and the tax, less cost of collection, handed over to the respective committees to be expended in connection with fireblight control. The matter of establishing a central Fruit Research Station has been receiving the attention of the Department, in co-operation with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Cawthron Institute. Such a station would be of considerable value in the carrying-out of investigation work on a systematic basis in the interests of the fruitgrowing industry generally and also for instructional purposes. Export of Fruit. The examination of all fruit for export was carried out by the Orchard Instructors attached to the Division at the main fruitgrowing centres throughout the Dominion. The work has proceeded smoothly, and growers generally show a keen desire to comply with the requirements of the export regulations. A total of 992,151 cases of fruit were exported during the 1929 season. Of this quantity, 758,762 cases apples and 55,024 cases pears were shipped to Great. Britain, 159,837 cases apples and 4,087 cases pears to South America, 12,000 cases apples to Canada, and some 2,400 cases apples to Honolulu and the Pacific islands. The bulk of the fruit was exported under the Government guarantee of a gross market price of lis. per case for " Extra Fancy " and " Fancy " grades, and 7s. for " Good " grade. As a whole, the prices realized were satisfactory, and the claims under the guarantee did not exceed £100. The high standard of New-Zealand-grown fruit is now recognized on the overseas markets, and it is evident that the continued efforts of those concerned with the placing of the export trade on a sound basis are meeting with a considerable degree of success. Quantities of fruit exported from the Dominion during the last five years are as follows : 1925, 236,870 cases ; 1926, 730,308 cases ; 1927, 544,233 cases ; 1928, 1,026,986 cases ; 1929, 992,151 cases. The Government again renewed the guarantee on apples and pears exported during the 1930 season. In view of the heavy crop of apples and pears, it is anticipated the 1930 exports will reach 1,250,000 cases, a record in the history of fruit-export.