Why is Fruit Dear?

Fair Play, Volume II, Issue 27, 1 November 1894, Page 6

Why is Fruit Dear?

A Fruit Colony Wanted in New Zealand.

Interview with an Expert.

Mr. G. E. Alderton, editor of the Northern Advocate , Whangarei, who is an authority on fruit culture in the North Island, passed through Wellington recently, and was interviewed by our reporter. “ You have written a book on orange culture, I believe, Mr; Alderton ?” ' “Yes; some years ago.’’ “ And is orange culture a success North of Auckland ?” “ Yes; decidedly so. Dobbie Brothers, the largest growers at Whangarei, have shipped twenty-six tons this year. They have twenty acres planted, but the trees are not yet in full bearing. Dobbie Bros, command for their fruit the highest market prices, beating both Sydney and Island oranges. Much of the Sydney fruit is not first-class, being ungraded as to size and disfigured with scale; while Island fruit, being packed green, comes to market bruised and damaged. Dobbie Bros., in the first place, grade their oranges into three sizes, and every orange put into the case is ripe and, clean, hence their brand holds the market for excellence in all points.” “And the orange culture profitable?”

“ Yes ; for those who can wait. The trees do not bear till the fourth year, and not till the eighth do they produce a large crop. Then a tree should yield from fifty to one hundred dozen. Place the price nett at 4d. per dozen; that gives for each tree 16s Bd. Seventy-five trees are planted to the acre

that gives you <£62 10s. per acre, or .£625 for ten acres,, which is as much as one man can look after.” “ But cannot you do something with the intermediate land while the trees are growing ?” “ Yes; certainly. Intercalery. culture is not recommended in the case of an orangery, but many people-do, nevertheless, cultivate tbe intermediate spaces. You can grow potatoes, onions, strawberries, &c., amongst the trees, if necessary. In any case, the ground has always to be kept clean, not a weed being allowed in an orange grove.” “ It must be a very pretty sight, a large orange grove.” “Very; one of the most delightful pictures the eye can dwell on. The tree is particularly ornamental, with its dark green, glossy foliage, covered at one time with the highlyscented blossoms, at another with thousands of golden fruit. A man who has his house ensconced in amongst a ten-acre orange grove can feel as if he had a fair share of the luxuries of this world.”

“ You have been through America, I believe, Mr. Alderton, in connection with the fruit industry ?’’ “ Yes; I went for the Government to report more particularly on viticulture, the growing of the vine, and making of wine, and I had the good luck to attend a Viticultural Convention sitting in Washington, where I met all the leading vignerons of America. I had discovered in the North "that only the American vine will stand out-doors and resist the mildews peculiar to our humid climate, and wanted to further investigate the question in America, or rather in the Eastern States, for in California, where the climate is dry,-they grow almost exclusively the European vine. I don’t think, even now,-there are many viticulturists in this Colony who understand the difference between the European and the American vine, but the two are distinctly different, and the latter will stand much .more moisture. To be able to plant open air vineyards in New Zealand would be a matter of vast importance if the Temperance party wovld stand off. For very little capital is required. You merely plough and subsoil'the ground, and then plant cuttings, which cost about Iff tp the acre, while at the end of three years, if you succeed in-combating the mildews, you should get 200 gallons of wine to the acre. The wine, if properly made, should be worth 6s. a gallon, but say 45.; that will give i-40 to the acre, which knocks grain-growing into the next street.” " But the Prohibitionists say you shall not make nor sell wine.” , “ Yes. Well, we will have to divide this country up, as they say in the House, ‘ the Noes will go to the right, and the Ayes to One might be permitted to suggest in these days of Quixotic proposals, that those to whom wine is noxious should occupy exclusively either the North or South Island, and be compelled to raise their own revenue. Tbe. water prophets would squeal, I fancy, if they had to pay pn their tea and sugar what is now contributed by whisky. But the proposal to prevent our settlers from making and selling wine will, though; hot carried,-do great harm. North of Auckland many settlers make