Orchards by the Roadside.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 11, 15 September 1909, Page 39

Orchards by the Roadside.

How the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture took steps to increase the number of Fruit Frees in Hungary. A Suggestion for this country.

By

S. LEONARD BASTIN.

I T is, perhaps, a special failing of modern mankind to overlook the obvious. A new invention is brought forward, a fresh way of carrying on an industry is started, and the world says how strange that no one ever thought of that before. Of this there is probably no better instance to be found than the custom of planting fruittrees by the roadside, which has proved such a remarkable success in Hungary. The origination of the idea came about as the result of a chance thought. In the

year 1892 the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture—a very energetic body, by the way—derided that the country was not producing anything like the amount of fruit which it should do. In spite of the fact that many of the districts may be numbered amongst the best fruitgrowing districts in the world. Hungary was importing an amount of this material equal to two-thirds of that grown on home soil. Accordingly, steps were taken to increase the number of trees, especially plums for drying purposes, ami to this pud several State farms were established for the sole purpose of supplying the various divisions with stock. In the decade from 1892-02 the number of Government orchards was more than quadrupled. These “pepineries.*’ as they are called, distribute at a very low rate, or in certain cases tree of cost, seedlings.

grafting stems, ami wild stock of the different kinds of fruit-trees to local authorities. It is a notable fact that these establishments are training schools of the best possible type, in that young men arc encouraged to work on the farms for wages, and given every opportunity to learn fruit culture. As well, yearly competitions have been inaugurated by the State, in which prizes are awarded to the heads of those parish councils who can show the largest increase of fruit-tree stock in their neighbourhood. Such a system has given an enormous impetus to the question of fruit-growing on sound lines. An Ambitious Programme. About four years after the starting of the first State fruit farms, it occurred to some one in the Ministry that yet

another way existed in which the value of fruit-growing might be brought home to the peasantry in the more remote di* tricts. ”1*1:1111 fruit-trees by the road side in every parish in Hungary.” said the proposer of the scheme, “see that these arc looked after on modern lines, and then the people will find out how profitable a thing it i- to grow this kind of produce. Moreover. the re turns from the proceeding will be such that every district will speedilv benefit to a considerable extent.” Such an am bitioiis programme was. of course, not a thing to be carried through in a year, and it was wisely seen that the system must be gradually extended throughout the country. In Hungary the main roads are under the ownership of the State, whilst the subsidiary highways are managed by the parish and county councils.

A special survey of all the highways was undertaken to determine the kind of trees best suited to the different localities. Then three of the Government orchards were set aside specially to supply young trees for planting in the different districts. The State railways lent assistance to the fulfilment of the idea by charging for the transit of this fruit tree stock only half the usual rate. As one would expect, the scheme is meeting with the greatest success —beyond that expected by its advocators, although the work is not by any means completed. In ten years’ time Hungary will certainly be. without fear of a challenger, the premier fruit-producing country of the world. Fruit Trees by Act of Parliament. To come to actual figures, at the present time there are about 250.000 fruit trees on the Hungarian State highways.

Perhaps one of the most astonishing facts is that all the trees planted, save an insignificant 6 per cent, are doing well —a striking testimony to the thoroughness with which the whole matter has been carried through. Undoubtedly the success is largely due to the care with which the keepers of the trees have been educated. The writer is indebted to Mr W. TI. Shrubsole for permission to use the photograph of the State highway. On the county and parish roads the work goes on much more slowly, owing to the fact that, up to the present, the Government orchards have been fully occupied in supplying the need of the State highways, and until these are fully planted there is no surplus to be used in other directions. By a special Act of Parliament the various parishes are bound to establish orchards for the purpose of producing growing fruit trees to plant upon the roads under their control. These arc quite independent of the State orchards, but now and again the Government farms make grants of wild seedlings and even grafted stock, whilst in the case of those places which seem to merit a reward for good management, a money allowance is drafted to the overseers. In fact, everything is done to induce the local authorities to lend their aid towards the accomplishment of the great ideal which sees Hungary as a great fruit garden. Moreover, the children are trained from childhood to regard the roadside crops as sacred. One cannot help thinking that, in the direction of roadside tree-planting, Great Britain might well take a hint from Hungary. The country is admittedly one of th<’ best for the production of many kinds of fruits in the world; on either side of the roads there are miles ami miles of land which do not serve the least purpose. yet in all. these represent a vast area that might be turned to profitable account. Surely it would not be a wrong development of Socialism if the local authorities were to cultivate the waste publics in the manner indicated for the common good. In order not to injure the existing growers, let the fruit, be grown for drying or bottling purposes. By adopting the new idea of drying fruit by artificial heat, the former process could well be carried on in England, perhaps this is a little too much to expect at the present time, but a suggestion might be offered to the great railway companies. By the side of the permanent way there is a large amount of land available—could not some- of the lost dividends be retrieved if this space was planted with productive fruit trees’ One would think that the idea would

lie worth the attention of the various boards of directors. The Garden City of Letchworth. Jt is pleasant to be able to record that in one place in England private enterprise has initiated the custom of roadside fruit tree planting. Many reforms in connection with town planning have been carried into effect at the famous Garden City of Letchworth, but none has done so much to beautify the thriving settlement as the practice of placing handsome trees and hardy herbaceous plants by the side of the highways. I'he estate forester has fearlessly overlooked the traditional plane and lime avenues of the typical British town, and has introduced a large number of lovely trees rarely seen except in gardens. Moreover. he has gone one better than this, in planting rows of fruit trees or walnuts—the crops being used for the bene-

fit of the community. It is felt that the sight of the different sorts of fruit trees flourishing so well will be the strongest possible inducement to the many small holders, to attempt the cultivation of similar kinds. To further this cause all the trees and shrubs are carefully labelled so that there is a perpetual object-lesson before the eyes of those living in Garden Ci tv.