IMPROVEMENT OF FRUITS BY BUD-SELECTION.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXIII, Issue 5, 21 November 1921, Page 319

IMPROVEMENT OF FRUITS BY BUD-SELECTION.

A general meeting of the Bud-selection Committee, which consists of representatives of the fruitgrowing and nurserymen’s industries and the Horticulture Division, met in Wellington on 17th October. The object was to consider what definite steps should be taken to further the movement and place bud-selection on a sound footing, so that the Committee may commence securing tree-performance records, and later supply certificated propagating-material of the finest strains of each variety to the fruitgrowers and the nurserymen. The Director of the Horticulture Division (Mr. J. A. Campbell) presided, and outlined the steps that had already been taken. ■ He spoke of the keen interest that had been aroused all over the Dominion, of the great possibilities of improvement in our fruits, and of the economic value of the bud-selection movement to the country as a whole.’ He considered the time had arrived when a definite organization should be set up and practical work started. The honorary secretary (Mr. George A. Green) read letters' received from the Californian Bud-selection Association and Professor A. D. Shamel, of Riverside, California. These gave valuable information in regard to some of the work done in the United States, and advice as to the best methods to adopt for starting in New Zealand. Professor Shamel stated that New Zealand must be prepared for about five years of investigation work before practical results' would be available. Mr. A. W. Hamilton was added to the Committee as a nurserymen’s representative in place of Mr. Thomas Horton. Messrs.- W. T. Goodwin (Assistant Director) and W. H. Taylor (Horticulturist), of the Horticulture Division, were appointed as additional departmental representatives. It was resolved to ask the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation to-nominate three additional representatives to the Committee, so as to make the Dominion representation complete'. It was decided

that the Bud-selection Committee should register under the • Industrial' and Provident Societies Act, the name to be finally decided later. The name favoured by the meeting was the New Zealand Nomenclature and-' Bud-selection Board. Messrs. Campbell, Attwood, and Green were appointed to draw up a constitution and rules, also to prepare a suggested plan : of finance and a scheme of work for .submission to a later meeting. It was decided that Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago be constituted bud-selection areas - and the secretary was requested to visit these areas as soon as possible, and assist in setting up recording committees in each area, for the collection and tabulating of data and records of actual 'individual tree performances, with a view to bud-selection as soon as the necessary information is available. The local area committees are to consist of the Orchard Instructor for the district, the local members of the Budselection Committee, and others who may be willing to assist in the work.