A SMALL HOLDING OF SUB-TROPICAL FRUITS

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 76, Issue 6, 15 June 1948, Page 558

A SMALL HOLDING OF SUB-TROPICAL FRUITS

PROBABLE financial returns from plantings of various sub-tropical fruits are the subject of frequent inquiries, and, while much information on cultural methods can be given, very little is available about the financial aspect. In any case, it would be unwise to attempt to prophesy future trends in either costs of production or market returns. However, some light is thrown on the subject in this account by A. T. J. Watts, Orchard Instructor, Auckland, of what has been done on an eight-acre holding on the Avondale flat.

THE Avondale flat, about six miles ( west of the centre of Auckland 'City, contains an area of about 1300 acres, bounded on the north and east by : Waitemata Harbour and on the west by the Whau Estuary. In the main the land is flat and the soil of a rich alluvial type. It is the oldest vegetable-producing area in the Auckland district and is well known for its high production to the acre. Though the area is subject to slight to moderate frosts, sub-tropical fruits such as citrus fruits, tree tomatoes, and passion fruit are being grown successfully in various parts. In recent years the locality has become more closely settled, and the area under cultivation is contracting steadily.

At present 39 commercial gardeners are established in the area, with a total of 390 acres in vegetables. A further 162 acres are in pip, stone, and citrus .fruit, there being 36 orchards ranging in size from one to ten acres, aggregating 128 acres, and 70 smaller orchards with a total area of 34 acres. In addition there are considerable areas in sub-tropical fruits, as well as nine registered nurseries, raising mainly fruit trees.

A good example of the type of fruit growing in this district is provided by the area owned until recently by Mr. J. Strang. After returning from the First World War, Mr. Strang had two and a half years’ experience of orchard work in the Mangere district, and in 1922 bought eight acres at Avondale, half of which was already planted in New Zealand grapefruit, lemons, passion fruit, persimmons, and plums. Most of those were just coming into bearing but were insufficient to provide a full living. In the unplanted area Mr. Strang grew vegetables, mainly cabbages, kumaras, potatoes, and tomatoes, and as opportunity offered he increased the permanent crops by the addition of mandarins, Chinese gooseberries, tree tomatoes, grapes, and 100 more lemon trees.

Planting of the whole area was completed in 1938. Orchard equipment was also gradually built up and the orchard piped for spraying. The cultivation implements consist of a 10-horsepower tractor with, as attachments, a set of discs, a plough, harrows, and a scarifier. An electric motor drives the single-cylinder spray pump. The normal cultivation programme has been one ploughing (about September), discing twice (in October), and scarifying once a fortnight until the end of December, when weed growth was allowed to come away, to be disced under in the following spring.

Layout of Orchard A feature of the orchard is the excellent shelter. The area is protected on the south-west by more than an acre of native bush and on the southeast by Pittosporum crassifolium and wattle; the northern boundary also carries Pittosporum, and on the northwest are macrocarpas, which are rather high for this situation, shutting out too much sun. particularly in the winter. The subdividing shelters are mainly Pittosporum and privet, with a particularly-good row of golden euonymus. The orchard is divided into seven blocks, so that with headlands, hedges, and bush only about five acres are under cultivation. However the shelter,' in conjunction with the flatness of the land, increases the possibility of frost damage, and, in co-operation with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the

present occupier is experimenting with the use of firepots and a wind machine. It is not suggested that the layout of this area is ideal. Much of the planting was carried out a good many years ago, and the grower’s own experience, as well as the results of experimental work, has suggested several modifications. As Table 1 shows, in no case is the average production per tree very high—in fact, that of some is low in comparison with the normal production of the district. Various factors contribute to this result, close planting and ageing trees being perhaps the most ob-

vious. Passion Fruit The 63 chains of passion fruit (a few more than 400 vines) are in rows 12ft. apart, with 10ft. between the vines, which are supported on four wires about 15in. apart, the top wire varying from 6ft. 6in. to 7ft. from the ground. Production has been fairly steady during the past few years and, the majority of the vines being now fully grown, little increase in crop can be expected. The older vines are gradually being replaced as their production decreases. Disease has not been troublesome, probably because of regular and efficient spraying, Bordeaux mixture being applied at three-weekly intervals from October to February. Pruning has been in line with good commercial practice, as has manuring, though possibly lighter than advisable for heavily-cropping vines.

No record has been kept of five Seville orange trees, but they contributed 0.4 per cent, of the gross income.

Citrus Trees Some of the citrus trees are rather close together for this type of land, particularly the lemons, which are 18ft. by 18ft., and the New Zealand grapefruit, some of which are 15ft. by 15ft. and others 20ft. by 20ft.; 24ft. each way would not be too much for heavily-cropping trees. The bulk of the crop of New Zealand grapefruit and Omi Kin Kan oranges has been sent direct to the factory, which reduces the labour and material required for packing and other work. Similarly, lemons go straight to the Marketing Department depot in field boxes, though in the early years Mr. Strang cured his own. The mandarins (variety Clementine) are almost in full production, the 1947 crop showing a considerable advance on that of previous years. The trees show a tendency toward biennial bearing, though in two successive seasons, 1945 and 1946, the crop was small. The Meyer lemons are younger trees but should soon be capable of carrying heavy crops. Grapes The 60ft. by 18ft. glasshouse is used solely for 30 Black Hamburg grape vines, which are planted in outside borders. They are run as double rods and have given consistently good crops. Cultural practices have not varied significantly from the normal. Tree Tomatoes The tree tomatoes, both red and yellow varieties, have been planted at various distances, all, in the light of experience, rather close. Four rows are as close as 4ft. by 2ft., one double row. is sft. by 4ft., and five rows are 12ft. by 4ft. The most recent recommendation is to plant them 10ft. apart, “staggered” in pairs of rows 6ft. apart, with at least 14ft. between each pair of rows. Close planting has several disadvantages: The crop per tree is reduced considerably, though the greater number 'of trees tends to maintain the crop per acre; the fruit on crowded trees rarely attains maximum size, and picking, pruning, and spraying are made more difficult. Mr. Strang’s average crop of about half a case a tree appears low, though the 1946 crop of a case a tree would show a comparatively good production per acre. Many of the trees are nearing the end of their economic lives and will have to be replaced shortly. Chinese Gooseberries Chinese gooseberries are 14ft. apart in the rows and are trained on three wires, 2,4, and 6ft. from the ground. This planting is rather close for heavy cropping. One block contains five plants, one of which is a male; the remaining 24 plants, in a block some distance away, are all females. For pollination, sprays of male flowers are placed in water sft. apart along the rows of females every morning. This appears to be as efficient as where the male is growing in the row, though it is probable that an occasional male graft in the block of females would eliminate this constant attention. ‘

Persimmons Persimmons are not commonly grown but are gradually increasing in popularity. For the grower they have the disadvantage of a tendency toward biennial bearing, though that may be overcome to some extent by pruning, Little information is available about, the best cultural methods for New Zealand conditions, but Mr. Strang has treated them successfully on much the same lines as the usual deciduous fruits Labour a Big Item 3 For several years Mr. Strang was able to do much of the work himself, employing casual labour when necessary, but from 1942 he employed a permanent hand. During the six years dealt with wages have been the biggest item of expenditure, averaging nearly two-fifths of the outgoings. In Table 2, showing a classification of expenses, no allowance has been made for the owner’s labour, or for depreciation or interest on capital invested; at normal rates the last two items would approximate £250. Replacements of trees are not shown as a separate item of expenditure, any necessary plants being raised on the orchard. Several points become evident from a study of the returns from this piece of land. t One is the necessity for extended hours and hard and intelli-gently-directed work. The choice of a site is important— to a market, with soil and . climate suitable for the intended crops is the improvement of these conditions by the provision of shelter and management of the soil. Of outstanding importance is the arrangement of the crops so that as far as possible both work and returns are spread evenly through the year. Though overlapping is mevit-

able, preliminary planning can reduce considerably the number and intensrush periods. It may not be wise to depend too heavily on one crop, but a multiplicity of crops, each necessarily on a very small scale, is also undesirable. Mr. Strang could have marketed fruit every week in the y ear > but his highest financial returns mur. in autumn and winter, The . harvesting period for most fruits varies only within narrow limits, but that for passion fruit, and to a less extent for tree tomatoes, can be exfended variations . Pruning. Table 3 shows approximate maturity periods. The keeping of accurate records of expenses, routine operations, crops, and monetary returns is neglected by many growers. That is the only method by which a grower can ascertain which are his profitable trees and which are “passengers.” In many instances the culling of unprofitable trees would considerably increase the . financial returns from a plantation, but in the absence of detailed . figures they cannot be picked out easily. Returns from similar plantings should be estimated on the basis of crops harvested and not prices received. The period covered, particularly 1944 to 1946, was remarkable for the high prices paid for fruit generally, and it appears unlikely that they will be maintained. In addition to the general economic trend, an increasing supply of tree tomatoes, passion fruit, and Chinese gooseberries from recent plantings in Auckland Province will tend to depress prices unless southern markets can be developed sufficiently to absorb the increase. Thanks are expressed to Mr . strang and the. present owner for supplying information for this article.

Photographs on this and opposite pages by Sparrow Industrial Pictures Ltd.

* Lemons are harvested throughout the year, but the peak is in August, September, and October.

Fruit Number of trees Unit 1941 ~ 1942 1943 . 1944 1945 1946 Average Average per tree Percentage of gross income Passion fruit 63 chains Half case 726 302 518 507 562 487 517 8.2 per chain 1.25 per vine 33.5 N.Z. grapefruit ' .. 90 Ton 1 75, 10.0 8.0 12.5 . 10.25 9.0 9.6 238.51b. 18.9 Lemons .... .. f 19 Bushel case 550 437 218 419 552 379 426 3.6 11.5 Omi Kin Kan oranges 27 Ton 3.25 2.5 3.0 2.5 3.5 3 2.9 245.41b. 6.3 Mandarins 31 Half case 2 19 9 79 32 21 27 0.9 1.5 Meyer lemons 37 Half case — — — *7 15 43 22 0.6 0.5 Tree tomatoes 277 Half case 125 139 29 93 193 . 275 142 0.5 12.0 Grapes 30 lb. 816 766 948 866 909 804 852 28.1 6.1 Persimmons .. 36 Half case 274 136 314 179 139 118 193 5.4 3.9 Chinese gooseberries 29 Half case 77 32 37 68 55 34 51 1.7 3.6 Plums 41 Half case 199 176 80 278 45 132 152 3.7 1.8 Gross market returns £949 £776 £1057 £1737 £1769 £1751 £1340

TABLE 1: CROP PRODUCTION

Items 1941 £ 1942 £ 1943 £ 1944 £ 1945 £ 1946 £ Average £ Percentage Wages 97 155 166 185 187 236 171 39.8 Cases .. 34 29 29 55 44 34 38 8.8 Cartage .." 35 29 22 37 38 34 33 7.7 Rates 29 29 30 29 25 22 27 6.3 Manure 22 27 22 24 28 34 26 6.0 Tools .. 4 . 3 7 16 16 16 10 2.3 Tractor expenses 8 9 6 9 12 12 9 2.1 Sundries 7 8 6 10 . 8 10 8 1.9 Sprays .. .. 8 6 4 10 7 4 7 1.6 Seeds .. — I 6 4 3 . — 2 0.5 Commission (not payable on all sales) 72 54 84 132 120 130 99 23.0 Total 316 350 382 511 .488 532 430 Market receipts 949 776 1057 1737 1769 1751 1340 Return to grower (interest, depreciation, and grower’s labour to be deducted) .. 633 426 675 1226 1281 1219 ' 910

TABLE 2: EXPENSES (EXCLUDING OWNER’S LABOUR, INTEREST, AND DEPRECIATION)

January February March April ' May June July August September October November December November December — crapes Passion fruit > —— Tree Tomatoes —: Plums Plums Persimmons ■ ■■■■ —- Grapefruit Plums Oranges Chinese gooseberries ■ Mandarins - Lemons “■ L

TABLE 3: HARVESTING PERIODS