History of Fruitgrowing in Canterbury

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 96, Issue 5, 15 May 1958, Page 473

History of Fruitgrowing in Canterbury

THOUGH the importance of fruitgrowing in Canterbury has always been overshadowed by the major farming pursuits of sheep raising and cropping, fruit production was one of the settlers' earliest ventures, and the quantity and range of fruit varieties now grown are quite extensive. This article by S. Frew, Assistant to the Horticultural Superintendent, Department of Agriculture, Christchurch, traces the history of fruitgrowing in Canterbury Province.

CANTERBURY PROVINCE, extending from Hurunui River in the north to the Waitaki River in the south, a distance of almost 200 miles, and from the east coast to the Southern Alps, a distance of some 80 miles at the widest point, naturally comprises a wide variety of soil types and climatic conditions. Not all of these are satisfactory for fruitgrowing; in fact, few places are ideally suited, and the development of fruitgrowing areas has in the main been due to a variety of commonsense factors: . Proximity to market coupled with reasonably suitable soil, an adequate rainfall, and a degree .of immunity from frost and other detrimental climatic conditions.

First Plantings: 1850-60 A natural desire for fresh-grown fruit induced the early settlers in Christchurch to plant fruit trees in Canterbury. The origin of these first trees is not known, but it may be

assumed that some „ „ ™ p from thp , ™ fruitgrowing areas of England with first settlers in 1850 together with the other plants and . seeds which were introduced at that time from the Homeland.

Australia may have been the source of many of these trees, as regular shipping between Australia and New Zealand became established early in the days of the new colony. Some trees might also have been received from the North Island, as an advertisement inserted by a Wellington nurseryman in the first issue of the “Lyttelton Times”, dated 11 January 1851, offers “Fruit trees of the sorts

found, most suitable in the climate of the district of Wellington, or as experience may guide in the yet untried plains of the Middle Island”. The advertisement further states that “the apple trees are warranted free from blight, a condition under which they cannot be procured from Hobart Town”. Whatever the source of supply, it has been definitely established that

1850-70

within a few years of the founding of Canterbury Province in 1850, several small areas of plums and cherries were producing fruit for sale. One pip fruit orchard was in production within the first 10 years of the province’s history.

After the lapse of over 100 years it is impossible to state definitely who was the first commercial pip fruitgrower in Canterbury, but from the evidence available, it appears that the distinction belonged to John Stanley of Harewood. Stanley, one of the original pioneers, arrived at Lyttelton in the . Randolph, one of the “First Four Ships” in December 1850.

Within 3 years of his arrival Stanley had established himself on 30 acres at Harewood. In a letter written to relatives in England in 1860 he stated that the first of his apple plantings had borne fruit in the previous year and that he had completed the planting of a further 400 apple trees. He went on to say that he was receiving a ready sale for his fruit, the price being Is. per pound.

Stanley was also a nurseryman and in one letter dated 1860 he stated that he had grafted 2,000 apples as well as a great number of cherries, plums, and peaches the previous year, the majority of which he had sold to Christchurch nurserymen. These locally raised trees no doubt provided the material and perhaps some of the incentive for the further extensive plantings which occurred so early in the history of the settlement. Stanley’s own orchard was gradually extended until it covered 33 acres, including several , acres 'of cherries. Portions of the original plantings still exist and a block of 32 Sturmer trees on the property of Mr H. A. Clarke, who now occupies the original homestead, is still producing heavy crops. Stanley is reputed to have introduced the Sturmer variety to Canterbury. The Sisson Family: 1855To have been actively engaged in fruitgrowing in the same district for the past 103 years must surely be a New Zealand record; yet this is the proud achievement of the Sisson family of Papanui. From small beginnings the Sisson orchards gradually expanded until by 1920 the family holdings included over 130 acres of orchards. Though the spread of suburban Christchurch has since absorbed some

of these orchard blocks, the family still retains a substantial proportion of their orchards in Papanui. The name Sisson has been synonymous with fruitgrowing in Canterbury for over a century, during which the family has been consistently in the forefront with the adoption and development of improved methods. Francis Sisson, the pioneer member of the family, landed at Lyttelton in 1855 and soon afterward settled on 26 acres at Papanui, where he cleared the land ' and established a market garden and mixed orchard. He was the originator of the Lord Wolseley apple (reputed to be a cross between Irish Peach and Stone Pippin), later to be one of the main culinary varieties of Canterbury. His son, Frank Sisson, built the first privately owned cool store in New Zealand in 1910. This is still in operation, though major alterations have been made during this time. Frank Sisson was the first New Zealand grower to use lead arsenate for codling moth control. He imported this chemical from U.S.A, in 1905. Fred Sisson, of the third generation, took a prominent part in local fruit “politics” and was Canterbury representative on the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation for many years. Several members of the fourth generation of Sissons are still planting out new orchards in their district.

First Stone Fruit Orchard

Papanui and Harewood thus have the distinction of being the first areas to have pip fruit orchards, but Governors Bay on Lyttelton Harbour had the first true stone fruit orchard. Governors Bay and Allandale, at the head of Lyttelton Harbour, were settled shortly after the arrival of the “First Four Ships” in 1850.

In those early days most of the available land was used for the growing of vegetables for ships and for the people of the port of Lyttelton, but during the 1850 s a 2-acre orchard was planted with stone fruit by a Mr Dyer. Dyers Pass, over which the road from Governors Bay to Christchurch runs, was named after him. In those early days the difficulty of transporting produce from Governors Bay to Christchurch restricted any great development in that area, however, for many years.

Early Orchards in Christchurch

In the early years fruit was grown in the central town area and the adjacent settlements of Woolston, Opawa, St. Albans, and Dallington. It is recorded that William Wilson, the first mayor of Christchurch, conducted a combined market garden and nursery at Bedford Row, which is now in the main commercial area of the city. It is probably more than a coincidence that the city produce

markets are in that vicinity. Wilson, known universally as “Cabbage” Wilson, also had an orchard at Woolston. ■ Another early grower in the Woolston district was T. York, who had about 3 acres of mixed fruits. In the town itself a 2-acre orchard of mixed pip and stone fruit was established before 1860 by T. Armstrong in a section fronting Colombo Street. Armstrong’s Drapery Emporium on the corner of Armagh Street and Colombo Street now occupies part of this orchard area. Many other small orchards must have been planted about this time, as records show that in 1880 there were over 100 acres in fruit production in the township, Woolston, and Opawa areas. However, with the spread of the city the land was gradually taken for. housing and factories. Of the original substantial orchard area, only two small blocks at Woolston, totalling 5 acres, are still in production. Otherwise, with the exception of odd large pear trees seen occasionally in domestic gardens, no trace remains of these early plantings. Early Berry Fruit Production Berry fruits were also grown in the early days. F. Sisson of Papanui combined black currant production with

his tree fruits. Several small areas of strawberries were also grown during this period, but any raspberry production was introduced much later. The French at Akaroa Reference to early fruitgrowing would not be complete without some mention of Akaroa, where French settlers first became established in 1840. Though tree fruits were not grown by them to any extent, they established vineyards to supply grapes for wine making, but with the passing of the original settlers, the vines became neglected and the industry went out of existence. Walnut growing then became the major horticultural venture. Many groves were established by 1870 and there are today about 2,000 walnut trees, including some magnificent old trees still in production on Banks Peninsula. Development of Heathcote-Horotane Area: 1875 The first important development after the original plantings in the environs of ' Christchurch and at Governors Bay was at Heathcote. This district, which forms part of the Port Hills, had become settled very early, mainly because from the time of the

1870-80

first immigrants until the Lyttelton tunnel was constructed the route followed by settlers arriving at the port of Lyttelton was over the hill at the head of the Heathcote Valley and along what was known as the. Bridle Track to Ferrymead. From here a ferry service conveyed passengers up the river to the Christchurch settlement. Heathcote Valley provided a staging halt on this journey and settlers soon began to live in its vicinity. In 1875 the first orchard was established there. It consisted of 6 acres of apricot trees planted by William Gimblett. After the successful establishment of this orchard others were planted nearby.

Plantings in Outlying Districts: 1870-80

As settlement in the province continued to spread, orchards were planted in the outlying districts. Ashburton, Cheviot, Hanmer Springs, Scargill, and Templeton all had their blocks, some quite extensive, though little evidence of many of them remains.

In South Canterbury, Timaru and Geraldine also participated in this orchard establishment. In Timaru the first commercial orchard was planted in 1872 by Edwin Butchers, who set out 15 acres of mixed fruits on his property near the outskirts of the township. Mr Butchers imported some of his first trees from Australia, but

1880-90

being an enthusiastic horticulturist, he subsequently raised his own seedling stocks, on which he budded a multitude of varieties of both pears and apples. Butchers was probably the first orchardist in New Zealand to practise mulching. In the early days Timaru was a great wheat growing district and large quantities of wheat straw were available. With horse and dray Mr Butchers took full advantage of this opportunity, devoting at least 6 weeks each year to the spreading of a straw mulch over his orchard. The results were outstanding, and, without cultivation, the trees throve and produced heavy crops. Eventually the area of this orchard was increased to 28 acres. Now occupied by the third generation of the Butchers family, it is still renowned for the large number of varieties (over 30 varieties of apples and 17 varieties of pears) remaining in production. Concurrent with this Timaru orchard development fruitgrowing was introduced to the Geraldine district when Mr John Chapman planted a 5-acre block in mixed fruits. This was followed by plantings in the Fairlie and Pleasant Point districts some years later. Though orchard areas continued to increase until by the early 1890 s there were approximately 1,700 orchards within the . North Canterbury and Mid-Canterbury areas, very few of these could be considered to be true commercial areas run by full-time orchardists. Over half of them were of less than 1 acre and only a few of the remainder were of a substantial size. Nevertheless, by this time there were sufficient growers primarily interested in the growing of fruit to warrant their aspiring to have their own properly constituted fruitgrowers’ association, the first of its kind in the colony.

Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association: 1886

The Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association was formed in 1886. It was originally known as the N.Z. Fruitgrowers’ Association, but as other fruitgrowers’ organisations came into being in the colony the “N.Z.” was dropped by the local association and “Canterbury” substituted. Unfortunately much information about the early activities of this body was lost when a fire destroyed their original records and their minute books for the period 1886 to 1897. The Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association from its inception was a very active body and strenuously endeavoured to cope with the numerous problems affecting the industry.

Early Growers' Problems Serious problems ' were indeed already facing the industry when the fruitgrowers’ association was formed. The early unrestrained planting of many areas, often too large for the owners’ household needs and yet too small to warrant much time as a commercial proposition, resulted in the orchards generally being very neglected. Disease was rife as no spraying was done, pruning was spasmodic or completely neglected, and in effect there was no fruitgrowing industry worthy of the name. A few comparatively large orchards were run on commercial lines in so far as they were the main occupation of the landowners, but most growers seemed apathetic toward reform. Despite a duty of |d. per pound on all imported pip and stone fruits, local markets were depressed and generally local produce could not compete with imported Australian fruit owing to its diseased condition and poor quality. While growers were requesting the Government to increase the duty on imported fruits they were doing little to improve the quality of their own produce. The whole of the crop of one of the largest orchards in Canterbury, for example, was used for the manufacture of cider, this being the most profitable means of disposing of the poor fruit generally produced.

Government Instructors: 1893

About this time the Government began to interest itself in the fruitgrowing industry and in 1893 two “Pomologists”, as they were termed, were appointed, one for the North Island and one for the Middle Island (as the South Island was then called), with headquarters at Auckland and Christchurch respectively. J. C. Blackmore was appointed to the Christchurch district.

His “district” comprised the whole of the South Island with orchards as far apart as Takaka (Nelson) and Southland, including a thriving established stone fruit area in Central Otago

and a newly developing pip fruit area in Nelson and Motueka. However, Canterbury was the main fruitgrowing area under his supervision. Blackmore covered the whole of his “district” in his first year of office by rail and bicycle. This was a noteworthy effort when it is realised that roads in those days were only roughly metalled and rail connections very limited. A Gloomy Picture: 1894 Blackmore’s first report, submitted in 1894, revealed the most unsatisfactory state of the industry in Canterbury, due, in the main, to neglect and ignorance of cultural methods. The report emphasised the prevalence of disease. Codling, moth, the scourge of the North Island, was just appearing in Canterbury, having being first reported in 1894 at Akaroa. Its spread was apparently being caused by the use of second-hand cases introduced from the North Island. Other fruit pests reported as widespread in Canterbury at that time were oystershell (mussel) scale, pear mite, leaf-roller caterpillar, pear and cherry slug, leaf hopper, woolly aphis, leaf miner, and currant borer. Common fungous diseases were black spot of apples and pears, strawberry leaf blight/ shothole fungus, silver blight, plum rust, and peach curl. At that time the most serious stone fruit disease, brown rot, had not yet appeared. Blackmore stressed the urgency for legislation to enforce the control of disease, particularly the imminent spread of codling moth.

Spraying Introduced: 1895 Blackmore tackled the district’s problems in a practical manner by immediately introducing spraying to Canterbury growers. In an endeavour to make suitable spraying apparatus available he arranged with A. and T. Burt, engineers, Dunedin, to manufacture a sprayer with a compressed air chamber which would be suitable for fruitgrowers.

1890-96 J S ..'> >■*■ 1 -* '•■ ' ~ '

From illustrations it appears to have been a fairly accurate copy of American hand pumps in use at that time, usually mounted on a sledge. Before the introduction of this relatively efficient pressure pump, the only equipment available was a lowpressure, direct-action bucket pump with very unsatisfactory coverage capacity.

Disease-control Legislation: 1896 In 1896 the industry in Canterbury seemed to take a turn for the better. Through the campaigning of Blackmore, some spraying was done, some crops were cleaner than usual, and the market was more buoyant. Rail freights were reduced for fresh fruit and an increased duty was imposed on imported fruit. Nevertheless, the disease problem remained uppermost in the minds of all concerned with the future of the industry.

Codling moth continued to spread in Canterbury and in this year an outbreak was reported from Ashburton. It became increasingly obvious that effective control of the disease could not be obtained without legislation and the Department of Agriculture continued to press for the introduction of appropriate Government regulations. The Orchard and Garden Pests Bill 1896 was prepared, but was held over for some time. Eventually it secured a hearing, but met with considerable opposition in Parliament. Many fruitgrowers objected .to the provision requiring the restriction of sale of codling-infested fruit and eventually the codling moth clause was deleted from the Bill. The effect of the revised Bill was to aim at some measure of control over insect pests coming into the country on imported fruits, but it did little toward arresting the spread of pests already in local orchards.

Cider Manufacture: 1896 Meanwhile the local cider factory continued to make rapid progress. Fletcher Humphries and Co. (a name still well known in the Christchurch commercial world) established an up-to-date factory in 1896 and large quantities of local and North Island fruit were diverted from the market to this secondary industry. Recommendations for planting at this time reflected the importance of the cider business, as some priority was given to. cider varieties of apples. Other planting recommendations were for later-maturing apples (such as Sturmers), Williams’ Bon Chretien pears for bottling, and small fruits, particularly strawberries and black currants.

Export of Apples First Mooted: 1897

The first mention of an export apple trade was made in 1897. Though the suggestion was discussed and one of the largest Canterbury orchards, the Styx Orchard Co., erected a packing shed, it was generally acknowledged that the colony was still by no means self-supporting in fruit and that a great improvement in local production was needed first. At this time some 20,000,000 lb. or about 500,000 bushels of fresh fruit were being imported annually. Though no doubt a large proportion of this was citrus and other sub-tropical fruits, some pip and stone fruits were required to satisfy local demand. Export of apples from Canterbury was again proposed the next year and the Government agreed to a Id. per pound guarantee. The venture was abandoned, however, owing to lack of shipping space. Two important innovations to the fruit industry occurred in 1899. The first was of general interest to the whole colony: the full implementation of the Orchard and Garden Pests Bill provision affecting imported fruit. The Department’s report for this year states: “A mere glance at the fruit shops in any of our towns is sufficient to show the enormous improvement that has been effectedbright, clean oranges, lemons, and mandarins now taking the place formerly only too frequently occupied by filthy inferior stuff that ought never to have been allowed to leave the orchard. The imported fruit, which is subject to inspection, now compares more than favourably with local grown, there being at present no power to inspect New Zealand produced fruit”.

First Export Shipment: 1899

Despite this indictment of local orchard conditions, some Canterbury orchards must have been producing fruit of reasonable quality, for the long-awaited trial shipment of export apples to London was made in 1899.

The first shipment comprised solely Canterbury fruit, which was shipped from Lyttelton on 26 March 1899 per s.s. Papanui, an appropriate name for this vessel, as the orchardists who pioneered this venture under the auspices of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association were the Styx Orchard Co., with Wilson Bros., and F. Sisson, of Papanui.

The shipment comprised 1,500 cases of apples and 50 cases of pears, packed in the “Brisbane” case, a solid box of Australian origin which allowed for no bulge or firm pack. In many instances individual apples were wrapped in tissue paper, with paper shavings lining the tops and bottoms of the cases. No regular pack was adopted, but an effort was made to “row” the fruit in after it had been roughly sized. Many of the varieties shipped are obsolete today, but others still figure largely in New Zealand’s present exports. The shipment consisted of the following varieties: Apples: Claygate Pearmain, Adams Pearmain, Cox’s Orange, Cockle Pippin, Margin, Golden Russet, Boston Russet, Russet Nonpareil, Wilson’s Royal. Lord Wolseley (a Canterbury seedling raised by Sissons), and Sturmer. Pears: Beurre Clairgeau, Passe Colmar, Beurre Bose, Beurre Superb, Beurre Easter, Winter Nelis, and Vicar of Winkfield. This shipment apparently was not very successful. Though a satisfactory price for those days was obtained (average 10s. Id. per case), many of the varieties . sent were not very popular, severe bruising was reported, and the consignment clashed with the arrival’ of a shipment of 27,000 cases from Tasmania.

The official report on the shipment concludes: “. . . the shipment should have proved to New Zealand growers that the Colony is not in a position to export apples in any quantity yet, 1,500 cases of first quality fruit being all that could be raised in Canterbury. It should also prove the correctness of the assertion that a few special varieties only must be grown for export purposes”.

- The 19th century closed, therefore, with Canterbury fruitgrowing very much at the crossroads. Premature export aspirations were conflicting strongly with a local market provided very often only with irregular homegrown supplies of indifferent quality, and the future prospects of the industry were still quite obscure. Further endeavours to implement the Orchard and Garden Pests Bill 1896 for local fruit were continuing to meet with determined opposition. Codling moth by now was rampant in all parts of Canterbury and in spite of the success of some growers many were still producing fruit of very poor duality.

1896-1908 ‘‘-sW ■>-'1

Considerable Improvement: 1900 In the first decade of the 20th century there were significant changes and considerable improvement in the fruitgrowing industry. •Though in the early part of the century the provisions of the Orchard and Garden Pests Bill were still not applied to local fruit, a new appreciation of fruitgrowing was being gradually engendered. Growers were not only planting more intelligently and with more attention to variety demand, but were giving more care to existing orchards. Unsuitable varieties were gradually being removed and fruitgrowing was expanding in favourable districts and being abandoned in unfavourable localities. Orchard areas in the Ashburton district, for example, showed a sharp decline, the region being regarded as unsuitable owing to late frosts and heavy north-west gales. Plantings in Akaroa, never extensive, also showed a steady . decline, due mainly to the problem of transporting fruit to the Christchurch market.

An indication that Canterbury growers were directing more attention to spraying is indicated in a report that Reece and Co., merchants, of Christchurch, had been appointed agents for a well known brand of American spray pump (£7 10s. each) . On representation from the Department of Agriculture, these were allowed in from the U.S.A, free of duty.

Second Export Shipment: 1902 . Canterbury’s second export shipment of fruit was made in 1902. A further 1,500 cases of apples were shipped per s.s. Waikato, the fruit coming mainly from the Styx Orchard Co. No Government guarantee was provided for this shipment, despite appeals from the growers, as it was thought the shipment would have no difficulty in paying its way, judging from the reception given the original (1899) shipment. Unfortunately, the fruit, which was frozen 1 en route, arrived in poor condition and realised only from 3s. to 10s. per case. Reports from London on the shipment indicated that there was still room for great improvement in grading, much of the fruit being unripe and dull green. Scale was also present on the fruit. The packing was said to be reasonably good. After this disastrous shipment Canterbury’s interest in export of fruit to the United Kingdom waned, the initiative in exporting passing to other districts.

Important Legislation: 1904-08 Probably the most important and far-reaching legislation affecting New

Zealand fruitgrowers, the Orchard and Garden Pests Act, was passed in 1904. Restriction on the sale of infested fruit came into force immediately and though growers were treated leniently at first, the standard of fruit marketed showed gradual but definite improvement in this first year. In 1908 legislation for the control of all major pests and diseases was consolidated with the passing of the Orchard and Garden Diseases Act, which was much wider in scope than the previous Act. This Act endured, with amendments, for the next 20 years. The industry thus became established. on a sound basis in 1908 with every legal facility a growing primary industry might need provided for in the Act. Fruitgrowing in Canterbury, however, did not expand greatly during this period. Owing to the improvement in cultural methods, local production certainly increased, but from a reduced number of orchards. Though some of the better orchards expanded, no new areas were developed. Nevertheless, by the close of the decade the local fruitgrowing industry was vastly improved compared with 10 years previously. Many problems still had to be overcome and many dark days still lay ahead, but fruitgrowing was now an established industry. Boom Planting Years: 1910-20 During the next 10 years there occurred in New Zealand an unprecedented boom in orchard and smallfruit planting. Even the 1914-18 war failed to stop the planting fever and not until 1918 did planting slow down appreciably. Many thousands of acres of apples were planted throughout New Zealand during this era on both suitable and unsuitable land. Some orchards were doomed to early extinction; others ultimately became productive and profitable. The planting boom can be attributed to the wide publicity then being given to fruitgrowing as a sound and profitable. investment. The prospects of a good local demand with a potential overseas market that was claimed to be practically unlimited made the proposition financially attractive, and the life of a commercial fruitgrower was represented as being an easy and pleasant way of making a good living which appealed particularly to city folk, who were eager to invest in it. Development of Waimate, Loburn, and Heathcote Areas Canterbury participated in this rapid orchard expansion. Some 400 acres in the Waimate district, South Canterbury, were subdivided and planted with pip fruits from 1916 to 1918. In North Canterbury about 500 acres were planted in pip fruits in the Loburn and Rangiora districts from 1910 to 1920, and the Port Hills area also participated in this impetus to orchard planting.

Admirably suited to the growing of stone fruit and developed as a natural expansion of a productive area close to the city, the Horotane-Heathcote district was subdivided and planted between 1912 and 1918. Then followed the subdivision and development of the contiguous area of Avoca Valley between 1918 and 1920. This venture was initiated by J. F. Scott, who owned a large part of the Port Hills at the time. Since then, of course, the area has become renowned for production of tomatoes and apricots.

Raspberry Growing Begins Concurrent with this development of tree fruit areas, a new and important berry fruit industry arose in two districts in Canterbury. Areas of raspberries and, to a less extent, loganberries, were established in the Waimate district, about 100 acres being planted in 1910. The initiative in this venture can be attributed to Z. Couzins, who was the undisputed leader in the Waimate raspberry area at the time of its inception. Not all the land used was suitable, however, and areas have since been reduced until today only about 75 acres of the most suitable blocks remain. In the Riccarton-Yaldhurst district raspberry growing also began about this time. Cecil Harrow planted the first acre of raspberries at Upper Riccarton in 1910. Later he transferred to Yaldhurst, starting with 3 acres and gradually building up the family holdings until about 100 acres were in production.

Government Experimental Station: 1919 In addition to the rapid expansion of new areas during this period, exist-

1908-20

ing orchards continued to improve and receive better attention. In fact, the First World War appeared to have little detrimental effect on the fruitgrowing industry in Canterbury except for the expected shortage of skilled labour on . many properties. Growers now were fully conscious of the need for efficient spraying and more detailed cultural practices for better production. To improve their knowledge they began to agitate for the establishment of a Government experimental orchard in their district. In May 1919, 4 acres of established orchard (trees from 10 to 20 years old) and 4 acres of adjoining, grassland at Papanui were leased from R. Herdman Smith to provide the first local fruit experimental station in the South Island. The objects of the station were defined at the time as: “(a) To determine that pests and diseases of fruit trees could be successfully controlled by the spraying compounds recommended by the Department [of Agriculture] for this purpose. “(b) To test new spraying compounds. “(c) To try out theories in reference to the control of orchard pests and diseases.” G. Stratford, at that time Orchard Instructor at Christchurch, was the first manager of this station. In his first year he began a series of spray trials for the control of black spot and achieved considerable success.

1920-30

Brown Rot First Reported: 1915 Meanwhile stone fruit growers received a setback when a disease new to the district (brown rot) appeared in 1915. It appeared to spread rapidly in its first season and took quite a toll of the stone fruit crop. Sprays were immediately tried, but results were poor or variable. The disease remains one of the major troubles in stone fruit crops in some seasons. Only in very recent times have satisfactory control measures been discovered. Christchurch Market Good: 1920

By the early 1920 s Canterbury was in a rather enviable position with fruit production and marketing. While growers in other districts were facing marketing problems and agitating for organised export and local marketing Canterbury producers, with a huge potential market in the rapidly growing city of Christchurch, had no comparable problem and were consequently less enthusiastic over any Dominion-wide marketing scheme. Their own market was reasonably assured and for some years they took no great part in the agitation for organised sales. Elimination of Poorer Orchards: 1920-28 However, the newly' developed orchard areas at Waimate, Loburn, and Rangiora were passing through a diffi-

cult phase of economic instability, which gradually sifted out the lowproducing properties that had been planted on unsuitable land or had received unsatisfactory treatment. In Waimate many properties were converted to more profitable types of farming and eventually only about 100 acres remained. In Loburn and Rangiora the reduction in area was less drastic and in fact further plantings in the more favourable Loburn area offset to some extent those lost in poor blocks. Of the original 500 acres planted, about 160 acres were cut but during the ensuing 10 years, but 48 additional acres were planted on the better Loburn land, so that there still remained a new and reasonably stable orchard area of about 388 acres.

Experimental Orchard Closed: 1924 With the elimination of the poorer orchards, steady progress was made during this period by the remaining orchardists. Disease control remained the growers’ main problem and as soon as one pest or disease was kept in check another appeared. In May 1924 the Papanui Experimental Orchard was closed, the 5-year lease of the property having expired. A large amount of trial work had been undertaken, mainly with the testing of old and new spray materials. Results had shown growers that effective control of major pests and diseases present at that time could be attained by applying the recommended sprays in the correct manner. It was therefore considered that the experimental orchard had served its purpose and it

was not re-established elsewhere. The former experimental area orchard, now

owned by Mr W. E. Davidson, is still producing heavy crops.

Fireblight Spreads to Canterbury: 1929 A serious new disease of pip fruit, fireblight, appeared in Canterbury in 1929. Fireblight, previously . confined to the North Island, spread to the South Island in the spring of that year, when it was first noticed simultaneously in Christchurch and Kaikoura.

The Christchurch outbreak was confined in the first season to one pear tree in the grounds of the U.S.A. Clubrooms in Gloucester Street. The Kaikoura outbreak occurred in a hawthorn hedge in the outskirts of the township. Both sources of infection were removed and burnt, but in spite of these precautions, the disease continued to spread in the following years, though not in such a virulent form as that in the North Island.

Frost Damage: 1929

A serious late frost in the spring of 1929 caused widespread damage to stone and pip fruit crops. This was the first major loss encountered in this way by the younger generation of fruitgrowers and though Government assistance was provided, a few of the orchardists in the more susceptible areas never completely regained confidence in their properties and several orchards ultimately were pulled out. A large orchard at Waipara, North Canterbury, was removed on this account and several smaller areas were converted to other types of farming..

1930-57 I :

Thus the law of the “survival of the fittest” continued to operate, and by a process of gradual elimination, the economic orchard areas emerged and progressively became more clearly defined. Depression Years: 1931-35 The greatest test in economic survival came during the next few years when the depression of the early 1930 s took its toll of fruitgrowers as it did of other classes of farmers. However, production continued to increase, in spite of some orchards being abandoned or becoming neglected, but prices for fruit remained very low. As a result there was a local revival of interest in export of fruit and some fairly large shipments were dispatched during the years 1931-35. These accounted for only a relatively small portion of Canterbury’s production, however. Out of an estimated pip fruit average production of 300,000 bushels, the amount exported from Canterbury annually was as follows:

bus. bus. 1930 .. 900 1935 .. 32,000 1931 .. 29,000 1936 .. 25,000 1932 .. 13,000 1937 .. 14,000 1933 .. 57,000 1938 .. 35,000 1931 .. 25,000 1939 .. 41,000

With the outbreak of war in 1939, resulting in a temporary cessation of export, Canterbury’s interest in export marketing was no longer fluctuating or indifferent and has not since become so.

Second World War and Afterward: 1939-57 During the Second World War and up to 1948 there was no further planting. Moderate plantings have been made since, but mainly as extensions to existing orchards in Loburn and Ouruhia. No new areas have been developed. On the other hand many of the old and historic orchards of the Papanui area have succumbed, to the spread of the city. Not only have suburban housing schemes absorbed many of these orchards, but factories have been erected on some of this rich, fertile land. During the past 100 years about 500 acres of land in the Papanui area have been used at one time or another for the production of fruit. The area in orchard in that district in the 1890 s was in the vicinity of 350 acres. The present area of Papanui orchards is under 200 acres. It is estimated that during the next 10 years a further 50 acres of orchard will be absorbed into the city and so lost to production. The present trend is for these areas to be replaced in part by new plantings further out from

the city, but in spite of this the areas in production are gradually declining.

Similarly there is a tendency for the valuable Horotane-Heathcote area to become more and more residential. The subdivision of small orchards for housing is constantly taking place, and though these are at present generally remaining in production, indications are that production will decline as this process continues.

Future Development

If fruit production in Canterbury is to be maintained at a figure even approaching its peak level of the 19305, some major planting will have to be undertaken within the next 10 years. Unless this happens Canterbury, the pioneer province of fruitgrowing in New Zealand, with, the population of its capital city of Christchurch approaching a quarter of a million, will not only lose its place as a major fruitgrowing district, but will not even be self-supporting. There are still many areas in the province capable of development for fruitgrowing and it is here that growers who have the foresight should plan to produce fruit for the rapidly increasing urban population, which presents a huge potential market.

Acknowledgments Mrs E. Foster, Gloucester Street, Christchurch, for information on the early days. Mr F. Sisson, Papanui, for details of the Sisson family. Mr B. Turner, Woolston, for information and access to early records of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association. Mr J. D. Galletly, Senior Horticultural Inspector, Christchurch, for assistance in assembling data.

FRUIT STATISTICS OF CANTERBURY 1957

No. of ProducKind growers Area tion acres bushels Pip Fruit Apples . . . .93 697 169,000 Pears . . . . 46 104 30,000 Quinces ■ .. 7 31 • 1,000 Stone Fruit Apricots .. 32 114 21,500 Cherries ..17 27 3,000 Nectarines 9 8 2,100 Peaches .. 30 56 9,800 Plums (European) .. 26 18 2,700 Plums (Japanese) . . 46 45 11,000 Berry Fruit tons Black currants 10 22 40 Raspberries .. 61 170 400 Strawberries . . 47 68 165 Gooseberries . . 3 3 8 Loganberries 3 4 10 Total area in tree fruits . . 1,072 J acres Total area in berry fruits . . 267 J acres ■ Total .... .. 1,340 acres