FOOTBALL CELEBRITY BECOMES SCIENTIFIC FRUITGROWER Tomato growing, as it is done by Mr George Harrison, of Mangere, is a matter of science as much as green fingers. It is done entirely in greenhouses, of which Mr Harrison has 22,000 square feet (50,000 plants). George Harrison, who comes from Opunake, was a notable sportsman especially in swimming and football. He was a Maori All Black and for several years earned a living as a professional footballer in Britain (London, Wigan and Bradford). In 1929, he was N.Z. champion, beltman in lifesaving. He started his gardening business after the war, which partially disabled him. He spent two very uncomfortable years before any success in his growing venture become evident. But then progress become rapid: he was president of the Auckland Commercial Growers' Association some years ago, and was on the executive for several years; he has now reached a stage where he can think about retiring. Mr Harrison keeps up with the scientific literature; he thinks that without enough education to read this literature, one can not be a successful grower today. Hothouse growing has its own special advantages (an economic unit needs only half an acre of land) but there are also special problems: to kill harmful bacteria, Mr Harrison sterilizes the soil with teargas (see above) every season; unfamiliar diseases keep on appearing and have to be promptly suppressed. Are there opportunities for other Maoris in tomato growing? Yes, the opportunities are waiting, but George Harrison has not found any Maori who is seriously interested in learning this highly skilled work. He is married, with five children including two girls at high school who love horse-riding. When Mr Harrison retires—and that will not be long delayed—he wants to devote much of his time to Maori causes.