National Prizes for Orchards.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 587, 26 March 1891, Page 3

National Prizes for Orchards.

Il New South Wales recently a party of Commissioners toured through the varioudistricts, taking forty days in their work, tr inspset the various orchards and decide hiw the national prizes should ba awarded. The first prise for an orchard over ten acres wan Won by Mr Thomas Tozer, Peach Grove, Forbes. From the Sydney Mail we extract the report, and will in a future i«sue give the report on the p ize orchard te~ acres. The following is the fir-tt report:— This estate, consisting of 18 ja., 12 j. of which Is an orchard, is situated on the b*nks of tbe Lachlan River, about 1| mile from F irbes. The owner has been in possession 28 years, tbe oldest trees being 24 years od. He employs three men; keeps three hnrees; tits the laud by ploughing i < the spring, ami scarifying according to circumstances. Am irrigation is applied, tbe owing to its adhesive character has to ba scarified after each irrigation. Three sides of the orchard are bounded by th« river, aud at least there is Bft. of deep rich soil, with an underlay of drift saud. Vegetables are cultivated br ween the tree.. The preparation fur planting con.i.ted in ploughing a-d rk-leton ploughing tbe land loin, deep The quant ■ ties of different irera .re: 463 app>ee, 95 pear., 76 plum., 243 peaches, 36 nectarines, S 3 apr cote 104 quinces, 37 cherries. 26 figa, 43 almonds, 94 orange., 16 emnns. 9 loquats, 6 Walnut., 3 mulberries, 2200 grape vines A fair representative collection of fruit trees. All fruit in season at the time of our visit was first class. ( Mr Tozer finds markets in Forbes, Parkes, and other outlying towns, often journeying 250 mi es to dispose of bis fruit; Irrigation fo< ras an important part in the production of good fruit. A weir has been construed at a distance if two miles below Mr Tozer's properly, with the result of-throwing the water back acme seven tuilee Whin toe river is low, thus giving him a good supply during dry weather. The Biotlve pi wer is a ft-borae-power engine, ccxling £6OO, expenses of pump, etc , £4O; and Mr Tozer conrider. tbe money well laid Cut, as it enables him to have fine merkeiahie fjtuir, no matter how dry the season may be. ft has paid for itself over and over again. As a fail .of Hilt exists to the wellhole, two lift, pf 16ft each are adoped, and about 250,000 gallops pan be delivered in a working day. prom tne delivery tank two arm ppes extend to deliver the water t. each section pt tbe orchs'd as may be required. The wateroours a are open and regulated by stops. The laud is in good condition. Very little faults could be found with the trees. A linle pure pruning would be beneScial. With grape vines ths oidium has played sad havoe, gnd Mr Tc-Zer s<a‘es that even sulphur could pot stop it, Thus, while there Is a large crop of grapes, they are nearly worthless, 0- aßge.tree cultivation is a specialty, and Ibis fruit thrives so well the Mr T. regrets that he did not plant more. All valuable plums, paaoOea, apricots, neotgrinea, find a bums terr, tn name which is simply to nick but cl lists aM wtU'known tarlelit..