Experimental Orchard - Government Fruit Testing Station - moments in history

Before Pae Korokī and Papers Past, the New Zealand Room librarians would note topics of interest in an alphabetised card catalogue, this is their selection of Experiment Orchard stories from the Bay of Plenty Times and other sources.

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1894: Fruitgrowers meet with Mr Palmer, government fruit expert, and an experimental station is suggested. Bay of Plenty Times, 2 November 1894.

1905:

• At Tauranga. Arrangements made by Mr Hamilton Grapes and the approval of the Minister to this project. Bay of Plenty Times, 11 August 1905.
• Fruitgrowers Association meeting re government pomologists' proposal for experimental orchard. Bay of Plenty Times, 30 August 1905.

 

1906:

• Good work is being done on the Government Fruit Testing Station at Greerton, close to the Borough boundary. 11 acres have been ploughed and fruit trees will be planted in a fortnight. Bay of Plenty Times, 27 June 1906.
• Full details about the establishment of an Experimental Orchard Fruit Testing Station at Tauranga, on the eastern side of Cameron Road, 2 miles from the Post Office, opposite Mr J. McNaughton's "Greenhill" estate. Bay of Plenty Times, 24 August 1906.

 

1907: True cuttings of fruit trees etc available from the Government Fruit Testing Station. Bay of Plenty Times, 21 August 1907.

1908:

• 18 months of progress (2 column article). Bay of Plenty Times, 2 March 1908.
• Progress (1 paragraph). Bay of Plenty Times, 11 March 1908.
• Fruit testing station. Additional purchase of 68 acres of land. Bay of Plenty Times, 16 March 1908.
• Fruit Testing Station, collection of gourds etc open for public inspection. Bay of Plenty Times, 15 May 1908.

 

1909: Mr J.C. Adams just completed a residence for the Fruit Testing Station, Cameron Road. Bay of Plenty Times, 9 July 1909, p. 2.

1910: Fruit growing at at the Experimental Orchard, variety of experiments. Bay of Plenty Times, 14 November 1910.

1914: Tauranga fruit growing possibilities. Letter to Mr Berridge, manager of local experimental farm. Bay of Plenty Times, 19 November 1914.

 

1915:

• Manager of Experimental Farm advised that farm couldn't be used as a depot for night soil after two months. Bay of Plenty Times, 24 February 1915.
• W.C. Berridge resigned as manager of Experimental Farm and has shifted to Auckland. Bay of Plenty Times, 15 July 1915.
• Mr Davidson appointed manager in place of Mr L.J.B. Grant. Bay of Plenty Times, 19 November 1915.

 

1916: Presentation to W.C. Berridge, lately manager. Bay of Plenty Times, 27 March 1916.

 

1917:

• New buildings being erected. Bay of Plenty Times, 21 September 1917.

• Editorial (Experimental Orchard). Bay of Plenty Times, 17 October 1917.

 

1918: article about the Experimental Orchard. Bay of Plenty Times, 4 November 1918.