New Zealand Treecrops Association

Research Report EXCERPT - 2003 AGM

By Roy Hart

Reports are one of those necessary evils that have to be done every year, even if there have been no mind-boggling discoveries through that year. A few year ago I was expected to a give research report to the executive every three months, something completely impractical. Luckily it was forgotten quite quickly. It is not only governments that have daft ideas.

What interests you, may not be what I select to report, as I have my pet interests. We hope in the near future to be able to get more feedback from branches on what should be done, and hopefully more research being done by branches. I hope this will not turn into a parochial thing. And that branch research will add to the total effort of the Association. As well as helping the branch involved.

The Tree Cropper is an ideal place to report initially, and I would encourage you to put your results into it promptly, this will stir up interest in other branches on what to do. Secondly, for more permanent stuff, get your information into the website. This is a great new tool for the Association.

There seems to be good stirring in the Association for more people to be involved in research. This is excellent. We are not a one-man (person) band, and although we seem to have made research a holy cow, it is very easy to undertake your own research. All that is needed is the idea, some help on how to set things up, then common sense and good recording of what happens.
One of the main strengths of the Association in its early years was the enthusiast that pushed, encouraged, found out, and got stuck in to a new crop. Many of these Taonga are either dead or very old now. We need new blood to carry on this work.

When you read this I hopefully will have passed my three score years and ten. This is our biblically allotted time, so you can appreciate that I will be slowing done, before I stop permanently. So it is opportune that others are getting involved.

As we mature as an organisation, we need to progress from just knowing how to grow new crops, and know how to add value to those new crops. It was a nice dream that just growing a new crop meant a nice profit, but reality suggests we need to take the next step on how to process, package and market successfully.

I realise this doesn’t apply to all our members, because many of us just grow for our own pleasure and family and friends. However, research to me seems to often imply some monetary interest.

Figs:
Eric Cairns is the main enthusiast involved with the figs. There is now more interest in...

Pistachios:
There is a 12-year-old planting in...

Walnuts:
Most of walnut research has centered on...

Chestnuts:
This is an AGMARDT funded project, assessing...

Plums:
A very practical, important crop for most districts of New Zealand. Most branches have ended up with their own trials that I know little about, so there is no co-ordinated National trials. Nelson branch has funded a cultivar collection that has been running for 5 years...

Asimoya:
Asimina triloba, paw paw.
5 small plantings around the country. Growing very slowly. 1 larger planting establishing close to Motueka. 5 cultivars ex America are...

Pomegranates:
I left the importation to Jonathan Hooker of Masterton, who got plants from Australia. Unfortunately only 2 plants of 2 cultivars got through quarantine. I don’t have any of this material yet. But have supplied several people with the Wonderful cultivar this winter.
The cultivars imported by Jeff Elliott also failed the quarantine inspection, and were destroyed. This has been disappointing to say the least.
There are currently 5 small trials around the country with ...

Ginkgos:
There are 2 South Island and 2 North Island trials containing 49 trees each. They have been growing for...

Olives:
We are into the 5th year of the trials. 12 sites were increased to 15 sites, assessing trees from planting of 18 cultivars. Trials run from Waiheke to Central Otago.
These trials are AGMARDT funded work. We are now in the second 3-year period.
A lot of very good information has come from these trials. I will terminate the work at the end of the 6th year from an official point of view, but hope to get continuing feed back for some years.
The Olive Association is well established now. They have $500000 for research, so will leave it to them from now on.
I think we have done a pretty good job for the olive industry, and individual Tree Crop growers.

Nashi:
1 nashi rootstock trial at...

Natives:
Mainly 6 timber types. Wally Dyson has some, and my daughter in Coromandel. Our new Research Co-ordinator David Klinac is keen on this work, and going to push it along.
A small planting of Titoki for oil production has been planted in Nelson. I have trees for anyone else wanting some. Will see if Wally wants them.
The difficulty with natives is the uncertainty around whether you will be allowed to process them when the time comes. And Maori rights.

Pinenuts:
Wally Dyson has the main work going in the Horowhenua. I supplied seed of P pinea from low growing type to Eric Cairns for Horowhenua. P pinea are well adapted to our... If you can help with seed of these I would be pleased to hear from you.

Gevuina:
I have stopped these trials apart from continued observation. Prospects are quite poor so far with current material. Although Otago think there is potential with two lines.
There was a very misleading article put in Tree Cropper a few years ago, that encouraged, when my results were the opposite.
Will not do anything more until...

Feijoas:
The three Wiki Tu rootstock trials have...

I have a constant stream of requests for all sort of information from members and non-members.

I am hoping to do...

Thought for the day: We need trees more than they need us.

Roy Hart

http://www.treecrops.org.nz/bydate/nat2003/resrep03t.html
Created: Friday, 13 June 2003 - Updated: 2008 July 11