h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The Kiwi - A9827896
Author: Fruitylicious Opti- go green fingers go - U231227

'The Kiwi' for review.

<>

Are you sure you mean "man"?

Hi Opti Interesting entry! I haven't got to the other fruits yet, but looks like a great project.

I'd like to offer some perspective from New Zealand, where the term kiwifruit originated

'Kiwi' is a New Zealand Maori word meaning a native bird, or, colloquially, a New Zealander. The fruit you are writing about is called a 'kiwifruit' here and this name came about because of some clever marketing fellows in NZ who decided we couldn't sell 'Chinese Gooseberries' to the world.

'Chinese Gooseberry' was a generic name in NZ for all Actinidia chinensis fruits. It wasn't a name for a specific variety.

The name 'kiwifruit' was adopted fairly recently, off the top of my head I'd say in the 80s (we had a big kiwifruit boom here then) - at least common usage in NZ started then (the name may have been used in horticulture earlier). My understanding is that the term 'kiwi' used in the US was a result of that marketing strategy not that the US named the fruit after a NZ bird. I"d be interested to know which is true and what the source of the idea that the US named the fruit after the bird is*.


Personally I, and many New Zealanders, find it very weird reading something like "Kiwis are not known to have many pests and diseases which affect them" because 'kiwi' in that sentence would be read as the bird. Ditto 'Kiwi margarita'

How would you feel about using the term 'kiwifruit' as the standard, with an explanation that some places use the term 'kiwi' (and perhaps why NZers find that so weird)?

'Kiwifruit vine' is the name of the plant.



*

As an aside to that:

>>Kiwis are not known to have many pests and diseases which affect them. Possibly due to the fact very few are planted.<<

Kiwifruit in NZ are well known for requiring very little pesticide intervention. There is a large certified organic kiwifruit industry here because of this. In fact I have a feeling the whole industry was looking at going organic.



kea.

*ps this is a useful source of kiwifruit history:

http://www.zesprikiwi.com/kiwi_name.htm

The term 'kiwifruit' to replace 'chinese gooseberry' is exlpained It was used originally in 1959 (but as I mentioned above it wasn't in common usage here for some years)

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You might want to clarify that the vine has separate male and female plants, and that if you are growing them then you need one of each in order to get fruit.

How does pollination happen if a person isn't doing it?

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I have a hunch you mean 'male'

Also... the 1:8 ratio... I suspect that this is simply the ratio of plants in a commercial orchard setting - it allows for a 3-by-3 'grid' pattern, with one male (non-fruit-producing) plant to be surrounded by 8 females

as per:

F F F

F m F

F F F

However, I might be wrong about this...

ah you are going too scientific on me

so whats happening with this entry?

Have you polished it up?

I can see footnotes which aren't next to the word they're footnoting.
There are double-quote marks, only single are allowed.
First-person reference: <> need removing.
Header words need to be in capitals unless they're three letters long or less.

When you have updated, please tell us *what* you have updated

>>so whats happening with this entry? <<

Well, because you didn't reply to my posts above I had assumed you were ignoring them completely. I now see that you have made some changes to the entry so will have a read through when I get some time


What GB is saying about posting what changes you have made is very important. If you had done that I would have posted more thoughts

OK, just having a read through now.


I think the title needs to be changed to 'The Kiwifruit'.


'Kiwifruit' needs to be not capitalised in the text.


>>
The New Zealanders grew a variety called "Chinese Gooseberry", and this was shipped to the USA. The Americans called this variety the "kiwi" after the national bird of New Zealand.
<<

As I mentioned earlier, I think this is incorrect. The first sentence also contradicts footnote 2. The second sentence is incorrect according to this website:

http://www.zesprikiwi.com/kiwi_name.htm

If you have other sources can you please post them?



>>
Imagine the scene kiwifruit reaching out to absorb the delicate rays of the sun across a trellis.<<

How about:

>>
Imagine the scene of a kiwifruit vine reaching out to absorb the delicate rays of the sun across a trellis.<<


>>Kiwifruit vine love nitrogen<<

>>Kiwifruit vines love nitrogen<<



>>so be sure not to make the soil to basic.<<

>>so be sure not to make the soil too basic.<<



>>Kiwifruits should be pruned in the winter<<

>> The vines should be pruned in the winter<<



ok, I just got to this bit and checked the phrase:

>>is cut behind the entanglement<<


The whole sentence appears to be cut and pasted thus:

>>Once the main stem has grown that high and ended in a "pig-tail" it is cut behind the entanglement and a new shoot is allowed to grow from a leaf base. << (h2g2)

>>When growth ends in a "pig-tailing" of the shoot, it is cut behind the entanglement and new a shoot allowed to grow from a leaf base.<<

http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/hardy-kiwifruit.html



>>Over the years many roots will grow from the lateral mainline ad each lateral cane will send out a new shoot about 1/3 of the way from its own starting point. The next winter, prune off the older cane at the point that it connects with last summers new shoot. Repeat this every year.<< (h2g2)

>>After two years multiple shoots will now emerge from the lateral mainline. During the growing season, each lateral cane will send out a new shoot about 1/3 of the way from its own starting point. The next winter, prune off the older cane at the point that it connects with last summers new shoot. This process repeats itself every year.<<


This needs to be changed Opti (and any other places in the entry where this occurs). You need to research and understand the material and then write it anew. Taking whole sentences and phrases stops your entry from being original material.


Can you let us know the next lot of changes that you make, and then we can comment more

Ok I think the only two things I have missed out are a) double quote marks and b) rewording. I'm horrified to see this entry looking in such poor shape and wonder whether it best to bin it.

If you don't want to work it, Opti, why not submit it to the FM and let someone else finish it off when they have a moment?

W

FM what is that short for?

The Flea Market

This entry has now been taken out of the Writing Workshop.

So, can this Entry go to the Flea Market, Opti?

no its not going to be in any forum at the mo

Given that it's made up of two other people's Entries in the first place and that various people - two in particular - have put time and effort into helping you out with the research for it on this thread, just sitting on it and shouting "mine, all mine" doesn't seem exactly fair

You either need to get on with it, or get out of the way and let someone else have a go. That's reasonable, isn't it?

Hey no need to get ye knickers in a twist

If someone wants to take it under their wing they can

Thanks - I shall go and untwist my knickers now