THE FRUIT CROPS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 465, 25 March 1909, Page 2

THE FRUIT CROPS.

STATEMENT BY TOE GOVERNMENT NOMOLOGIST. "Tlio season has been an erratic ono for fruit," said Mr. J. C. Blackmoro (Govoni. incut Nomologist) to a reporter (a Press Association telegram states). Southland, ho continued, had a moderate, crop of fairly good quality fruit. Tho Otago results had boon somewhat varied. Tlio Toviot district garnered one of th* largest crops on record. Tlio estimate of 2500 tons made early in the season had been justified. Tho quality was very lino, as tho growers worked on a thorough system of spraying and pruning, combined witli tillage. Tlio districts about Clydo and Alexandra also enjoyed record crops of fairly good quality. Taking tho Central Otago district as a whole, thcro had boon a largely-increased output of cherries and strawberries. Tho crops in Canterbury had been very poor in comparison with last year's. Hail had inflicted a good deal of damage on tho apples and pears. It had been found difficult to secure fruit for tho Shephords Bush Exhibition, and to select good examples which had not been badly marked by hailstorms in tho earlier part of tho season. Tho plum crop had been erratic, but tho cherry crop had boon fairly good. Reports from tho Nelson district indicate that tho yields of fruit thero havo boon satisfactory to tho growers. Mr. Blackmoro states that thero will bo a considerable increase in orchards in tho Teviot district (Central Otago) this year. Many growers havo already placed largo orders for tho supply of tho necessary fruit trees to plant tho additional areas. Personally, Mr. Blackmoro believes thero is no other district in tlio Dominion which will bo ablo to compete with Central Otago for highquality apricots and peaches, as tho soil and climatic conditions arc eminently suited for tho production of theso fruits.. 'When thero is a more efficient system of transit to tho markets, tho industry will mako great strides.