THE FRUIT CROP.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1315, 19 December 1911, Page 8

THE FRUIT CROP.

ni'FEcrs of Tin: bad wkathek. I'epoi'is received.'bj- the Director of the Orehnnis I)ivisio:i of - the Agricultural j Department from his! field otlicers indicate that the retvsis. .f.Voyt'rnU'r) bad lvcnfher.- with its nttundant hail, frosts, and .heavy winds'has 'lone a great, deal of damage to the friiit crops ail ovi-r the Dominion. ' AVith one exception, t1 , .? report' -agree that the elements have dealt harshly' with ,(lie . crops, ;iml although prospficls nf n record crop are .shattered, the general pi'-0.-pe.cts »re still very good. The rep-ji-ls run 'ns'under:— Palmersfon Noi'th.Tho high ■ winds, and the rains have damaged th? crop* considerably all, over, the district. . .Apples blossomed we',l, but. have set hadly, • and thoiv will only be ■X iiu-dinui. prop.*. PparsryWilliiiui amiBon Cretien- -are good all through, the district ■ OHier vinel-ics medium; The prospects for 'plums .are good, especially the Jiiram-se varieties, although the wind has caused considerable chmnge. Other' (stone) fruits arc good, urid'tnnintpes a-.id potatoes arc looking well. "Whore sprn.ving. has ;bet!n neglected, blight has been observed in the potatoes. " . Hamilton - .; - , . ' ' ■ Orchards..'- which are.. in . exposed positions'' have suffered '' from - the rough weathor.-but tbo=o in>sheltored are carrying good crops. Tho apricot searjoii will be ('Wo or three-weeks later than in previous season^.- ,, ;Therc is every prospect of anexcencnt'erop. Wahoanui. v.. - . ",.■" : hare, suffered • i s'everely, : i as.a . result bf/tlie.raili aud.'.hdil. : The/ fn'iit. crop h-iving set so. well in the. first place, there,is.-still promise, of: a. : good crop in the.majority of the orohards. : Orchards, planted nut , dining t)w season are looking very well. There "are excellent .crops, of small fruits.' ; , ■ ,'.'"! ■ ' Auckland and-Gisbornc. . Eoports' from tho above■ districts' st.-ite that there, are very.'good-prospects for apples and pears. Peaches also are good,; .and- plums moderate. At Gisborne tho apricot: crop is-fully up to the average.. In Auckland fungoid. disea.ses are, catis : ing considerable- - trouble , ;amongst green-, hous'o tomatoes. ■ Outdoor crops have l)een retarded by the rough weather. Potatoes in Auckland are still healthy, and most . growers are spraying thoroughly with;Bordean.\ mixture. Grape vines are looking well, and a good aver-, age crop is expected. • ■ • . Hastinosi ' • Heavy gales have reduced the fruit crops considerably, but ■ tho yield .ill round will still bo above the average. Karly peaches are.light, but mid-summer varieties and apples nromi.--e verv heavy crops. Hed. oil is giving excellent, results in regard to scab. WhanVjarei. . The /weather . has l>eeii unfavourable.. iThe damage.done has been chiefly con-fined-to vouiig trees, .the tender growth suffering.severely. There will be uniform crops, of .neaches. nectarines, and Japanese pliims.. Apples and pp'irrs'arc heavy !to moderate. . Strawberries are only a ,light crop.' liilt oranges are blooming well.' Nelson. ...'.,. Tho weather has been'very cold, with isharp suaos, followed by' rain. . Glass '.houses,-and .tomatoes' have siifl'ered severe-, "Iv .from tlio..bail.' Peaches have not '.-et :as well as was 'anticipated,'.' but ■ nevertholess.a 'fair.crop'is expected. The.same re-, .nuirks apply.-to anncots.'. .There will, be 'heavy crop's.of apples,:and lighter crcips .o? pears. -..' - . ' ■'-.. '. ■ '~ '-/ Blenheim. Considerable damage, has been caused bv the rough weather. Anples will give a good it*-;, iwid will also be good, though slightly damaged by frosts. Apricots and peaches, fair. Peas are looking snU-ndi(!. and there is n larg.r irea.' in crop. -.Toniatocs are .bncVward, ?m\ it is estimated that somo 10,000 have been ruined by hail. Canterbury. Tho nresent season has been disastrous from the fruitgrowers' point of view. SiT'nrn frosts were experienced at a critical time, and these were followed by hail and very cold weather. The result has. -on that a great deal of damage has been done. Apple?, arc fair, also pears, ■i:'iis, peaches." apricots, and cherries, and gooseberries are goo'l. T'.m*:ru. Tho fruit crons about Ashburton are looking well and thei-e is every prospect of a record yield. Abnit. Waimate a eond deal of damage has .been done .by. hailstorms, both apples and pears being Ladly marked.