FRUIT CROPS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2381, 10 February 1915, Page 8

FRUIT CROPS

1; <»NMON LASmiOOTH /PROSPECTS WELL MAINTAINED .Officers of* the Orchards, Gardens, and . iipiaries Division Toport as follows regarding the condition of tho fruit crop- . -in the districts named at: tho end of & January:— - | WANGANUI. 'Apples.—A fair crop of good-quality, .More>codlm moth .about than usual. Mprieots:,An. excellent crop being gathered. Chernes:. A. fair , crop . has. been Considerable "gnomonia" J about. Gooseberries;- Growth moder- . tate.-. Lemons: Prospects well maintained. Nectarines: Crops good, although late. and slightly under-sized. \Peachos: A modorate crop of eocxl saraplo. Pears: Some excellent clean : >crops - maturing. Plums. (English): Somo; ; varieties cropping ' heavily. .Plums (Japanese): Good;crops being fathered, quality, good "where tho trees -'recoivod consideration.: Strawberries: fCrops. about, ovor. Tomatoes: Plants generally clean and promising. good crops. ••: , HASTINGS. (. Apples: Crop very fair, (juite up ;to roxpeotations in both quantity ■; and appearance. Nectarinos:: Ligßit -crop, {poaches: Light crop. Size , and qualyty of-early varieties exceptionally, good. f'Poais:-- Fair to good crop.; Plums «l(English): .Very-fair crop in-places; but generally, light. .Plmhs . (Japanese): 'Light'crop. Raspberries: Poor crop. - Tomatoes: Poor crop. Walnuts: Fair far better than was expected, i Tho weather still continues to be very tjdry,':with tho exception of light rams Son January. 29. This, although appreciated, 1, .was scarcely sufficient to be noticeable. lip to tho present, the fruit . [trees never looked better;'but' there; are; •mow-noticeable - several' . instances-' of !<dronght damage, with" * the ■ danger: of imoro.to follow.

• PALMERSTON NORTH. Generally thcro is'nothing further td ' Croport on. last month's return. Early I , Vvaneties of apples and > pears are now ■ being forwarded to various markets in ; • flarge. supply.Tho. ground, is still .very, and a Heavy rain would be bene;:iicial...to all late varieties of fruit. SPlants generally attacked by Irish ; 'lblight,are very ' free . from same this OseasoUj as weather conditions: in thisjwistrict have not. been, favourable to- : . awards; the development ;pfJj|BUch_; d&ea& : ' S WELLINGTON. .1. 'Apples: Fair .crop. Disease is fair- . iy under control, and an improvement ■ wifrom'last year. Apricots Showing an,' Kmiprovemenfc on Jcrop?' Nec-v 1 j.tartnes: Poor crop.l'i 4 These must' havespray of Bordeaux every , Wear,'-otherwise they are not a,success fen ithis district. .Peaches: Poor crop. 'Peats: -.Good average crop. A marked -(improvement in clean fruit as • compared •with last year. . Plums ; (English): ; [Good "crop. -. Plums (Japanese): Good' fcrop.v-with excellent prices up 1 to 6s. . tperbaif-case. Tomatoes: Outdoor are mofc' up to expectation, ' the wind has •damaged the.bottom trusses;considerably.Tho crop will be lata. : NELSON. , •• 2ppfes: A good crop of almost, all /varieties. Very free from scab,, and »not; nearly so much rnssettingas formierly.W. Eirly varieties just coming on , Vma£K©fc. Apricots: Very good crop, loSyy/in some districts... Late; varie- : vtiesJXathor small, -.clean crop;;;,?. Nectarines and peaches: Good average ,;crop, : *especially in -later. .varieties ."V Rain (badly* 1 , needed to', pro'duijo good' " size. " Good crop; very clean, very H : Qittl'e'iblack- spot. ■;•• Fruit well up to isizS.'/i;. Plums (English and Japanese): .- European. varieties. heavy; except , igages.; Could have , been larger had stbmmhg been resorted- to.- f Average ; icrop - Japanese varieties. and of good iqualriy. Easpberries: Splendid crops : !of good, sound fruity. :Tomatoes:; Good gicrops , throughout the" district. '■ Now ipbeaig marketed extensively. J*. Walnuts: -Heavy crop. - Black spot in places, but much-freer?than expected. BLENHEIM. ■ ■■■*. Apples: Fair crop. Late frosts and heavy winds have done a considerable ■ amount of. damage:.to■ all' fruit; more ,especially stone fruit'. Very little codlin: moth showing this season, owing to •, the. growers taking, .'more, interest in their. Orchards and gardens, and consequently doing more spraying. Pears: Good "crops, very little scab showing up •to present time; A fair amount of apricots and early-peaches,- also early ■pears and apples, are being sold in the auction rooms. A. few'samples realisiug;fair prices. Tomatoes: Under glass, 'harvesting almost completed/ Outdoor, harvesting just commencing. Very •good crops under glass this season. Walnuts: Very light crop, owing to Jate!frosts. , . THE STRAWBERRY. CROP. \ (By Telegraph—Press, Association.) Auckland, February 9. So.severo has been the cffect of the drought upon the strawberry crops in ; Auckland that,-' according to an estiumate mado by the Waitemata Fxuit- : j,growers'. Association, fruit sent to town jsso far this 'season has realised £7000 1 less than would have been tho caso in ■ ia. normal season. 'C In view.ofi the losses"sustained by (the /fruitgrowers, the North: Shore MuniJicipal Association-w . makings represent- ' jtions to the Minister of Marino that in rthe" ovent. of- any .increaso 'in ; ferry ■freightage charges fruitgrowers should protected/ -■ •/■? . \ :HONEY CROP 'PROSPECTS { The Director of the Orchards, Gard(ens, and Apiaries Division of the Department of Agriculture (Mr. T. W. Kirk) has received from his apiary in- ', etrnotors the following reports concerning, tbo honey-crop prospects:—_ ' Auckland. —TJjg honey crop in the 1 'Auckland province will be below 'the-■average,-although the recent good rains may in some districts causo a late flow of nectar, and possibly slightly improve •"' Hhei'prospects.. .. Prices are likely, to (improve owing to the high price of jsugar somewhat' curtailing "jam-miking, thus causing an increased demand for ..honey 1 Wellington.—During the last -week *>tho weather has been exceptionally good, and in' consequence large quantiVties of honey have been gathered by the 'bees. An average season is anticipated. Chrisfehurch.—Tho. extractmg i season 'has commenced with many apiarists, • and so far it is estimated the crop has Wn below the avefago in most districts. . Dunedin.—Reports to hand point to a fair-crop. Weather conditions., are totally against" beekeepers. Extracting operations, are delayed generally. It is not'anUcipated' that there .will bo a largo'■'surplus" over local needs for . export. C Jhe,'market, is with second-grade Caufcorbury honey, rejected export lines. _ The new sea- - sou's sections aro meeting with ready sale.

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RANGITIKEI A. & P. SHOW Entries fdr tho Kangitikei.A. and P. Show, to be hekl on February .24, close with tho secretary, Mr.. A. M. Box 81, Taahsipo, at 8 p.m. to-day. The association advise that exhibitors 6cniiing stock from'a distance may rely upon the association giving it every care. Amplo accommodation paddocks and I water are availablo on the show ground, i Plenty of fodder will' be provided for i tho 6tock, and a bail , is'available for i cows in milk.' Schedules are available from secretaries of kindred associations, or will be forwarded-on-, application. .- Faith in someone or something is the ideal to hve up to. If you have faith in a firm, ytra-entrust them with your business, and they in return will do tho,best Eossible; and watch your interests. We ave.now .over-150 farmers supplying us with ; praam, butter, and eggs, and we believe firmly that they havo faith in Us, and we can only assure you that we try do our best. Our demands for butter, .eggs, and cream are growing. Ra ; l vour produce to us. Wanganui Fresh Food and loe Co.—Advt. Half-an-hour's inspection of the Richmond. Oil Engine will oonvince you of its great simplicity—perfect finish, and handiness. One years use of.. the Richmond will demonstrate its wonderful efficiency, and, what is of great importance just now, its fuel economy. You should get details. Write to Mr. A. J. Partem, Plumber, Carterton.—Advt. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report:—At Hiinatangi , on, Monday we had an average yarding wlioh.. sold :at lato ratesWe quote:— Mixed fat sheep, 19s. 7d.; small weaneirs, 135.; fair weaner heifers, 20e. -to 25b. 64.; fair weaner Bteers, 295.; store cows, £2 2s. 6d„ £2 17e„ £3 7s. 6d.; B.H. empty, cows, £5 25.; J-year : steers; £6 103.; light bulls, £4 7s. Gd.; heavy bulls, £6 17s. 6d. to £9 17s. 6d.; sows, £2 7e., £2 12s. 6cL, £2 15s. :