THE FRUIT CROP

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2691, 10 February 1916, Page 8

THE FRUIT CROP

CONDITION AT END OF JANUARY

Officers of tho Horticulture Division report as" follows regarding' the condition of ; ;.lie';.fruit';..crop i -.at'--\tlie"'" end of January;—■■ ■ ...v. ■ ■ ,u. . ... .. ....

. Auckland North.—Apples: Lato vaneties, sucli as Dougherty, show ovidenco 01 "scab; Generally .a fair crop may be"estimated.; Lemons: Some good sam-. pies are to be seen. Pears: «ome : real good crops are .to be seen, -but' a -large percentage of . crop . is affected' ... by. ■'scab."' Plums;: bust is in evidence." Auokland South.—Apples; Good aver-, ago crop, . apple scab rather prevalent. ■ Apricots:' Light crop generally,"praqtic-, 1 ally finished. • Lemons: Trees ..promise' well. Nectarines: Light average' crop. 1 eaches; Light average, crop. Crop good for pears.. .Plums:. l(iitlicr scarce. generally; " Japapeso, crops light; Tomatoes: Now being marketed freely; good crops. "■ .. ■ . ; . Poverty Bay.—Apples: Heavy crop generally. Apricots: Now over, : crop.' was below. average. Lemons: Fair crop prospects. Nectarines: Much below average; brown rot has been exceedingly bad, reducing.a rather poor crop by. fully half. Peaches: Very poor; in most bases almost a complete failure. Pears: Variable, but generally below average crop. Plums: Almost a complete failure; Japanese, very poor crop. .Tomatoes: Good crop. Walnuts': '.Prospects of good crop.- , . 1 'Palmerston North.—Apples: Crop looking well; fruit ripening much earlier than usual. Nectarin-s: Siome parts of district looking well, others patchy. Peaches': Crop patchy, quality good. Pears: Good crop, slight infection of, scab. Tomatoes: Crops generally looking well, slight ■ affection . of Irish blight. '. . , • Wellington.—Apples: Colouring well; weather good and early crops anticipated. Apricots: Freckle prevalent, otherwise good size, but crop small. Nectarines a Small and good. Peaches: Small and! good, very little leaf curl. Pears: Good crops; Williams are selling well. Plums: iJapanese and English, fair crop audi selling at good rates. Raspberries: Fair .crop. Strawberries: Good crop; small in size. Tomatoes: The bottom trusses wore damaged by rough "weather at time of setting, consequently tomatoes will be a little late. Nelson. —Apples: Average crop of good quality. "Apricots: Short crop, about over. 'Nectarines and peaches: Short crops, finishing well. Pears: Fair to heavy crops now being gathered. Plums: A good crop in good demand'. Haspberries: Gcod crops. Tomatoes: Crop wall up to average. A few good showers and hot weather are maturing crops splendidly. Blenheim—Apples: Heavy . crops; codlin moth not 'so prevalent as formerly. In Awatere, Ward, and Clar.ence," apples small for. want of rain. Ap- . ricots: Light crops due to late frosts, nearly all gathered.' Cherries: Good crop, all harvested. Gooseberries: Heavy crop, all fruit:gathered. Lemons: ' Good.crop. Nectarines: Medium crop, set well, but damaged by late frost; early varieties gathered. Peaches: Medium crop, set well, but damaged by late frost; early varieties gathered.: Pears: Heavy crop; a few early varieties being harvested. Plums: ..English and Japanese, heavy crop; a few oarly varieties being harvestd. \ Raspberries: Medium crop, harvested; dry weather has badly affected fruit. Strawberries: Good, all gathered. Tomatoes: Medium crop; early varieties gathered; later, varieties being gathered now. Outside varieties damaged l by late frosts. Walnuts:: Medium crop.