THE FRUIT CROP

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2769, 12 May 1916, Page 8

THE FRUIT CROP

l. - ■ REPORT FOIt LAST MONTH. Officers of "'the Horticulture Division report as follows regarding tliQ condition- ' of the fruit crop at the end i-f April, 1910 Whangarei.—Apples, pears, and tomatoes are finished; lemons are looking well. Tlio .season's deciduous fruit harvest is now - done. It was not up to average. Stono fruits were very light—apples and pears generally only medium crop. However, owing to wet spring and summer, phenomenal growth Ims baen obtained on young trees. Oranges promise an average good crop. . North Auckland.—Only one or two very late varieties of apples are now being picked. Cricke'ts liavo causod damage cmongst cased fruit. South Auckland.—Only a few very late varieties of r.nd pears now being gathered, tho apple crop being a good averago one. Lemon trees, those mulched .during'-dry season, are looking well. 1 ; .

Poverty Bay.—Only fc-w late varieties apples and pears' remain. There is a good show of lemons coming on, but walnuts are .not a heavy crop. Hamilton.—All fruits are gathered. Pruning of some stono fruits has commenced. t I'aliucrston. North.—Preparation for, winter spraying is being made. Wellington.—Only few late varieties of apples, pears, and:, tomatoes are being picked. , Early pruning of stone fruits will commence soon, also the spraying. Wanganui.—Only few late varieties of apples and pears remain for picking; the former have given an average, and the latter a good, crap. Lemons, average crop. Nelson.—The late apple and pear crops aro being picked. These have realised expectations regarding quality and quantity, .which are good and fair respectively. The 'distribution of, the second grade artiele has demanded special consideration, and in. future it is probable it will go on the market in a form tlfait will meet a stronger demand:

i Cluistchurch;—Apples, crop inclined to be light; pears, good crop; tomatoes, fair to good crop; walnuts, good crop.- The 'fruit'harvest, with the exception of the latest varieties of apples and pears, is practically over. All available cool-store space is full of fruit, mostly pears. Tomatoes are still veiy plentiful. Frosts h'avo damaged the tomatoes on low-lying, ground. . .

, South Canterbury.— I The majority of the season's crop .is;now,, harvested.' Late varieties are now .maturing-rapidly, and will probably be all' by the middle of; May. . Woolly Aphis has' been very'.'bad..' Preparation for. a fair amouUt of planting is: being.made; , Duncdin.—Only late varieties being picked of apples and pears. Pruniug of stone fruit has commenced.