THE FRUIT CROP

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2846, 10 August 1916, Page 8

THE FRUIT CROP

A GENERAL REVIEW. Officers of the' Horticulture Division feport as follows regarding the condi--tioh. of the fruit crop at the end of July:— t ( Whangarei.—Lemons: Good promise maintained. Strawberries: Looking only fair. Oranges: "Sweet," a poor, crop. VPoorman," good crop harvested. Ow-

ing to the exceptionally wet winter being. experienced in -the district, all Bea- \ work- haa been seriously decayed. Both "Poorman" and "Sweet" -oranges are coming-forward. "Poorman," however, are nearly done. '• North Auckland.—Weather conditions prevailing during the earlier."portion "or the month interfered with seasonal "work/ Most all classes, of fruit have a .good showing of spurs, and. there is a on the part of many who .are planting trees to overlook tho value of . lrnrd, pruning, to secure, when the • environment- : is .conducive to plant -growth, . a good constitution to enable the trees to bear the prospective crops 'desired. Vigour and constitution are 'most - important in building . the fruit . .tree. Now is the time that the fruitgrower can note .where the drainage is and the necessary remedial -treatment should be commenced. Fruit . trees will not endure for!auy period 1 ; of: time water on• the surface soil or incorporated in the soil. Good drain- ' age is one of the commandments of ( successful orchard practice and man-' : . "agement. X '-.South Auckland, —Every-' indication ... - .tor a very early'spring. Somo peach ."..trees in full blossom. Autumn and ..winter havo been mild.- Some apples • ■still retain their leaves. , ■■•.-Poverty Bay.—The heavy raiiis have V 'retarded plainting. In most cases ■ V'poaches, nectarines, and apricots have been sprayed with Bordeaux or Bluerstone. alone. Practically no'fruit left ' Jin 'the district except lemons 'and'or-. „ahges, which are in good supply. ..-Hamilton.—As a result of the weather conditions all -work, is rather •backward. The prospects for the comare promising, and should ■ 'the ' weather be'favourable, all fruits . "should set a fairly heavy crop. . Hawke's Bay.—-Seasonable work is

" ;mu<ili behind owing to the ivet weather. v -.Good inquiry still continues for' local ■ . .apples. ~ . Wanganui.—Pruning, spraying, and "...ploughing are in full swing. On account of wet weather, spraying is not ' as far,forward as should have been.tho case. Good, demand for first quality ; ; fruit. - Palmerstdn North.—Growers aro busy : spraying for the control of insects ana fungi; oil being very .heavily used for the former, whilst for the latter Bordeaux is the chief spray being used. Spraying is well forward this year, as the weather conditions have been-very satisfactory. Everything points to an , early season; in some instances peachcs . being in bloom. Wellington.-—Everything points'to an . • early spring, in this''district.; Hothouse tomatoes aud cucumbers are weir forward, the former should be ready to pick -by now. Outdoor, tomatoes will be planted fairly extensively " this sea- ', son. ■■■"'" '

Nelson.—Considerable frost and a

■■ good deal of rain has been experienced ' here during the month. Pruning and . spraying aro well advanced. Marlborough.—Nothing of special in-

teresfc to report from this district this month.

Canterbury and West Coast.—Pears aro now almost off tlio market, with tho excoption of a few that have been kept in cool storage. Local apples are still fairly plentiful, for whicli a fair pries is being obtained. Tho weather conditions have been very wet during tho lagt few weeks. The sub-soil is now being thoroughly moistened, the first time for two years.' Planting lias bad to bo discontinued until the ground dricss up a Hi^le. Ohristcliurcli City and Suburbs. — There has been a great deal of rain, also some fairly stiff, frosts, during this month. The rain has hindered spraying operations, and this work is not as advanced as it should be. A number of heated tomato houses are planted, and some of them -have 'wellestablished plant l !. South Canterbury.—Wet weather has greatly retarded spraying and planting operations. Pruning is fairly well in 'hand. . -

Otago and Southland. —Pruning operations well in hand. Winter spraying being done.