THE FRUIT CROP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3028, 15 March 1917, Page 8

THE FRUIT CROP

POSITION THROUGHOUT NEW : ZEALAND. Officers of the Horticulture Division oi tho Department-..0f Agriculture report as follows regarding the, condition of tho truit crop at the cud. of .February:— North Auckland.—Apples: Midseason varieties, light to average; late varieties, ligbt. Lemons: Averago promise. Nectarines: Light crop. Peaches : Only light crop midscason and late. Pears: Light generally. Plums: Light'generally. Strawberries: Fin-, ished. Tomatoes: Good crop outdoor. Oranges: Poorman heavy, sweet, average. A heavy cyclone, struck the district during month, causing much damago to tho fruit crop. Waitemata.—Apples: Karl.v apples nearly done, mid-season medium, late light.- Lemons: Average, set. Nectarines: Very light: Peaches:. Early mid-seasons now» coming forward, a short crop'of these and later varieties now only left. Pearsr Filling out well. Plums: Light. Strawberries: Finished. Tomatoes: Good average crop outdoor., A heavy cyejone, experienced in this district during the month, causing much damage to orchards. Auckland South.- — Nearly all fruits finished, except few; late apples and pears. "Brown rot'' had been much in evidence in nearly all fruits, undoubtedly owiiig to .extraordinary climatic conditions throughout, the season. Waikato.—Codlin moth has been very much in evidence in tho apples this season, and crop is very much below tho average. All stono fruits are almost over; few lato poaches to be gathered. It is a little early 1o estimate the prospccts of tho citrus fruit crop, but appearances at present are promising well. .

Poverty Bay.—Apples: Bather light.' [Lemons: Good showing. Peaches: Late varieties arc light. Pears: Light crop not up to usual quality. Tomatoes: Crop a failure. Walnuts: Coming on well. Tho past month lias becir very wot, and high winds have prevailed, resulting in severe damage, to all crops." Floods also were experienced in soveral parts of the district, which gave a serious set-back. to all orchard work. "Bipe rot" has been severe in stone fruit crops causing a loss of at least one-half of tho crop. Hawke's Bay.—Apples: Mid-season crop only moderate; late varieties promise well. Peaches: Late peaches good crop. Raspberries': Crop disappointing. Tomatoes picking better, but crop is very light. Walnuts: Crop very fair. Apples and pears fell very badly following rain and wind during the three weeks of the month. Codlin' moth is very prevalent. ' • " *

Wanganui.—Apples: Medium crop. Codlin-moth prevalent this season. Scab not so bad as last season. A few of the early varieties gathered. Apricots: Light crop; sea'son almost finished. Lemons: Good average crop. Nectarines: Medium crop gathered. Peaches: Light. Pears: Light. Pear scab prevalent this season. Plums: Medium crop. Plums (Japanese): Good, gathered. Baspberries: Fair. Tomatoes: Average crops. Walnuts: Medium to light crop. "Bine, rot" has affected stone fruits considerably this season. Nelson.—Apples: The good prospects are well, maintained. Apricots: Trees generally arc in good condition. Cherries: Trees generally are in good condition. Gooseberries: Trees generally are in good condition. Lemons: Prospects are well maintained. Nectarines: Crops now about gathered. Peaches: A few late peaches remain to bo picked. Pears: Short crop maturing well. Plums: Now about over. Strawberries: Some new planting taking place. Raspberries : Some crop still being picked. Tomatoes: Good average crops being picked. Christchurch and Suburbs.—'Apples: Pair crop. Nectarines: Poor crop. Peaches: Poor crop. . Pears: Medium to good. Plums: Light crop. Tomatoes: Good crop, Walnnts: Very good. The continued dry weather experienced has been ; conducive to tbe spread , of red mite and eortlin motb. Brown rot and. caterpillar is showing up among the tomatoes. Canterbury and West Coast.— Apples-: Fair to good crop. Nectarines: Nearlv finished. Peaches: Fair to good crop. Pears: Fair to light cron. Plums: Medium crop. Tomatoes: Good crop.

Walnuts: Good crop. Tim woather conditions still continue. to be <lr,v and liotj both in Canterbury and tho West Const. Apple crops oil tho West, Coast arc good and exceptionally free from black spot. This discaso is usually very troublesome 011 tho West Coast. Pip fruits are now being harvested, and a good many will bo cool stored.

. Otago and Southland.—Apples: ,ScarIct Pearmains and Cox's orange pippins being picked, other varieties coming on well. Nectarines: "Goldmine" > just coming'in. Earlier varieties harvested. Poaches: Early varieties done. "Muir's" and 'Elbertas" now being picked. Pears: Picking those in season. "Williams" practically over. Later varieties looking well. .Plums: Mostly finished. Tomatoes: Goo<icrops, still being gathered. Walnuts: Growing well. /—