THE FRUIT CROP

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 15, 12 October 1917, Page 8

THE FRUIT CROP

' ' JtEVIEW OF THE SEASON'S PROSPECT'S. ; .- : ■ i I .. ■ Officers of the Horticulture Division of the Department of Agriculture report as ■under regarding the conditions of tho fruit crop at the end of SeptembersNorth Auckland.—Lemons: Averago crop; harvested. Strawberries: Back- , ward; promise below average at present .time. Oranges (eweet): Nearly finished. Oranges (Poorman): All off. Stone fruits and most varieties of pears are blossoming vory heavily, and if favoured by a little.sunshine a;good set of tho earlier . blossoming varieties is assured. Paragon peach is especially favoured in this regard. ' ' ' Auckland South.T-Climatic conditions improved during the month, making prospects of stone fruit crop for ensuing season abovo the average. Apples and pears are showing good indications. Waikato.—Stone fruits have bloomed profusely in most places, and should set 'well. Apples are beginning to break forth, and have a great showing of blos- '-. torn buds. . ; Poverty Bay.—Peaches, nectarines, and plums are showing well for a good crop. The crop has set well. There is a good show of buds developing on apples and peears. Strawberries aro very backtWs year; plants have been alow to establish, but now look much better. Hawke's Bay.—Conditions have been ex- , eeedingly favourable for setting stone fruits and early blooming pears. With the possible exception of one or two ; early varieties, peaches have 6et very heavy crops. Apricots will possibly be light, but some are still blooming. Pears and apples have never promised better at this stage. Another fortnight of fine weather should result in abundant crop. Wangunui —There is every prospect of fair average crops of all kincU of fruit -if weather conditions prove favourable. Nelson.'—Peaches and nectarines are not blossoming up to their usual standard. "Bud dropping" has been very prevalent. Apricots,-too, have not blossomed well generally. Apples have just started to blossom and show good promise. Peare are flowering well, and way be eipected to Rife a bettet crop than last season. Plums (European and Japanese) have blossomed well, ■ the trees being in good condition. Raspberries nnd strawberries are looking exceptionally well, and good crops are anticipated. Tomatoes, "inside," nre well advanced under favourable conditions. Marlbprough.—Apples: Now coming freely into blossom, with every appearance of very (heavy blossoming. Pears: Heavy blossoming. Peaches and Nectarines appear to be setting well. Apricots: Setting appears to be rather- variable, but good on the whole. Plums: Heavy blossoming. Cherries: Very heavy blossoming. Small fruits: Bloominjr and setting well. '. '. >. ...'•'■ . Canterbury and West Coast—All varieties of fruit are looking wpllfor the coming season.". In some instances peach buds have dropped a good deal. Christchurch and Suburbs.—Judging by the profuso blossoming of trees this ought to bo a good 'season' for fruit. Apricots have set fairly well, and unices we get some heavy frosts prospects are bright. Black nnd grcen'aphis and leaf curl have put.in .their appearance, nnd unless steps are taken on tho first appearance the crops may be seriously damaged. Tomatoes under glass are coming on.well, and constant attention is .needed. :. South Canterbury.—Stone fruits and pears aro blossoming freely, but the excessive rains and the moist conditions which have been general during tho latter part of tho month aro likely to affect adversely the eetting of the crops. Otogo and Southland.—All fruit trees moving into activity. , Too early to predict crops.