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FRUIT CROP PROSPECTS

" REPORTS BY DEPARTMENTAL OFFICERS. . The officers of the Horticultural Division report as follows regarding the conditions of the fruit crop at: the end of September,, 1918:— , '*>' North Auckland.—Apples: Several varieties, including Gravenstein, Astrakan, Parlins, and Queens are .bursting buds. Lemons: Main crop about finished,. summer crop badly injuredheavy frosts. Nectarines and peaches: Heavy blossoming. Pears: Mostly in bloom, good show all round. Plums (Japanese): Very heavy blossoming. Strawberries: Cold' weather retarding growth; otherwise plants showing well. ■Oranges:' Sweet, nearly all ;offj-"Poor-man" trees looking fairly well. Although cold weather for this season of the year has been experienced during the month and. strawberries are somewhat backward in consequence, the heavy blossoming of all stone fruits has not. been interfered with. Plums especially are showing very heavy blossoming. Pip fruits give indications also, of a good blossomng. Citrus are showing some rocovory from the recent damage by'frost.' Cultivation is being proceeded .with. ,

Waitemata'.—Apples: Showing signs bursting blossom' buds. Oranges: Sweet, nearly .'finished. "Poorman" trees just starting into new growth. Lemons: Main crop nearly all off. Nectarines and peaches: .Heavy blossoming all round. Pears:; Several varieties in full blossom, others bursting heavily. Plums (Japanese): Exceptionally fine show of blossoms. Strawberries: Plants looking'very well. Unlike the weather this time last year cold spells have been -experienced and the nights have been very cold, several light frosts being registered during the month and two degrees, on the night of .'the 16th instant. All 'stone fruit trees are blossoming : very heavily' and weather conditions havipg been, so far fairly favourable, infection' from brown rot is at a minimum as compared with last season at this time.; Early spring andcluster bud spraying are being got on to apples and pears. -All pip fruits also, show good indication of heavy blossoming. . . .. ; .-■'!.

Auckland South.—Seasonable weather still continues, but a fortnight later than usual, evidently due to severe frosts during July. Pip fruits showing good promise. Stone fruits generally extra-good blossoming! • Outside tomatoes now being planted extensively.

i Waikato —Apples: Showing for a good crop. A fair amount of blossom. Cherries: 'Fair.'.! Gooseberries: Bather ibaokward, promising well. Lemons: Cut with the late frosts, fruit affected. Nectarines: Showing -great bloom. Ripe rot in evidence. Peaches: Floweret! well, should set well. Pears: Looking well. Plums: Patchy. Christmas plums heavy. Plums (Japanese): Promising abundant crop. Strawberries: Early, crop damaged by frost, plants are looking well. Tomatoes: Young plants are hardy. None yet planted out. • _ Poverty Bay.—There is abundance of stone fruit bloom, but, it is early to estimate the set fruit. Bud dropping has not been so prevalent this season, and the buds and new wood are very free 'from brotfn rot. Thero has been a heavy crop of citrus fruits, which have been marketed in a much cleaner condition than previous seasons. There is evidence of a good crop of strawberries, but they are rather later than usual.

? Hawke's Bay.—Apples: Looking exceedingly well. Apricots: A few cut by frost. Cherries: Promise well. Gooseberries: Now flowering abundantly. Lemons: Good crop. Nectarines and peaches: Frosts not yet affected theso to, any extent. Pears: Good promise Coles possibly a little below average.^ Wanganui.—Apples: Early varieties bursting into bloom, good prospects of heavy crops. Apricots; Good show, of blossom. Gooseberries: Good prospects of heavy crops. Nectarines: Medium crops setting and later vnrieties in bloom. Peaches: Medium crops setting and later varieties in bloom. ' Pears: Every prospect of heavy crops. Plums (Japanese): Heavy crop of blossom. Wellington.—Winter work in the market gardens was badly hampered by the inclement weather, but good progress is now being made and things iare looking prosperous. Early plums are setting fairly well. Pears of the earlier varieties are in full bloom and give* promise of a good harvest. Much of the spraying work carried out appears to havo been spoiled by the extremely severe weather experienced. Nelson.—The month generally has been fine, -with .some and useful

with little interruption. St.one_ fruit trees are in blossom and promiso a heavy crop. Orchards generally are in very fair condition. Marlborough.—Apples: Now in and approaohing the pink stage, with every appearance of exceedingly heavy blossoming. Apricots: Blossomed very heavily, Hut frosts on the mornings of the 19th and 20th have done considerable damage. Cherries: Heavy blossoming. Gooseberries: Commencing to set well. ■ Nectarines, peaches, pears, plums (Japanese): Very heavy blossoming. Probably somewhat affected by frost.

" Canterbury and West Coast.—-Tho weather still continues stormy, having had a further fall of snow during the month. Also hailstorms and sharp frosts. With the amount of snow that is on the hills, I am afraid these frosts are likely to continue.. The .orchards are looking well at the present time. Trees show a plentiful supply of bloom. Orchard work is very backward, it being difficult to get sufficient labour. Planting'is still unfinished. Apples are coming forward freely, but the demand is not as good as last season. ' Christclmrch and Suburbs.—The weather conditions during September have been very favourable for orcbardists, and spraying operations have been proceeding apace. Red mite is now on the move, and where oil spraying has not been effective lime sulphur or atomic sulphur applied now and -a little later will deal with this pest. Many varieties of pears are now'in full bloom, and apples are commencing to come into flowers The prospects for the coming season are very promising, and should conditions continue favourable we should have a very good season.

Southland.—All fruit trees moving into activity. Too early to predict crops.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19181012.2.88

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 15, 12 October 1918, Page 10

Word count
Tapeke kupu
909

FRUIT CROP PROSPECTS Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 15, 12 October 1918, Page 10

FRUIT CROP PROSPECTS Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 15, 12 October 1918, Page 10

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