THE FRUIT CROP

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 279, 19 August 1920, Page 8

THE FRUIT CROP

'.'".GOVERNMENT INSPECTOHS' KEi:„, .. POETS. I'. The director of the horticulture diviI sion of the Department of Agriculture ! has received .the following reports from i Ins officers regarding the conditions of i-the fruit crops at the end of July:— i 'Auckland South.—Every indication of I .rery early spring. Some plums in bloom : already. House tomatoes looking well, i .Outdoor now being planted-in favourable depots. I . Poverty Bay and Hawkes Bay—Poori man oranges and lemons are now being ; harvested representing a good average .crop. ' Early flowering varieties of alf mond and npricot indicate that the ■season is about iiwo weeks earlier than 1 the average. , ' . !=' , Wanganui—Pruning and spraying of 1' all fruits in full swing. Cherry plums f and prunes pisardi in full bloom in some ' parte of the district. Burbanke buret- ; ing'into bloom. ' There is every prospect ■ ■ of an early spring. ■ Palmerston North.—There is every mi tjiwitionlfor an early spring. Cherry plum frees in well sheltered parts are ! showing almost full flower.-..Young tc- ' mate plants showing fair growth. -. itarlborough.—A spell of exceptionally ! 'mild weather in the earlier pari! of the month caused buds to show a moving ! tendency, but n. change to frosty condii tions fortunately cheeked this before any 1 damage had been done. Nelson—The buds on some stone fruit -sections are beginning to swell. Very ' little planting is being done. " Motiieka.-t-Fruiil bud development profinises lighter crop than laat season, but I rather early to predict yet. i . Gisborne—Apples: Fruit buds promise ■ i good crop. Apricots: Too early to anti- '•■ cipat'e crop. Cherries: Fruit buds well Gooseberries: Bushes in good ' condition. Lemons: Balance of crop • •'still being harvested. Nectarines: Fair ;: «rop promised. Peaches: Trees should ■iproauce good crops under normal conditions. ' Pears: Heavy crops if blossom Plums: Cherry plums making .'■/good show of bloom in sheltered situa- : tions. Plums (Japanese): Abundant blos- ■ som commencing to open. Easpberries: Fair growth of canes last season. Siirawj berries: Planting being largely extepded. ' Tomatoes: Planting out under glass in ■ progress. Walnuts: Trees apparently ! doing well. ' ■ Cbristchurch—All trees appear to be ' budding very freely and looking as 'though a good crop may be expected. ; Too early to estimate owing to danger 1 ifrom late frosts; Peaches and plums ! 'showing signß of colour as result ©£ nor-

j>;Otago.—Apples: Too early yet to vim:"'tnre an opinion. No! likely to be heavy '■. n9 good crops were secured last season. •"'Cherries and apricots: Appeared to h* '■ well .furnished with fruiting wood. Nee- • tarines: Well furnished with good frmt- ] ing wood. Peaches: looking well for I coming season. Pears: Too early yet to ; .anticipate. Strawberries: Plants now ' .beginning to show movement. The area :' lias^been largely increased this yeaT.