BUMPER CROPS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20109, 1 December 1939, Page 6

BUMPER CROPS

BIGGEST FOR YEARS GISBORNE STONE FRUIT APPLES UNDER ESTIMATE PEARS SETTING WELL The biggest crops for many years are expected from stone fruit in Gisborne this season, particularly of early plums and but the apple crop is not'expected to be up to earlier estimates. The coming citrus crop appears to be very satisfactory. In a review of the position given to-day, iMr. J. D. Kennedy, orchard instructor, stated that apricots should provide the biggest erbp for some years. There was no sign of brown rot, although there was a slight russeting on some of the fruit as a result of the high winds, but this was not detrimental to the food or keeping qualities. There was also a good setting of nectarines, which up to the present were very clean. Abundance of Plums Early plums were in abundance, particularly the Christmas plum, Sharp’s Early and Wright’s Early, and the crop at present was so heavy that some of the growers thought that it might be hardly worth while picking the entire crops. Later varieties also were sizing up very well. There are some slight signs of brown rot in a few of the varieties. Among the pip fruit, pears are setting well, with the exception of Winter Nellis, and there is every indication of a good crop. Apples are not showing up as well as was expected earlier. Ballarats are patchy, and generally are not setting as heavily as the blossoming indicated, although they should be in good supply. Munro’s Favdurite are going out of favour, and the crops are very light. Delicious in some areas are patchy, but on the whole there should be a fairly heavy crop. Granny Smiths and Doughertys were looking very well, setting heavy crops, and all other varieties were up to expectations. Strawberries Disappoint Among the small fruits, Mr. Kennedy said that loganberries had provided a good setting in all areas, and a very heavy crop of excellent fruit was expected. Grapes were setting extremely well. Strawberries- were not up to expectations, as a result of the cold winds.

The lemon season is practically finished, and only a few odd lines are coming forward, the latter fruit ebming to hand not being up to the same quality as the earlier arrivals. A heavy blossoming of oranges was reported from most parts of the district, and an extra good setting for the next crop of lemons was showing in all areas.