FRUIT CROP

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 16, 12 October 1937, Page 4

FRUIT CROP

Good Yield From Stone Fruit Anticipated

PROLIFIC BLOSSOMING

A quite satisfactory and more than medium crop of nectarines and Japan-1 ese plums is anticipated for this district this year, despite the two heavy frosts l'eeoi'ded towafds the end of iast month. Investigations made following the two big frosts revcul that while in a very feW isolated instances tkere was an alinost coniplete wiping out of the crop, tbe gi'eater part of the distriot had not suffered any serious loss. In the Warmer areas in the Pakowhai, Twyford and Havelock slopes, the indications point to an abundant cropping of stone fruits, and in many other areas the only affect of the frosts was to rather heavily thin out the blossoms, reducing some of the individual* orchafd crops to about medium as regards nectarines and Japanese varieties of plums. Closer to Hastings some of the peach orchards were fairly badly affected in .certain small iow-lying and eold areas, and in consequence the early varieties oi peaches, nectarines, and JapaneBe plums were affected, but thdse treeS that . were later in blossomiUg are now showing a very fair sprinkling of fruiti At Fernhill, and in one or twd Sinai! orchards on the western boundary oi Hastings, where orchardists did not "fire" on the nights of the frosts, quinces were affected, but only in rather isolated instances, for the quince crop generally for the district is considered to be rather good this year. As far as apples and pears are concerned, they were not in the least affected by the frosts, but should there be similar visitations at the present time or during the next few weeks, then these varieties of fruit inost certainly would be severely affected for they are now at a critical stage. "Although Soin'e growers ceftainly were affected by the frosts of iast month there bas been suoh prolific blossoming and growth this year that there can be no question about the yield from stone fruit for this district being very substantial," said Mr N. J. Adamson, Government Orchard Inspector, this morning. "Unless Nature lends a hand there will have to be very heavy thinning done to the pip fruit trees which are carrying a terrific lot of blossom. In fact, I've never seeni such profusion. There is even blossoiii on yearold wood."