THE SEASON’S FRUIT-CROP.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 40, 31 December 1901, Page 4

THE SEASON’S FRUIT-CROP.

Some indication ;of the coming sea- : son’s fruit-crop is given,' ,in a .return prepared by the Agricultural Department on information gathered in different parts of the colony. Forms were sent to all fruit-growing districts, but unfortunately so far only a few returns have come to hand. Mongonui reports .that the crop of apples is; an average one 'and the quality fair, and the same remark applies to ouh door grown grapes, to peaches, and to quinces. The crop of lemons is-. heavy and good, 'of loquats and nectarines small, oranges .and strawberries medium, passion fruit good,' pears and strawberries fair, plums average, except the Japanese varieties, which are heavy and good. At Whangarei the apple crop has suffered from the brown beetle. Apricots are, over' the average; yield, but cherries, loquats', passion fruit, quinces, strawberries, and walnuts will return an average crop. That of gooseberries, grapes, lemons, nectarines, oranges, peaches, pears* persimmons, and. plums is heavy. The crop . of tomatoes is short.

Port Albert reports that the apple and pear crop is average to good, grapes (indoor) good, so is that of lemons, nectarines, oranges, and peaches. The plum crop is heavy, and that of quinces average. . Omaha reports-Apples, apricots, lemons, and.pears, average crop, nectarines under average, peaches and

plums over average. Average crops of apples, pears, strawberries, and plums have been grown at Albany. Peaches are good, plums heavy, nectarines light. At Waikumete the apple crop is over the average ;of cherries, gooseberries, grapes (indoor and outdoor), lemons, medlars, nectarines, oranges, pears, and strawberries average; peaches, quinces, and Japanese plums aie average.. The season was later than usual and small birds have been troublesome.

Avondale reports '"average! crops of apples, Cape gooseberries, . leniohs, passion fruit, and quince's, heavy erpp «if cherries, grapes (indoor), peaches, and plums; nectarines good ; pears short. The brown beetle has been very destructive. . . t

In Auckland the "early appie ; crop lias been under average, but the midsummer and late crop will ■; be good ; gooseberries good, grapes piomise wall, lemons heavy, nectarines and peaches very good, but attacked by fungus ; plums are over average, quinces heavy, strawberries promise well, pears good, and passion fruit very good. Strawberries, have suffered by the weather, and much fruit has been marked by late showers of hail. - ‘ :

At Birkenhead the crop of apples, apricots, Cape gooseberries/ dhurries and passion fruit is very small; of indoor grapes average, lemons fair* pears above the average, nectarines, peaches and tomatoes'good, plums and quinces very good, strawberries average. The report; from Hawkes Bay is to the effect that the crop of apples is full, of apricots and currants medium, cherries and plums light,, gooseberries, grapes (indoor), quinces,, and raspberries good, outdoor grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, and walnuts poor, plums'(Japanese) very poor. Late frosts played sad havoc with the crops generally, except apples. r At New Plymouth the cherry, black currant, and strawberry drops are poof, that those of white and red" currants, gooseberries, grapes (indoor)', Japanese plums, quinces*,and walnuts good, lemons, pears, and £inall, passion fruit and plums average. ITawe-ra reports that apples are badly

-infected* ' with ..blight. The crop 'of apricots,' Cape gooseberries, cherries, bladk currants, figs, grapes (outdoor), lemohs, loquats, nectarines, oranges, plums., raspberries, and strawberries is poor, and that of red currants, gooseberries, indoor grapes, Japanese plums, and tomatoes heavy. Most of the orchards ,are not attended to, and consequently are breeding grounds for pests. - ' The early apple crop is below the average at Christchurch, but the .late • crop will be heavy. There is an average crop of gooseberries, grapes' (indoor), 1 plums, and medifim 6rie of white currants, above the average of peaches, poor one of pears' and" rasp-” berries, and the area of strawberries is small. Pears and plums , were, extensively damaged by October frosts. Motueka will produce a very good* crop of apples, a good yield of red. cur- ; rants* gooseberries, quinces, raspberries and walnuts, fair* one of cherries, very good of black currants and peaches’. Gold winds destroyed . portion of the plum crop. * . , Waimate (South Canterbury) wall have a heavy crop of apples'and gooseberries, fair one of cherries, quinces, and raspberries, good yield of red, white, and-‘black . currants, , heavy of , gooseberries* and fair of apricots, quinces raspberries etc. , All fruit is badly in want of rain.

The yield of apples at Cheviot will be good, of apricots, nectarines, peaches, pears, Japanese plums, and raspberries heavy, of cherries, black currants, quinces, walnuts, and indoor.grapes average, gooseberries- good and strawberries light. ■