APRICOT CROP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24422, 7 October 1940, Page 5

APRICOT CROP

SERIOUS DAMAGE BY FROST’ ROXBURGH DISTRICT’S LOSS ESTIMATED AT 75 PER CENT. A loss of 73 per cent, of the apricot crop in the Roxburgh district has been caused by severe frost in the past few weeks, but fortunately other fruit ■crops escaped any serious damage. Comparatively little damage has been done in other ■ fruit-growing districts in Central Otago, and pip fruit, such as apples and pears, is not affected. Reports received from Roxburgh yesterday revealed that many growers have suffered very severely, and some have lost up to 90 per cent, of their apricot crops. In a few cases whole orchards have escaped entirely, so that it is estimated that the average loss for the district is 75 per cent. Even the use of fire pots did hot prevent damage. Most of the damage was caused on the night of September 15, when a sleety rain was followed by a sharp frost before the wind had shaken the moisture from the trees. The flowers and fruit in formation under the dead petals were nipped off- Even orchards on the high levels, which usually escape more lightly, were severely damaged. The nectarine crop was also affected slightly, taut peaches escaped almost entirely.