FRUIT CROP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26616, 12 November 1947, Page 6

FRUIT CROP

OUTLOOK FOR SEASON IMPROVED PROSPECTS LOSSES BY FROST DAMAGE In spite of frost damage, much heavier crops of both pip and stone fruits are expected from Central Otago this year than was the case last season. Orchardists who did not use fire pots suffered heavily from the last two frosts, which were both of long duration. The latest frost on October 31 did heavy damage to crops from Dumbarton. south to Beaumont, and many large apple-growers say that their crops were almost wiped out overnight. The stone fruit season is expected to be about two or three weeks earlier than it was last year, and growers anticipate that good crops of cherries, apricots and peaches will be available for the Christmas market. The small supplies of peaches which were on sale at Christmas time last year were, in the main, too hard for dessert use. Stone fruit crops are generally disappointing in all districts of Central Otago, and only a 60 per cent, crop of apricots is expected. Reds are particularly light in all districts, and Moorparks are patchy, only the Newcastle variety showing a good crop. Nectarines are also poor except in the case of Hunt’s Tawney. Plums were showing a heavy crop a fortnight ago, but have not set well. The greengage crop is also light, as is the late peach crop. Early cherries are looking well, but late varieties, such as Florence, Pelissier, and St. Margaret, do not promise to be plentiful. Athougli the apple crop is expected to be only about half of that normally grown In Central Otago, this will be an improvement over last year, when Central fruitgrowers marketed the smallest crop on record. So far this season growers have succeeded in saving the bulk of their strawberry crop, and small quantities have already appeared on the local market. Last year frosts in late November completely destroyed the strawberry crop in Central Otago. Frost has taken toll of peas and tomatoes this year, but the large areas which have been planted should ensure adequate supplies.