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The Division provided the basic information for the apple and pear cost-of-production survey of 1947 and is continuing the compilation of apple and pear crop statistics for the principal varieties of apples and pears.. It is proposed to continue this work for at least four years to obtain fair average production figures per tree and per acre over a representative period. In Central Otago many orchardists have been installing fire-pots to protect crops against frost. This may be responsible for the increasing smoke nuisance reported in these districts. Pip-fruit Diseases : New therapeutants were used in New Zealand orchards in 1948, and although they were certainly superior for certain insect pests, other pests such as red mite and woolly aphis were a problem. For example, D.D.T. sprays gave outstanding control of bronze beetle in Auckland, apple leaf-hopper in Nelson, and codlin-moth generally, but red mite became a major problem to pip-fruit growers in Auckland, Hawkes Bay, and Nelson. Considerable investigation of the optimum period and strengths of these new therapeutants is still necessary. From September to November, 1947, a serious outbreak of fireblight occurred in the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne districts. In Marlborough this bacterial disease was prevalent in domestic orchards in the spring of 1948, but there was no reported recurrence in Hawkes Bay. Signs of potash deficiency in apple-trees have become conspicuous in many Nelson orchards. No doubt the application of nitrates in increasing quantities in late years has contributed largely to this deficiency. Stone-fruits (Peach, Apricot, Nectarine, Plum, and Cherry): The major districts for the production of peaches with more than 250 acres were : Acres. Hawkes Bay .. .. .. .. .: 742 Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 616 Central Otago .. .. .. .. .. 560 Nelson .. .. .. . • •. 299 Other districts with under 250 acres but over 50 acres include — Acres. Canterbury .. .. .. .. 70 Hamilton .. .. .. .. 50 The growing of apricots commercially is confined to Central Otago, Canterbury, and Hawkes Bay. The area of apricot orchards in Central Otago was 644 acres. Particulars for other districts containing more than 50 acres include — Acres. Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. 100 Hawkes Bay .. .. .. .. 50 Nectarines are grown principally in Central Otago, Hawkes Bay, and Auckland. The two districts with areas of more than 50 acres were : Acres. Central Otago .. .. .. .. .. 135 Hawkes Bay .. .. .. .. 59 About a third of the registered plum-trees are grown in the Auckland district. The major districts were : Acres. Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 465 Hawkes Bay .. .. .. .. .. 270 Central Otago .. .. .. .. .. 269 Districts with more than 50 acres but less than 250 acres include —■ Acres. Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. 101 Nelson .. .. .. .. 94

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