H—29

Berry-fruits (Strawberries, Raspberries, Loganberries, Currants, Boysenberries, and Cape Gooseberries) Berry-fruit production showed little change during the past year. Areas planted have increased in Hawke's Bay (raspberries 21 acres, blackcurrants 3 acres), Wairarapa (gooseberries 20 acres, blackcurrants 25 acres), and Nelson (raspberries 8 acres, blackcurrants 10 acres, gooseberries 5 acres, the last two being in the Motueka area). Strawberry areas show decreases in Auckland of 40 acres, in Hamilton of 7 acres, and in Dunedin of 3 acres. The following table shows the acreages in production in the main berry-fruit areas in New Zealand as at 31st March, 1950 : —-

The Dominion totals of areas in berry-fruits at 31st March, 1950, are : Acres. Acres. Strawberry .. .. 305J Boysenberry .. .. 31^ Raspberry .. .. Loganberry .. .. 20f Gooseberry .. .. 145f Cape gooseberry .. 51 Blackcurrant .. .. 190^ About 8 acres of red currants are also grown. Crops.—ln spite of severe losses through frost in some South Island districts, the estimated total production of berry-fruits shows little variation from the previous season. Strawberries alone show a substantial reduction of 81 tons caused by the reduced area grown in Auckland and frost damage in Christchurch. In all other cases losses have been offset by increased production in other districts. The following table shows the estimated production of berry-fruits in tons :

116

District. Strawberries. Raspberries. Gooseberries. Black Currants. Boysenberries. Loganberries. Cape Gooseberries. Auckland 140 6 6 15 Hamilton 14 Hawke's Bay .. 15 116£ m 16 20 Wairarapa 70§ 72f 82f 'H Manawatu and Wanganui 6 20 6 Nelson 13 199 24 55 "n 36 Canterbury 76 361 3 20 "n Otago 26 86 6 8

District. Strawberries Raspberries. Black Currants. Bed and White Currants. Gooseberries Loganberries Boysenberries. Cape Gooseberries Auckland 362 i 7 12 12 25 Tauranga 5 1 6 1 H Gisborne 1 4 2i 1 Hawke's Bay 20 200 15 "t 30 3 30 Wairarapa 2 100 100 2 210 13 2i Manawatu and 13 34 3 17 t Wanganui Nelson Hi 222 32 2 15 8 60 Marlborough .. 4 Canterbury .. 66 310 25 H 10 12 Otago 19 58 18 16 2 2 Dominion totals 4991 934 194* 6 314i 44 56 85