FROST AND HAIL

AUCKLAND CROPS DAMAGED

(By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

Market gardeners in parts of Avondale and Mangere suffered heavily from frosts on Sunday and Monday, and' reports from New Lynn show that orchards in that district were badly damaged by the hailstorm that occurred just before the-cold snap. Many gardens were a poor sight after being cut clown during the week-end, and on one side of one road at Avondale it was reported that some of the individual losses were heavy. The eastern side of the road practically escaped, and the contrast shown by patches o£ ruined crops> on the west and those untouched on the east was very marked. Chinese growers at Mangere, where some of the largest gardens are, stated that pumpkins, potatoes, marrows, cucumbers, and beans had all suffered; large areas were affected, and acres would have to be replanted. A report from the Waikato states that early crops, such as English gooseberries, have not been much damaged, and the growers are therefore fortunate compared with those of Greyfcown, in the Wnirarapa district, where the frost a fortnight ago spoiled half the crop. New Lynn growers, though unaffected by the frosts, had an unenviable experience' on Saturday, when a heavy local hailstorm destroyed whole fields of tomatoes, plum trees, peach trees, and all fruit trees in blossom or just beginning to set their fruit were stripped. Sweet peas were cut by the heavy hail, and ordinary pea-, and beans. were severely bruised. The owner of a large glasshouse remarked that the hail was a heavy test for glasshouses, and it was only the heavy wind which caused the hail to glance off the glass that saved his own from destruction. Many districts have not reported upon the condition of their crops, and it is not known whether the potato crops of the more distant growers have been affected. Pukekohe^ experience has already been a severe one this year, and as far as early crops of potatoes are concerned the district has failed. It is from suburban and other growers nearer to Auckland that the early potatoes now on the market have been coming during the past few weeks. These are of good quality, and there is no fear of a shortage.