FRUIT PROSPECTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 293, 13 December 1887, Page 7

FRUIT PROSPECTS.

{From the N.Z. Farmer.) , , Tl .«_\Vheiever I have visited orchards i D this district (Drury) the crop is good, j jf we"escape heavy north-ease gales ff boo the fruit is fully grown I expect to hear of fruit of very superior quality this

iomitig season. tffews are set very thickly; the (jrly sorts are swollen to a good size, and in many instances are commencing to colonr. The class are not so forward as the Dukss, Geans, and Biggerean's, but thoy are thickly set. g m eUrries.- The Lancashire prize sorts are'of great size, owing to the cool, jiofferv weather that is prevalent now. Tfiretdf; is ISrfß, and by thinning now For market the smaller ones left will swell to a great size. fears.—The crop in every direction is ■£&&. t havehekrd two or three say their tries are not a* thickly covered as they were last year, but on examination I think they ire. I liave commenced to thin my crop of this luscious fruit; clusters of 5 or 6 1 reduce to 2 or 3 whenever I can "getttt'em jiMuiy." I like to do a little thinning at this early period, as I find that if, done later ttoie left oil are more easily shaken off because the stalk is unsupported on the side {rein which those removed have been taken. This remark will apply to apples also. Plum promise well. Tho crop set is remarkable, and ac the weather is just tho Mh£, those who like plums to preserve may expect to have a liberal supply. Remember iWeteet sorts take least sugar. I'JPmclics and Nectarines, so far as the bees go, are very fair. I notice a good crop where the tree? have survived the disellSe. Early Riters and ii few other sorts Hfebesfc, but there are scarcely 6 per cent, of trees compared with ten years ago.

'Persimmons are only just coming to the front amongst hardy fruit trees. What fgwlkhdwof are showing blossom freely on the small twiggy branches. We expect to fruit several sorts this year, judging from appearances.

Quhcw-r-J never taw the like! Oh young and old trees the fraib is set very thickly, and as we have several very popularfeorts coveted in the ?arno manner I may rastljTi conclude that the season for this fcuii will be a good one.

Mar*.—These peculiar fruit trees are ihrays late coming into bloom, but they are all wide-awake and eyes open now, and from what I can see we shall have a famous crop,

WdtntUs, Filberts, and Chest mils.—- Trees Befswand far between in this locality, bub lie few there are, are looking well.

twpbtrrhs, Birmoberries t and Cvrranis feS not grown in this district lor sale, though one is surprised that the industry, ''Small Fruit Culture," is not pursued here; particularly as cattle-raising, buttermaking,efcc. etc.. is at so low an ebb, and considering also the many finall holdings jart Suited to thia niost profitable mode of market fruit fanning.— J. Mayo, Prury,