THE FRUIT CROP.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16214, 17 May 1918, Page 4

THE FRUIT CROP.

~o fn£ ere of tho Horticultural Division of the Department of Agriculture report as follows regarding the condition of »he truit crop at the end of April, 1918 • — .Aeleoii Apples: The month has been rather wet for the season, and autumn infection of black epot on apples has occurred in a few places. The condition of the crop generally is good. A considerable quantity of lato crop etill remains to be gathered. Lemons: A good crop maturing. Jrears: Harvesting nearly completed. Straw berries; A few berries still being gathered. Marlborough—The apple crop has now practically all been picked with the exception of Dougherty, Horn, Yates, Bokewood, and a. few Stunners. On the whole crops panning* out well. Like other districts tho heavy rains of February and March (especially the former) caused eome of the earlier varieties to go off rather more rapidly than usual. Walnuts are in very great demand at excellent pricee.

Canterbury and West Coast—Apples: Fair to good crop. Pears: Medium crop. Tomatoes: Fair to good crop. Walnuts: Medium crop. The weather conditions during the month have been moderately good. Orchardists have been busy harvesting their fruit. There are only a few of the late varieties of apples and pears now to harvest. There are still a quantity of outdoor tomatoes coming on the market, but will not continue much longer, ns the last night or two frosts have been fairly severe. Christchurch' and West Coast—Apples: Late varieties mostly good. Pears: Lato varieties turning out well. Tomatoes: Poor. Black epot bad. Walnuts: Good crop. Disease prevalent. Tho late apples arc turning out well. Storment are practically the only variety left to harvest. There is a good crop of late pears—Easter Beurre, l'luconnue, Winter Xeljs—and the harvesting of these varieties is in lull swing. Black spot has been bud all through tho season. Owing to the black rot tho tomato crop has been very Hfht; many patches have been pulled out and burnt when only haif the crop v.-as harvested.

South Canterbury—All fruit except a few of the lato varieties of apples and pears are now harvested. On the night of the 13th a very heavy frost was experienced, and late crops of tomatoes have suffered.

Otngo—Apples, Main crop being picked. Strawberries: New beds being planted. Wintry conditions and frosts now prevailing.

A British Army Council instruction issued in March states that, owing to the deficiency of leather, it has been decided tliat brown shoes may Oe worn by officers when employed in offices ur off duty. Officers wiio cannot wear boots, owing to j.ounds, may wear shoes at all times. Khaki-ooioured socks will j always bo worn with brown shoes. j