THE FRUIT CROP.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16471, 14 March 1919, Page 3

THE FRUIT CROP.

CONDITIONS REVIEWED. Officers of the Horticulture Division of the Department of Agriculture' report as follows regarding, the condition of the fruit crop at the end of February: kelson.—Apples: Worcester Pcannains are about all gathered; Scarlet Pearmaina and Cox's Orange Pippin ore now being picked; prospects generally are well maintained. Ajp-ricota: The harvesting cf this crop is about completed. Lemons: Excellent crops are maturing. Nectarines and Peaches: Goldmine nectarines and Alberta peaches are now being gathered; the crop genorally is above the average' of the laet few years. Peara: A moderate crop is maturing; Williams Bon Chretien is now being gathered. Plurfls (European and Japanese): Japanese varieties are mostly over; giant prune, prune d'Agen, and many European plums are gathered; Monarch plum is now about ready for. picking. Raspberries: Recent rains have helped this crop considerably. Strawberries: Steady 6howors have etartetl the beds cropping again. Tomatoes: Warm wealhor has hastened the ripening of the outdoor crop. Marlborough.—Apples: Generally a good crop; nothing further to report than last month. Nectarines and Peaches: ■ Crop considerably thinned by frost and the crops are late ripening; quality and size excellent. Pears: Fair average crop; quality good. Plums: Fair crop, but late ripening. Plums (Japanese); Fair crop. Walnuts: Very heavy crop, greatly thinned, by "apot." Canterbury.—Apples: Small. Later varieties better than at first estimated in some districts. Very little fungus disease, but plenty of codlin moth ft evidence. Apricots:" Majority of crop harvested. On tho whole clean and good, exoept Banks Peninsula, where scab was in evidence. Nectarines: A good marketable and payable crop where attended to. Peaches: Majority of peaches smaller than usual, especially Royal George. Early_ peaches very good and clean; later varieties not quite eo Rood. Pears: Very fair where'not damaged by frost. Midseason varieties better than late varieties. On tho whole clean. Plums: Average crop. Japanese heavy. Tomatoes: Very good, clean. Hot-house very satisfactory. Nearly all harvested. Just starting to pick outside. Later than usual. Good crop. Walnuts: Fairly good. Affected with black spot in places. Otago.—Apples: Cromwell and Clyde Gorge, very good, clcan crop. _ Alexandra, Clyde, and Earnscleugh, very light with a few exceptions where frost was not severe. Anricota: Cromwell and Clyde Gorge good. Alexandra, Clyde, and Earnscleugh very light. Nectarines: Cromwell and Clyde, medium. Other placce light. Peaches; Cromwell and Clyde Gorge good, other p.'ace3 light. Pears: Cromwell medium, others light, clean crop. Plums: Cromwell and Clyde Gorge good, other places lio-ht. Plums (Japanese): Cromwell and cTvde Gorge good, other places light. Tomatoes: Promising a poor crop in most places and very late. If an early winter . sets in, many wil-l not ripen. Late blight | bad. Heavy rains end of January caused iplants to develop hollow stem. Walnuts: Light all round.