FRUIT LOSSES IN STORM

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22319, 5 February 1938, Page 16

FRUIT LOSSES IN STORM

♦ “SCENE OF DEVASTATION” EXPECTED CROPS SEVERELY DAMAGED (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND. February 4. Severe losses, particularly of stone fruit, are expected by many orchardists in the Henderson, Huapai, and Kumeu districts as a result of the storm. Further afield, especially at Tekauwhata. growers were also apprehensive. and there is a general fear that unless conditions improve substantially the apple crop will also be adversely affected. The experiences of growers near Henderson and Oratia varied substantially—in some instances it was reported that the whole of the remainder of the stone fruit crop, particularly nectarines, peaches, and plums, were ruined, but at other orchards the only sign of the storm was a slight increase in the normal number of windfalls. Growers of stone fruits expressed the fear that the fruit that was spared by the wind would fall a prey to brown rot, and in either case would be a total loss. A meeting of orchardists was held in Auckland, and as a result few of them reached home while it was still light enough to inspect the damage done. “We expect a scene of devastation in the morning.” a leading grower said, when interviewed by telephone. ‘T am afraid that it will be fairly serious, and that it will finish the stone fruits altogether. Apples are also at Ihe stage where they are particularly susceptible to damage, and there are indications that this crop will suffer also.”

Similar views were expressed by most other growers in the district, although some of them suffered less severely. They agreed that the fruitgrowing area as a whole would suffer severely, and there was complete unanimity about the loss of the remainder of the stone fruit crop. Nearly ready for marketing, between 200 and 300 cases of pears and apples were strewn on the ground in one orchard alone at Tekauwhata.