FRUIT LOST IN FROSTS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25300, 27 September 1947, Page 8

FRUIT LOST IN FROSTS

COLD SNAP IN CENTRAL OTAGO SHORTAGE OF FUEL OIL FOR FIRE POTS (P.A.) DUNEDIN, September 26, A severe frost on Thursday nipt, and an acute shortage of fuel oil for frost fighting, have dashed the hopes of Central Otago and Teviot orchardists that the new season's crops would be unusually heavy. Fire pots were burning for as long as 10 ’ hours in the Alexandra and Eamscleugh districts on Th u ™“®? night to combat a ground frost of 12.3 degrees. In most cases where pots were lit crops were saved, but the frosts throughout the fruitgrowing areas must have resulted in substantial losses to unprotected orchard® and backyard crops. The most alarming aspect of tne cold snap is that many growers in th® Central Otago district used all their available fuel oil in Thursday nights “bum,” and are experiencing grea l difficulty in replenishing their 6tocKS ; Oil company officials said to-day that an acute shortage of heavy fuel ou exists throughout New Zealand at tn® present time, and will continue for about two weeks, when overseas supplies are expected. The only reason for the shortage 15 the late arrival of overseas supph«As a result of the use of fire pots, a heavy pall of black smoke hung over Alexandra early this morning, and in houses in the “black-out” area® lights had to be used until after J a.m. Those householders who naa their windows open found their rooms coated with oil smudges.