THE FRUIT CROP

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2484, 10 June 1915, Page 8

THE FRUIT CROP

CONDITION AT END' OF MAY.. ■ Officers of tho Orchards, Gardens, and Apiaries Division report as follows regarding the condition of the fruit crop at the end of May:— Hastings.—Tho weather up to the end of the month has been very favourable for orchard work. Pruning, spraying, and cultivation is. well advanced for the season of tho year. As a result.of the past dry season, peach wood has ripened early and well, giving promise of a heavy crop, whilst the same indications apply to practically all other classes of fruit trees. All fruit is now ■ gathered, and the fruit business has settled down to the sale of stored fruit, a fairly large quantity of which is on hand. Wanganui.—Apples, apricots, cherries, and gooseberries: Season over, the Quantities have been fair to good, quality very good, values very fair. Lemons: Some very good crops maturing. Nectarines, peaches, and pears: Average, fair season ha,s come to a closo with tho trees in good order. Wet, wintry weather for the last few days have definitely closcd the season, and trets are about dormant. Plums (English and Japanese): Trees gener-. ally want more attention.' Raspberries :-Poor to good, according to locality. Strawberries :Thc' beds are looking well. Tomatoes: Crop over. " .Walnuts: Good crops are being harvested.. Palmersion North.—There is practically nothing further to report on last month. Exporting of .fruit front'this district has finished, the last being sent away late this month. In some cases pruning has been started, as growers wisli to get most of it done before the cold weather sets inr Sprayings with oils have and are now being carricd out, chiefly for the control of woolly aphis. Wellington.—Apples: Sturmers which aro About ready to pick have shown up to .advantage bettor than any other apple in'my district. Growers are preparing' for their pruning and cultivation. The crop throughout has been satisfactory, but prices of late are not encouraging. Pears: Good crop harvested. with the exception of a few lato varieties. Black' spot was conspicuous by its absence, and prices were fair. Tomatoes: Good crops, with excellent prices. ■ Nelson. —All fruit picked; 8472 cases apples exported to South America during May. Practically only Sturmers, Rokewoods, and Washingtons left. Largo quantities of late pears being cool stored. Growers turning their attention to ploughing orchards, and preparing for winter work.