THE FRUIT CROP

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2792, 9 June 1916, Page 8

THE FRUIT CROP

HEPORTS FOR, MAT. Olfioers of the Horticulture Division report as follows regarding, the condition of the fruit crop at the end of May.— Whangarei.—Lemons, promise average crops; oranges, prospects average, crop "Poor Man' 1 and sweet. The fruity seaeon has closed, and pruning is receiving attention. Citrus fruits arc looking tatter than they liavo looked for three seasons.

North Auckland—There is every indi. cation of a good planting season. South Auckland.—Apples and pears, fair crops have now been harvested. Growers are preparing for planting and attending to antumn spraying. Poverty Bay.—Only lemons remainpromise of a good crop. Wanganui.—All fruit is gathered. Fait quantities of apples and pears are forward, .pears being mostly over-ripe. * Wellington.—The season throughout has been fair for apples and pears, but very poor for stone fruits. Diseases were fairly well controlled. Orchardists are pre. paring for pruning and planting. Nelson.—Warm weather held until the middle of the month, thus facilitating the completion of the orchard harvest. Since then it has been wet, steady rains having been experienced, followed by low temperatures. This is all in favour oE the deciduous orchard trees. Packing the late crops, and pruning, is now the order ul' the <lay. Christchurch.—Fruit all harvested. Cool stores arc lilled with apples and pears. Some fruit 'is stored in sheds, etc. (Jenerally, the fruit is not keeping as weil as usual, due probably to the exceptionally l dry weather still continuing, thus making difficult preparation for planting. SouJJi Canterbury.—Majority of erops are gathered. Good lines of "apples .and pears are forward. A fair area is being prepared for planting in Waimate dietriet.

Dunedin.—All crops harvested. Winter ploughing and pruning in hand. Hamilton.—Very mild weather has brought many fruit trees into bloom. The •usual routine orchard iv-arlc lias received attention, i

■Hawke's Bay.—All crops are harvested.' The wet week just experienced lias hindered and set back ploughing and other orchard operations although peach pruning and spraying is well in hand.'