THE FRUIT CROP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3186, 10 September 1917, Page 8

THE FRUIT CROP

GENERAL PROSPECTS REVIEWED. . Officers of tho Horticulture Division of .tho Department- of Agriculture report .as follows regarding the conditions of the fruit crop at tho end ;of August:— ; 'North Auckland. —Lemons: Main csop .nearly all off. Oranges (sweet): Shipments south continuo; average crop. (poornian).- Finished. Strawberries: Very backward at present owing . - to bad weather conditions. With tho exception of a few days, tho weather has ■'continued very wot' and. windy. Tho! ground is in'an exceptionally uad. condition, and it is hoped- that there may be an early improvement. llid-season ■peaches, and late plums aro bursting into .' •blossom,': and somo varieties, ; of pears show signs of an early blossoming. - Waikato.—Most varieties of fruits aro. .'Showing a large amount of blossom buds, ■and should conditions be favourable during the following months a good crop pliould result, Many of the Christmas plums are already in bloom, and also •some of the late peaches. Citrus-fruits are being gathered, but crops generally are light.. • "• Poverty Bay.—There are indications of ' an early season. Japanese plvums aro well .in flower in'most parts of the. district, and there is also a.good, show of peach bloom. The citrus crop has proved up r to expectations, lemons being is. good '•Apply. Hawke's Bay.—All. fruits promise exceedingly well. Wanganui.—Pruning and winter spray\tßff nearly finished." Early plums and peaches in full Woom. This month has " been slightly drier than last, consequent- * ly spraying is now weil advanced. ' Nelson.— During August the weather " has been bright and cold, allowing orchard pruning and planting to be complet- : od, and spraying to be got well under ivay; a very-favourable month. . " Marlborough.—August has brought things on very fast.. Earlier blossoming .plums are in full flower, whilst peaches and nectarines are near to bursting. uiid, ' the buds axe on apples. There is every prospect of a good all-round ' 'Canterbury and West Coast.-Planting end pruning is nearly finished for this .season. .There has been some difficulty

"in-getting experienced piiunors this winter. Stone fruits are just beginning to bloom. Thero is still a fair quantity of ■fruit in the local cool stores. These are gradually being put 011 the markot, fairly good prices being obtained. Uhristcirurch and Suburbs.—Tho cherry plums aro. now out in full bloom, and some of the apricots are' well advanced. Tomato growers with glass houses aro busy planting out, and somo of the heatgd houses , have their plants well advanced. 1 South Canterbury.—Pruning and spraying operations in full swing, and everything looks promising for the, coining season. Heavy hailstorm broke over the district last week and hard frosts vero experienced. Otngo and Sontlilniid.-Mild weather has been 1 experienced throughout the month, and fruit trees are well forward. The winter season has proved exceptionally mild all through, ver.v little frost and snow having been experienced. Somo of the earlier varieties of fruit aro now in bloom.