ORCHARD PROSPECTS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 141, 11 December 1935, Page 4

ORCHARD PROSPECTS

A GOOD APPLE CROP

Apple crops throughout New Zealand this year are likely to be good, according to reports received by the Director of the Horticulture Division of the Department of Agriculture concerning the fruit crop prospects at the end of November. In Palmerston North the apple crop is, classed as heavy, though Delicious are patchy, and in Masterton, the crop is average. Nelson indications are for a good crop, while in Mapua and Motueka the prospects are for a heavy crop. Further afield, the classifications are: In Auckland, variable, light to heavy; in Hamilton, above average; in Tauranga, light to good; in Gisborne, heavy crop most varieties; in Hastings, prospects good; in Blenheim, variable, light to heavy; in Christchurch, prospects heavy crops; in Dunedin, generally below average; in Alexandra, variable, total probably below average. Pears in most districts are in much the same state as the apple crops. Lemons and oranges generally show good blossomings, but outdoor tomatoes, except in Nelson and Motueka, are classed as backward to average mainly because of the weather.

Other classifications of fruits grown in districts around Wellington are as follows:—

Palmerston North.—Apricots, average; cherries and nectarines, good, average; ■gooseberries, pears, and plums, heavy; peaches, short to average; raspberries, good promise; tomatoes, outdoor, backward. Masterton.—Cherries, pears, and strawberries, average; apricots, short; gooseberries, heavy; nectarines, plumsl and walnuts, light; raspberries, heavy blossoming; tomatoes, indoor, average Nelson.—Apricots, heavy settingcherries, gooseberries, peaches, and strawberries, good; nectarines, average to light; pears, medium to heavy; plums, average to light; plums (Japanese), good to light; raspberries, prospects average crop; tomatoes, glasshouse, average; outdoor, plants looking well.

Mapua.—Pears, average to heavy; strawberries and walnuts, good. ' Motueka. —Apricots and cherries, good to heavy; gooseberries and pears, good; nectarines, above average; peaches, above average; plums and strawberries, average; raspberries; promise average crop; tomatoes, outdoor, plants making good progress. Blenheim.—Apricots, peaches, and strawberries, average to heavy; cherries and raspberries, fair to average; gooseberries, heavy; nectarines and pears, average; plums, light; plums (Japanese), average to heavy; tomatoes, hothouse, average to heavy; wal-. nuts, generally light. ■