FRUIT CROPS

Evening Star, Issue 19410, 19 November 1926, Page 2

FRUIT CROPS

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AT HEATHGOTE [Special to the ‘Stab.’] CHRISTCHURCH, November 18. Orohardists in Heathcote Valley appear to have a legitimate grievance against the clerk of the weather, as the result of damage done by the heavy hail and rain which fell on Tuesday. The hailstorm was the worst experienced for twenty years, and the tomato crops suffered severely. The peach and apricot orchards had already been considerably damaged by frosts earlier in the spring, and had been falling off steadily ever since. It is stated that crops will be only one-third of the usual size. The cherry trees were saved from any considerable damage by the netting, but it is stated that if there is much more wet weather the cherries and the rest of the tomatoes will damp off.