HAVOC TO FRUIT CROPS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 12084, 25 October 1933, Page 7

HAVOC TO FRUIT CROPS

HEAVY FROSTS IN OTAGO (Press Association). DUNEDIN, Oct. 24. A disastrous frost, which resulted in tlie complete destruction of fruit in Earnscleugh and Alexandra orchards, and spread havoc in other parts of the Central Otago district, occurred: late on Sunday night Durin g the past three weeks, several frosts have been combatted by orchard]st-, who managed to save much of their crop, but the final devastating blow nva s lelt early yesterday mor.ning, when the thermometer showed 10 degrees 'of frost in the Earnscleugh and Alexandra districts, and 134 degrees at Clyde. All efforts to save the fruit by means of fire-pots were futile. Even orchards which, by' reason of their sheltered positions, have previously escaped the full severity of the frosts, wore not so fortunate on this occasion, with the result that there Will bo practically no fruit crop from Central Otago this year. Stone fruit, apples, and! pears *mt\ fered alike and, instead of the promise of’ u.ii.l abundant yield, owners are now left to contemplate the sor ry spectacle of blackened trees and to realise that their year’s work has gone for nothing in a single night. Orchards at Roxburgh were more fortunate, as only three degrees of frost was recorded, there, but it D yet too early to discover whether any damage lias been done to trees or not.

Potato gardens and strawberrybeds suffered severely from the frosts, and orchards on higher, levels were extensively damaged- by snow, which fell during the weekend, while a severe frost was experienced at Raiifur.ly, where house hold, gardens ■ were ruined, indicating ’that the visitation was fairly general.