COLD SPELL ABROAD

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 134, 7 May 1928, Page 7

COLD SPELL ABROAD

DAMAGE TO FRUIT CROPS. FRENCH AND SPANISH LOSSES, APPLE MARKET UNSATISFACTORY. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) Received May 7, 8.5 a.m. LONDON, May 5. The apple trade has shown some improvement this week, chiefly because the fruit arrived in a better condition. The fine, warm weather has also brought about a better demand but, on the whole, the market is still in an unsatisfactory condition. _ One importing firm writes in a circular as follows:—“The present values must mean a serious loss to growers and speculators. Apparently the retailers are only buying from hand to mouth —waiting until rock bottom is reached. However, the low standard of prices has perhaps done some good, as it has got the fruit into consumption ; it is hoped that the public may now buy freely. In reference to the effects of the cold spell in the latter part of April, the Ministry of Agriculture’s report states : “The blossoms of certain kinds of fruits m England and Wales are visibly damaged. The extent of the loss cannot be estimated with any degree of accuracy, but severe damage appears to have been strictly localised, and it is stated that it is not likely that the crop prospects will be materially affected except in the case of Victoria. . . “Reports from the principal Continental fruit centres point to serious damage. , , “The French cherry crop is expected to be only one quarter of last years. Apricots promise only one tenth of the normal vield. . “The Spanish prospects are also bad, owing to the frosts catching the trees in' full blossom. . . The apricot crop in Murcia (Spam) is expected to be only 30 per cent, or normal.”