MARLBOROUGH FRUIT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 16 February 1935, Page 11

MARLBOROUGH FRUIT

REVIEW OF THE SEASON EXFOlfa Prospects BETTER THAN LAST VEAB An interesting review of the local fruit season up to date was given to an “Express” reporter yesterday afternoon by the orchard instructor (Mr D. J. Hogg), who lias just- completed a survey of the commercial fruit-growing district. The prospects are that the quantity of fruit for export will be some 15,000 cases below (lie estimate made early in the season, but the total .production will be a long way better than hist year in spite of the continued dry weather. Mr Hogg stated that during September and October the outlook for the fruit season was particularly bright and the prospects were for a record crop. Since then, unfortunately, the weather conditions had been very dry and the crop would be reduced for export sbnicwhere in tlie vicinity of 15,000 cases. His original estimate for tlie season,whs from 75,000 to 80,000 cases, which would have been a new record, the previous highest total being 72,000 cases. This year it would now be about 60,000 cases, compared with 42,000 lhst year, when, almost throughout the growing period drought conditions prevailed. Tlie November, December, and January rainfall this year had been approximately only about three-quarters of an inch, and this had had a bad effect. However, in spite of this the position [ was nowhere near as bad as it was last season.

“The crops, particularly of apples, where irrigation is being carried out are looking reasonably well,” Mr Hogg proceeded, “but on the lighter class of land where no artificial watering is._ being done a good deal of the fruit will not reach export sizes. On the whole, the sizes will be on an average larger thaii last season. There has beeli a good deal of trouble, from insect pests, which is usually the case in an abnormally dry season. Amongst the principal pests are leaf hopper, red mite and codlm moth. lii spite of thfe usual spray applications these pests are still more or less in evidence aniongst some of the commercial orchards.” The instructor riieutioned that export was commenced about 2nd February with Worcester Pearmam and Cox’s Grange varieties. So far these were the only two varieties that had been shipped, and tlie total was about 1000 cases to date. Tlie main crop would not come iii till about the middle of March. “Although it might be expected that we would have got increased colour in the apples this season oh account of the long period of abundant sunshine,” lie added, “this hits not been realised, and the colour is, on the whole, below the average. The quality of the fruit is, however, quite up to the usual standard for export.” Dealing with pears, Mr Hogg mentioned that the late varieties such as Winter Coles and Winter Nelis were well below the average crops. Other varieties were average to good. The trees were looking fairly healthy, find, with the exception of a little pear slug, were reasonably free from disease. Some of tlie peach and nectarine cl'op had been picked, the instructor stated, but other varieties were still coming in. The trees generally were carrying good crops, but brown rot was taking a. heavy toll of the fruit; more so, possibly, than for tlie past five or six years. Plums, both Japanese and English, were producing average crops. Apricots had been light, and had also suffered considerably from brown rot. Due to the activities of tlie Fire Blight Committee arid the Department of Agriculture, fire blight had not been found in the commercial orchards this season, although its presence lias been detected in some domestic orchards. Tlie outbreak had not been of a serious natrire, and a pleasing feature was that it, had not extended to hawthorn in tlie commercial fruit-growing area.