STRAWBERRY SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18273, 14 December 1922, Page 8

STRAWBERRY SEASON.

LOW PRICES PREVAILING.

SHORT SEASON EXPECTED.

Ample supplies of strawberries arriving on the Auckland market are resulting in a lowering of prices, and boxes sold in the shops yesterday at Is Id, Is 2d, and la 3d. The berries on the whole were of excellent quality, large-sized fruit predominating. Prospects of an extended season grow less as the hot weather continues. The berries are ripening rapidly under the influence oli the humid heat, in many cases so quickly that a fermentation takes place, rendering the fruit devoid of carrying qualities. The result is vhat very limited quantities are being sent South ■; indeed, the low prices offering in Wellington pre- '■ elude the possibility of much export at present. The fact that the outside markets are not favourable is another factor in keeping local prices down. Side by side with tha deterioration of strawberries on account of fermentation is the drying up of a number of the beds through the continued dry weather. This becomes more prevalent as the rain keeps off, and with the rapid over-ripening of the moister areas of the beds it is expected that supplies will give out by about Christmas. This would be an unusual occurrence. Many of the plots in Birkdale, Birkenhead, and Northcote are being irrigated, which is proving the salvation of th« beds, enabling those fortunate possessors of the needful water supply to forward a steady supply; of fruit to the market. Besides preserving the beds, irrigation results in double the crop being garnered.