LOCAL FRUIT SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21347, 23 November 1932, Page 15

LOCAL FRUIT SEASON

GOOD YIELDS PROMISED

MILD WEATHER CONDITIONS

FIRST PLUMS AVAILABLE

According to present indications, the fruit yield in the Auckland Province this year should bo prolific and, although the height of the season is too far off for growers to be able to prophesy with any confidence, it is generally felt that production in most varieties of fruit should exceed that of last year. Under the influence of mild winter conditions and an early spring, some of the first locally-grown stone fruit of the season is already making its appearance on the market.

Ihe first Christmas plums, grown either locally or at Hianies, arc already available in small quantities, but, their quality is not. first class. It appears likely that the earliest varieties of plums and peaches will yield light crops, the heavy rnins at the beginning of October having seriously affected their setting. The main crop of plums, however, including lights, Lurbanks, Purple Kings ami Satsumas, which will reach their maximum yield in mid January or February, are expected to be heavy. Locally-grown peaches are not likely to reach the market in any appreciable quantities before the middle of December.

For some years supplies of apricots from lhames have been gradually growing smaller, and reports indicate that this tendency will be continued this season. Ihe unsuitability of the climate makes it impossible to grow apricots commercially near Auckland, the majority of supplies being drawn from Central Otago, during January and February. Few small fruits are grown in the Auckland Province, but reports from southern areas show that crops arc expected to be good. Gooseberries, supplied principally from Greytown and Ohaupo, are now at their height, and are selling at low prices. Hothouse tomatoes are now very plentiful and are selling at particularly low rates. The first case of outdoor tomatoes was received at the City Markets this week from an Otahuhu grower. Usually the beginning of December is the earliest date at which outdoor tomatoes are available at the markets.

Locally-grown green cooking apples are expected to be on the market by the middle of December from Bilkdale, Henderson and Oratia orchards and, with the exception of two varieties, the main crop to follow should be good. Gravenstein and Albany Beauty trees, however, are not expected to yield heavily, in view of last season's prolific bearing.