STRAWBERRY PROSPECTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22205, 4 September 1935, Page 12

STRAWBERRY PROSPECTS

LATER AND SMALLER CROP EFFECTS OF WET WEATHER ORCHARD WORK DELAYED "Thoro is little doubt that the strawberry crop in the Auckland district will be much Inter this year," said a prominent grower yesterday. "Conditions have been worse this winter than in any other since 1924, which was abnormally bad." Generally throughout the area the wet weather has had the effect of retarding the progress of the plants. For the last threo years the harvest has begun at about October 20, but it is estimated that this year it will bo well into the second week in November before the public can expect the fruit at anything but fancy prices. Although about the snmo number of plants have been set out this season as last, the establishment has been decidedly less. This, coupled with the later fruiting and a probably shorter season, will mean that strawberries will bo les3 plentiful, especially in the case of the less hardy Marguerite variety.

In the orchards tho weather has had the effect of delaying pruning and although spraying is now well under way it, too, is somewhat later this year than usual. Plums and poaches are beginning to flower, and blooming has been exceptionally heavy. In the apple orchards considerable grafting has been done to replace the Delicious trees, tho popular varieties being very early cookers and Home Beauty. The chief activity outside tfiese operations has been the harvesting of citrus fruits, tho crop of which has probably been tho best for a great number of years.