DAMAGE BY FROST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23780, 7 October 1940, Page 6

DAMAGE BY FROST

ROXBURGH ORCHARDS HEAVY LOSS OF APRICOTS [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] DUNEDIN, Sunday A loss of 75 per cent of the apricot crop in the Roxburgh district has been caused by severe frost in the past few weeks, but fortunately other fruit crops escaped any serious damage. Comparatively "little damage has been done in other fruitgrowing districts in Central Otago and pip fruit, such as apples and pears, is not affected. Reports received from Roxburgh today revealed that many growers have suffered very severely and some have lost up to 90 per cent of their apricot crops. In a few cases whole orchards have escaped entirely, so that it is estimated that the average loss for tho district is 75 per cent. Even the use of fire pots did not prevent damage.

Most of the damage was caused on the night of September 15, when sleety rain was followed by a sharp frost before the wind had shaken the moisture from the trees. Flowers and fruit in formation under the dead petals were nipped off. Even orchards oil high levels, which usually escape more lightly, were severely damaged. The nectarine crop was also affected slightly, but peaches escaped almost entirely.