Miscellaneous Notes.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 8

Miscellaneous Notes.

One of the 'most- prolific crops of plums

that it would be possible to find anywhere is -now to be »een on Mr R. M'Kenzie's Blackmount station, near Lake Manapoiiri. The

trees are truly a sight to witness, being liter-

ally laden to the ground.. Mr J. A. Mitchell, ' the well-known auctioneer, who has been on a visit to the station, was so enraptured with the picture that ho obtained consent to cut two twigs to -bring to town to show city

people the fruit-growing capabilities of the high back country, and these he has placed on view at Mr H. Bentley's, Dee street. The ' plums, which are not yet ripe, are as thick as grapes, one twig, about 2ft long, carrying, at a rough guess, from 81b to 101b weight of fruit. It is estimated that there ia considerably over a ton of plums on the trees at the station. The apple crop is also a large one. Evidently there are portions of Southland which vie with Central Otago in fruitgrowing.—Southland News. Says Mount Benger Mail : The present season ha 3, on the whole, been a favourable one for the production of fruit. The strawberry crop proved very satisfactory, and was the means of giving returns of a substantial character to the industrious fruitgrowers of Mount Benger district. Every day now carriers are busy talcing the fruit, which includes peaches, apricots, etc., to market. _ As regards plums and apricots, the yield this Bea-son is not so large as it has been in many Former seasons. Of peaches, however, there is an abundance, and, taken altogether, the fruitgrowers .have reason to feel gratified at the return for their labours. The vineries are looking fine, and augur well for a plentiful supplj' of grapes, which always find a ready sale. The large outlay incurred by a number of settlers in this district in the erection of costly conservatories justifies the belief £hat grape-growing is a profitable industry.

The Brightwater correspondent of the Nelgon Evening Mail writes that Admiral Pearson wall probably visit Nelson during" the approaching deer sta'ldag season.

For the Planting Reason, 1900, Nimmo and Elaik have for kale the "Superlative" and "Hornet" Raspberries — both new sorts, and vastly superior to the varieties grown here. Prices on Application*