PAST FRUIT SEASON.

Otago Witness, Issue 3783, 14 September 1926, Page 13

PAST FRUIT SEASON.

LARGE CROP OF APPLES. “During the past season the crop cf stone fruit was fully one-third less »n quantity than that of the previous growing period, but the crop of pip fruits, particularly apples, was practically doubled,” said the manager of a local firm of fruitgrowers to our representative on Tuesday. The weather, when the apple trees were in flower, he stated, was particularly favourable for cross-pollination, with the result that the crop was very much above the average. The lower yield of stone fruits naturally kept all markets in short supply, and higher prices followed. While the apple yield was great in quantity it was not up to the usual standard in quality, and the fruit in many instances was small. Shipping facilities were very favourable, and large quantities of apples were exported fVom Otago to the London and South American markets. The apples which went to the latter market met w ith

a keen demand, resulting in payable prices, but this position was considerably discounted by the unfortunate strike at Home which materially reduced the prices for fruit sent to the English market. Th© prices received for the .South American shipment were approximately from 14s to 16s a case, whereas the English shipments brought from 6s to 9s a case. “While prices have been disappointing during this season the position does not warrant: the apple-growers shunning tho English market in the future,” stated the informant, “because strike conditions will probably not occur again. Fortunately, the apple growers who have received these small prices will be compensated to a certain extent by a beneficent Government which will make a grant to each exporter, thus bringing the price per case received by the grower up to 11s Gd.” Unfortunately, lie said, the local markets liad been over-supplied with small and inferior apples during the past two months, causing what might practically be termed a slump in prices. As this class of fruit was removed from the market prices would come back to the usual rate. 1 1 fact, a better class of fruit was now reaching the market,_from the interior. The opinion of salesmen in charge of rooms was that a good class of fruit would always command a payable price, and growers, in their own interests, should be alive to the fact that it was a mistake to flood the market with inferior fruit.

A fruit-grower should grow 10 varieties of apples—three good cookers, and seven dessert kinds. By this means continuity of season was assured. In other words as one variety was picked another would be ready to be despatched to the market. If a grower found that he was able to produce a good apple of a particular kind it would pay him to develop that variety to the fullest extent. By the use of cool storage apples could b 3 made available from March until December.

Owing to the absence of any great number of varieties the apricot season usually lasted only five weeks, but successive varieties of peaches could be produced for five months. Peaches were usually on the market from December until May.

Fruitgrowers as a whole could not concentrate on one or two varieties of apples for export as one land would-jiot last through the export season. Cox’s orange apples were shipped by the March boats, Jonathans were ready in April, and Sturmers and Cleopatras were available in May. The gaps were filled by less important varieties. The shipments from Otago would reach England in June and July when the markets were bare, but the South African and American shipments would quickly follow. In conclusion, it was stated that the present indications pointed to an earlier season than the last, which was some weeks late, but it was unlikely that the crops would be ready before the usual date.