THE FRUIT HARVEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3869, 8 May 1928, Page 12

THE FRUIT HARVEST.

CROPS IN CENTRAL OTAGO. The 1928 fruit harvest in the Central Otago rgions of Teviot, Alexandra, Earnscleugh, Fruitlands, and Ripponvale has been a heavy one in comparison with those of the past two years, which were inconveniently lean. Still, what might have been an abundant harvest approaching very near record standards has been affected adversely in a number of ways. One great source of loss to stone fruit growers was absent this year —killing and unseasonable frost—but other troubles have taken its place, and made it impossible for the grower to reap the fullest advantage from the greater volume of produce. For instance, brown rot made its appearance in rather serious form, and, affecting the condition of the fruit, brought prices down. Humid weather conditions are generally advanced as the source of this trouble, but many growers in Roxburgh and Alexandra contend that the conditions under which the fruit is carried on the railways, in warm and only half-ventilated vans, have aggravated this affection to no small degree. It is unfortunate that, having escaped the ravages of frost, stone fruit orchardists 1 should find a record year rendered im- | possible by the appearance in such seriI ous form of this scourge.

Pip fruits, too, were in excellent supply throughout the season, and much larger quantities have been available for export than was the case last season. But here again unexpected contingencies have arisen to prevent the best being made of a good year. Weather conditions early in the season were not conducive to the quick maturing and colouring of apples, in particular, with the result that some of the earlier export allotments could not be filled with the best quality fruit owing to colour and size being so poor. Moreover, several diseases of fruit have been prevalent in a good many localities this season, thus reducing returns. Some of these are not unavoidable, and their appearance this year has been put down to a relaxing of the vigilance.,and percautions that should have been taken earlier. It has been suggested that the past two lean years have had the effect of making growers “ ca canny ” in respect of outlay and resources, but it must be accounted false economy to seek to reduce expenses by’ a neglect of the necessary precautions for guarding against disease and parasites. Nevertheless/,, the season has been a fairly good one on the whole. Small fruits, such as cherries and strawberries, were as usual in keen demand. They proved a very profitable commodity this year since crops were good and quality excellent. One grower, who usually anticipates a return of £3OO per annum from his cherry house, netted a total of £560 from cherries and strawberries,: the lastnamed being harvested from a small crop only put in ,fpr ■this season. Stone fruits, were produced in heavy quantities everywhere, but the market was affected by the condition of the fruit due to brown rot. One of the worst aspects of this year’s marketing was that the fruit could not be sent’too far afield owing to its condition, the resu t being a partial glut of the local market, with consequently reduced values. The varieties grown in the Roxburgh fruit areas are more susceptible to infection than those cultivated in the Alexandra and Cromwell districts, so that Teviot growers were the worst sufferers Moreover, as by far the greater quantity of stone fruits come from Roxburgh, the appearance of brown rot is doub’y unfortunate. Apricots were the best of the stone fruits from the point of view of quantity, and peaches were-very good. Plums were produced in large quantities, the quality of which ■was excellent. Northern markets absorbed a great deal of the crop at good prices, but large quantities had to be sold at only fair rates. Nectarines were on the light side, and the crops were not up to the usual standard.

The value of the pip fruit crops cannot be effectively gauged as yet, since apples have not yer been harvested. ’ The slow maturing consequent on unfavourable w’eather conditions has had its effect on export quantities. Nevertheless, it is certain that this year's export trade will surpass that of last season. The Port Adelaide, which loaded 28,000 cases yesterday, could not take all the fruit available, So that the Somerset had to be used, 6000 cases being loaded into that vessel on Monday, before she- left to continue the loading of North Island fruit. Another steamer, the Tongariro, will load Otago fruit at Port Chalmers on May 23, and will be the fifth ship to leave Dunedin with local export fruit this seas°n - The Stunner crop has scarcely been touched yet, only samples having been sent away as yet. This class of apple will make up the bulk of the Tongariro’s allotment later in the month. Exporters res trict their export to 17,000 cases, despite the fact that 25,000 cases will be available. But as this last boat has allotted only the former quantity to Otago, the extra 8000 cases will nave to be absorbed locally or in Dominion markets, so that the best prices cannot be expected. It would appear that those controlling the shipping of fruit have not realised the importance of Otago in this respect. Growersare not ignorant of the fact that shipping 1,000,000 cases of fruit—New d or near it—presents no small problem, but they consider that an 6 A lo H l< | ke made to convince the powers that be that Otago is worthy ot quite as serious consideration in respect erow^^-°! fr S il: as any other fiuiioxnr«g u dlStr A ct ' r Some of tbe opinions Otntn ) d ln the fn J‘t re gi°ns of Central Ota D o show very clearly that the i-. is developing into one of those North Island v. South Island matters which are being raised so frequently these days. -Lne result of the backwardness of the apple crop in coming to maturity is demonstrated very clearly by a visit to orchards throughout Central Otago. Where as a rule no varieties but Stunners are to be seen in May, the trees are still 0| r O' ln g heavy burdens of various kinds of apples, all of which are turning out well in spite of their tardiness.