RECORD APPLE CROP.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 30 March 1926, Page 6

RECORD APPLE CROP.

GRADING SUSPENDER. (Special to “Herald.”) AVELLINGTON, March 29. The. bountiful nature of New Zealand’s apple crop this season has forced the Department of Agriculture to take the unusual step of suspending, for one week from Tuesday, the official inspection and grading of fruit for export. Tlio season has been a very forward one, recent lino iveather causing the fruit to ripen rapidly, ivitli the result that export shipping arrangements, although on a much more extensii'O scale than last year, have been unable to cope with the rush of fruit. About. 300,000 cases have been packed in. various pints of the Dominion this season, compared ivith. last year’s 233,000 cases, though the export season is not more than two-tliirds through. It is possible that the total export will reach half a million eases this season, as many important varieties for tlio Home market have yet to be picked. The AVellington cool stores, AA'horo the fruit is held pending -shipment, have become congested, and shipping is not yet ready to take • further cargoes. Some relief is being triven this week by the steamer Tongariro, which ivill take 30,000 cases for England, and the Tairoa is due to sail on Tuesday with 11,000 cases for South America ami 9000 lor Ji»ngland.