FROST DAMAGE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 February 1934, Page 5

FROST DAMAGE.

Tobacco Crop Almost Destroyed. LOSS ESTIMATED. AT £6OO. In spite of the protective measures taken, including the lighting of many fires, damage estimated at £6OO was done by frost yesterday to tobacco plants in a plantation of eight acres near the Bower bridge. New Brighton It is estimated that 28,000 of the 37,000 plants were affected, and many lost all their leaves. The plantation is managed by Mr F. J. Bromley, who is working there with other men under the auspices of the Soldiers ’ Civil Re-establishment Committee. The frost came with unexpected severity, and although Mr Bromley, realising the danger, arrived at the plantation at 4 a m. and lighted fires, the damage had been done. At daylight Mr Bromley saw that even the plants nearest the fires had been bitten by the keen frost. Mr Bromley said that the plants were almost ready for harvesting, and it was expected to place 60,000 ripe leaves in the curing kiln on Monday next. Ordinarily, the c r op would have yielded three to four full kilns, but now it was doubtful if one full kiln would be secured. The frost was not the only setback the growers have experienced. On November 23 a frost caused the loss of many of the young plants. On January 5 a disastrous hailstorm did much damage. not only to the tobacco in the plantation, but to fruit and crops over a wide area. Ther. was another frost on January 23, doing minor damage to the plants. Three thousand leaves, some of them partly damaged, were picked yesterday and placed in a shed for air curing. - None of the damaged plants will have > the opportunity to remake leavers, for i the period of growth is passed and all laterals were taken off recently.