THE FRUIT CROPS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume IV, Issue 1, 15 January 1912, Page 76

THE FRUIT CROPS.

Officers of the Orchards, Gardens, and Apiaries Division report as follows on the condition of the fruit crop for December : Whangarei.—Moderate to strong westerly winds did some damage to young trees, but little damage has been done to crops. All classes of stone and pip fruits promise well. Tomatoes and vegetables on market in variety in good quantities and better quality than last month. Continued damp weather has assisted in the development of pearscab in northern part of district.— W. Collard. Auckland North. —-Weather conditions very unseasonable, being one continuous series of violent storms culminating in semi-cyclonic gale on 18th, yet fruit-trees still carrying fair crops. Peaches well above average. English plums, light crop generally. Japanese plums, fruit improved through gales, thinning down without labour. Pears erratic ; some varieties and districts show heavy crop, others very light, average fair. Tomatoes (outdoors) in some , cases felt- gale on 18th severely, but majority now growing well. ■ Potatoes fair crop. Strawberries, crops seriously hampered by adverse conditions, but will carry fruit later than usual. Grape-vines looking well, with indications of fair average crop. — W. C. Thompson. Auckland.—High westerly.winds to. gales prevailed whole month with rain, heavy, at times. On 18th exceptionally heavy gale from west did some damage to fruit crops

but more especially to young trees in exposed positions. Crop prospects same as forecast last month. Apples, pears, Japanese plums, and nectarines heavy crop. Peaches good; tomatoes only moderate. — W. R. L. Williams. ' • .

Gisborne.—Mostly a dry month with high winds, welcome rain towards end of month. ' General crop prospects much the same as last month, but if anything not so good, especially with nectarines, peaches, and apricots. Apples, pears, and grapes . very good ; heavy crops anticipated.' Peaches, Japanese plums, nectarines, quinces, medium. English plums fair. : Apricots considerably below average. Tomatoes, vegetables, raspberries, and currants very poor.— W. R. L. Williams. Auckland South.—Apples good to heavy; apricots very good ; pears good to heavy plums heavy; peaches and nectarines light to good. Potatoes poor to fair. Codlin-moth, very little, due to cold weather and rain, but no doubt will hatch out more freely when warm, weather comes along.— N. R. Pierce. Hamilton. —Rough weather mentioned in my last report still continues, and as result trees are suffering considerable amount of damage, especially foliage, which in many instances has been greatly injured. In badly sheltered orchards loss of fruit has been fairly heavy, but in sheltered places trees are still carrying crops equal to that of average season. Irish blight is causing considerable amount of trouble among tomato and potato crops throughout district. Recent weather has been highly favourable to the spread of this disease where spraying has not been well carried out. The loss in this direction is likely to be serious.- A. Campbell. Wanganui. weather showed improved results in orchard and garden. Apple and pear scab are prevalent, but where trees are properly sprayed disease has been quickly checked. With exception of tomatoes, vegetable garden crops are in excellent condition.— W. C. Hyde. Palmerston North.—Weather has been little better than last month, some unsheltered orchards being almost entirely defoliated. Marked absence of codlin-moth so far. Weather in some parts of district has been favourable for germination of applescab, and many of earlier varieties affected. Peaches and nectarines are showing well. Pears are looking very good on the whole, little fungus being noticeable. Gooseberry crop good. All varieties of plums well forward, and cherry plums from the district now being sold in shops. Tomatoes and potatoes are looking very healthy. -Geo. Stratford. Hastings. Apples and pears heavy ; peaches good; nectarines medium crop only ; raspberries light; plums fairly heavy crop ; apricots very light. Garden produce has been affected very much by the dry weather, the result being very light crops.- —■ F. E. Nottage. ■ Blenheim. Apples good crop. Pears good average crop. Apricots very uneven ; none in some places, owing to early spring frosts ; peaches a fair average crop, especially where trees have been well tended and sprayed. Plums a fair average crop. Japanese plums fair average crop. Weather has been very rough, with high winds generally, but have not seen or heard of damage to fruit crop. Perhaps owing to climatic conditions codlin-moth is not in evidence as in previous years.— E. Rabbits. Nelson.—The weather has been very rough, raining nearly every day throughout the month, with heavy winds. Stone fruits thinned a little, and also apples, but good crops will be pulled. Vegetable outlook is fair; tomatoes little late, but coming on well. The Moutere Hills orchards are putting on good growth, and large stretches of country are being prepared for planting.— J. L. Williams. Christchurch.—The continuous cold and wet weather has been very harmful to fruit-orchards. Cherry-growers have suffered a great deal, owing to cherries cracking badly on account of so much rain. Plums and nectarines are also cracking to some extent. Apples, expect fair crop ; pears light; plums very light; peaches very light; apricots very, light; cherries fair crop ; tomatoes fair ;. strawberries light crop ; gooseberries good crop ; currants good ; raspberries good ; walnuts fair crop : nectarines very light. W. J. Courtier. - Timaru.—Apple and pear crop looking well. Cherries and strawberries damaged with wet weather. Other stone fruits looking well.— J. H. Thorp. Dunedin. Prospects of fruit-crop in apples, pears, apricots, and cherries good. Plums rather light, owing late frosts. Strawberries late, and not' too well flavoured owing to wet weather. Considerable damage done to fruit in places by recent heavy hailstorms, apples and pears being badly marked in exposed situations. Vegetables scarce owing to late season.— W. T. Goodwin. ■