lo Nov., 191C.] Prdipccts of the Coming Fruit Crop. 12^ 



variety, producing nice e\en tubers flattish oval in shape. Bedford is 

 also a medium early very \igorous plant, producing a tine bold sample of 

 tut)ers. The germination was satisfactory in all but one variety, viz., 

 St. Albans. This, being an early variety, was a little wasted by sprout- 

 ing. Notwithstanding the dry sea.son the results may be considered very 

 sati.sfactory when compared with such varieties as Brown's River, Up-to- 

 Date. and New Zealand Pinkeve. 



PROSPECTS OF THE COMIXO Fill IT CROP. 



/''. J. Caniiody, Ciiief Inspector of Orchards. 



To enable growers to obtain .some idea of the fruit prospects of the 

 coming season as early as possible I have asked the inspectors of the 

 different fruit districts to supply me with a forecast of the crop as far 

 as thev were in a position to do so. Unfortunately, to be in time for 

 publication in the Journal for November, we are obliged to make our 

 estimate somewhat ear'v and cannot predict witli any degree of certainty 

 the coming fruit yield. 



A noticeable teaturu of the blooming period was iht- e.xcessi\e irregu- 

 larity of the opening of the fruit buds among many \arieties, owing, no 

 doubt, to the genial warm weather experienced throughout August and 

 September succeeded by ojld wintry weather at the time of opening. 

 According to experienced growers, this irregularity indicates a poor setting 

 of fruit and many are somewhat anxious as to the prospects at the present 

 time. Unquestionably, growers do not pay sufficient attention to thinning 

 out of fruit spurs at the time of pruning with the result that innumerable 

 weak spurs are allowed to remain and take up the nourishment that should 

 be concentrated in the more vigorous and fruitful ones, and thereby 

 assuring a more regular fruiting habit in the trees. 



Subjoined are the reports of' the inspectors of the different fruit dis- 

 tricts : — 



Bendigo Di.strict. 



Inspector Cock rer)orts : — 



Affles. — Heavy. 



Pears. — Heavy. 



Plums. — Good. 



Peaches. — Fair. 



Africots. — Very lif^ht. 



Cherries.— ^2.t\\, fair; late, sood. ,. , , , .1 1 ,• ■- 



Tomatoes.— QoqA promise. There has been but sli-ht frot and the [danting is 



verv large. 



Di.^MOND Creek Di.strict. 

 Inspector Wallis reports : — 

 Affles. — Heavy blossom. 

 Pears. — Heavy setting so far. 

 Plums. — Heavy. 

 Peaches. — F.arlv, medium ; late, heavy. 



Cherries. — Heavy. 

 Quinces. — Heavw 

 Africots. — Medium. 



