THe JOUHNAb 



OF 



Tf^lie " department of Hgricutture 



OP 



VICTORIA. 



Vol. XIV. Part 12. 11th December, 1916. 



FRUIT PROSPECTS, 1910-11. 



liil P. J. Carmody, Chief Orchard Supervisor. 



Unfortunately tlie prospects for the fruit crop for the coming season 

 are auytliiug but promising. The enormous crop of last year to a certain 

 extent weakened tlie trees, and even under the best weather conditions 

 a heavy yield could not be expected. 



The unfavorable weather throughout the blooming period no doubt is 

 the principal cause of the poor setting. While the mid-sea.son apples 

 were in bloom there were only two fine days in some of the largest apple 

 districts. L'nder these conditions insect activity was at a minimum, and 

 thri-e was but little dissemination of pollen througliout the orchards 

 tlii'ough the influc'iice of winds, so that one could but expect a very light 

 setting of fniit. 



Peaches and pears seem to liave set satisfactorily in most districts^ 

 but all othei- fruits are considerably below normal yields. 



It will be necessary to take preeantions against the pests so as to 

 secure the crop that is now in sight. 



The Black Spot threatens to be liad, as when the time of spraying 

 occurred the weather was so bad that it could not be carried out. Tt 

 will, therefore, be advisable to give a spraying of lime and .^ulplnir at 

 a strength of about 1 in 30 as soon as jxissible to jirevent this extending. 



iSul)j(jined are the reports of the orchard supervisors in their 

 respective districts: — 



Prospects of fruit eroj) for season 191(1-17 in the dislriet which 

 comprises the following places: — Arthur's Creek, Cottle's Bridge, 

 J)iani(>nd Creek. I'oreen, Eltham. Oreensborough, Ilnrstbridge, 

 Kangan»n (iround, Kinglake. Keilor. Tanton 11 ill, (^)neensto\vn. Research, 



i;->oi:». 



