726 Journal of Agriculture. Victoria. [10 Dec, 1917. 



Goulbum Valley District — G. M. Fletclier, Orchard Supervisor — 



Sheppaeton. 



Peaches. — Early desert — Briggs', Hale's — light. High's Early show best 

 promise, but they are only medium. Elberta's, very poor. Mid-season varieties, 

 light. Pullar's, poor. Other clings, poor. 



Pears. — Williams', light to fair. 



Nectarines. — Fair. 



Apricots. — Light to very poor. Oullin's show best crop. 



Grapes.- — ^Medium to very poor. 



Aedmona. 



Desert Peaches. — All poor, except High's and Late Red, which are fair to good. 

 Elberta's, poor to medium. Mid-season, light. Pullar's and other clings, light to 

 very poor. 



Nectarines. — Medium to light. 



Plums and Prunes. — Medium. 



Cherries (small area). — Fair. " 



Pears. — Present showing, fair to good, but dropping badly yet, and affected 

 ■with Black Spot. 



Apples. — Fair, but affected with Black Spot. 



Apricots. — ^Young trees fair, but old trees very poor to poor. Fruit still 

 dropping, and trees suffered badly from excessive wet weather. 



Plums and Prunes. — Medium. 



Vines. — Poor. Black Spot prevalent. 



Tatura, Merbigum, Ktabeam. 



Prospects similar to Ardniona. Citrus blossom all through the district is 

 particularly good. 



Summary. — On the whole, the crop will be below average. Individual orchards 

 having good natural drainage show good crops ; but those on heavy ground, or 

 subject to lodgment of water, suffered badly. Ardniona growers consider this the 

 worst season of their experience. Black Spot and Leaf Curl have contributed 

 very largely to the lightness of the crop in tliose varieties subject to those diseases. 

 As both apricots and pears are still dropping badly, it is difficult to determine an 

 estimate. Shapparton settlements suffered very badly through loss of trees — 

 peaches and apricots. The heaviest losses have been in Pullar's cling. Where 

 spraying was possible, the crop shows a marked improvement over the unsprayed 

 trees. Many acres were unsprayed for fungus, as it was not possible to put a 

 pump on the ground all winter. 



South-Eastem District — E. Meeking, Orchard Supervisor — 



Apples. — With the exception of Yates', in which the setting is patchy, all 

 varieties give promise of an abundant yield. 



Pears. — All varieties are very light. 



Apricots. — Generally light. In a few places, medium. 



Cherries. — Confined principally to the Red Hill district, where all varieties 

 except St. Margaret are medium to heavy. Tlic latter variety is light. 



Plums. — Ordinary varieties, generally light. A few Japanese, medium to 

 Jieavy. 



Strawherries. — Throughout the Red Hill district there is a full average crop. 



Horsham, Dimboola, Daylesford, Dunolly, Stawell, &e., Districts- 

 Wm. Pitt Chalmers, Orchard Supervisor — 



Horsham and DiMnooLA. 

 Apples. — Heavy.. 

 Pears. — Light. 

 Peaches.- — Very light. 

 Apricots. — Light to medium. 

 Plums. — Good. 

 Quinces. — Light. 

 A Imonds. — Good. 

 Figs. — Fair. 



