1920.] Fruit Crop Prospects on ist July. 



Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, Norway, 

 the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. 



Certain exceptions are made in the case of hay and straw in which 

 imported merchandise is packed ; manufactured straw not intended for 

 use as fodder or litter for animals ; and hay and straw authorised to be 

 landed by special licence of the Ministry for use otherwise than as 

 fodder or litter for animals. 



Appointment of Controller of Horticulture. — The Minister of Agri- 

 culture, Lord Lee of Fareham, has appointed Mr. W. J. Lobjoit, O.B.E., 

 F.R.H.S., to be Controller of Horticulture (unpaid) at the Headquarters 

 of the Ministry. 



Mr. Lobjoit is President-Elect of the Chamber of Horticulture, 

 Chairman of the Agricultural Committee, the Small Holdings Com- 

 mittee, and the Agricultural Education Committee of the Middlesex 

 County Council, of which he is also an Alderman ; Chairman of the Mar- 

 ket Gardening, Fruit-growing and Hop Committee of the Central 

 Chamber of Agriculture ; Examiner to the Royal Horticultural Society ; 

 and Member of the Horticultural Advisory Committee of the Ministry 

 of Agriculture. Mr. Lobjoit is also a well-known writer on horticultural 

 subjects, and has a lifelong practical experience of market gardening 

 on a large scale. 



Fruit Crop Prospects on 1 st July. — It was stated in a notice issued by 

 the Ministry on 3rd July that, so far as can be seen, the prospects 

 relating to bush fruit appear to be generally good. Certainly goose- 

 berries have yielded remarkably well, and raspberries are carrying heavy 

 crops. The strawberry crop, owing to early drought, is much lighter 

 than was anticipated at the beginning and will yield only fairly. The 

 black currant crop is very much on the light side. The top fruit crops 

 are very uneven throughout the country. While one orchard appears 

 to be giving fair crops the next one is almost a total failure. Of plums. 

 Monarch appears to have done well, giving in some cases heavy yields ; 

 Pershores are but a fair crop, and in Evesham growers expect to get 

 about frds crop ; cherries are decidedly thin and it is doubtful if many 

 growers will clear expenses. Apples generally are scarce, though some 

 of the early cooking varieties are bearing a medium crop this season, 

 and even isolated patches of Worcesters are to be found. In the Norfolk 

 fruit area, which is but a small though an increasing fruit district, 

 the apple crop is good. Nuts, of which the Kentish Cob is probably 

 the most famous, have not been abundantly produced this year, and 

 something less than half a crop is anticipated. 



The statistics received by the Ministry relating to plums appear 

 to show that Victorias are producing only about 10 per cent., Pershores 

 80 per cent., Tzars 15 per cent.. Damsons 33 per cent, of the crop 

 produced in 191 9, while Monarch is giving about 15 per cent, more than 

 in 1919. 



Alteration in the Date of Publication of this Journal. — Commencing 



with the September issue, this Journal wiW be published on the 1st of 

 the month, instead of on the 15th, as heretofore. Tlie August issue 

 will be issued about the 7th August. 



