H—29

The average economic orchard unit is in the vicinity of 12 acres; but the size of such unit is dependent mainly on the fertility of the soil in which the trees are established and efficient management and orchard practices. A disturbing feature in the fruit industry is the continued shortage of all varieties of fruit-trees for the replacement of unprofitable and diseased trees in existing orchards and the establishment of new orchards. Until this shortage is overtaken, the quantity of fruit produced is unlikely to be sufficient for domestic and export requirements. Production The quantity of fruit produced during the 1945-46 season was : —- Bushels. Apples .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,898,100 Pears .. .. .. .. .. .. 256,820 Stone-fruit .. .. .. .. .. 557,600 Lemons .. .. .. .. .. .. 97,875 Other citrus .. .. .. .. .. 69,770 Apple-production was higher, but pear-production decreased by 107,000 cases on the previous season. The total 1945-46 production of apples and pears was distributed as follows :

The apple and pear crop estimates for the 1946-47 season are 1,840,000 bushel cases, of apples and 278,000 of pears. The substantial decrease in the apple crop is due to severe frosts in Canterbury and Otago, gales and drought in Hawke's Bay, and generally to a lighter setting of the pip-fruit crop. Stone-fruit. —In Central Otago a severe frost more than halved anticipated production, while the Canterbury crops were adversely affected by frost and hailstorms. The estimated production of stone-fruit for 1946-47 season is : Bushels. Peaches .. .. .. .. .. .. 211,000 Nectarines .. .. .. .. .. .. 15,000 Apricots .. .. .. .. .. .. 70,000 Plums .. .. .. .. .. .. 89,000 Cherries .. .. .. .. .. .. 11,000 A number of new stone-fruit orchards have been established near Alexandra and' Hastings during the past year and pip-fruit trees have replaced stone-fruit trees in some instances. Citrus Fruits. —The estimated citrus production for the 1946-47 season is : Bushels. Lemons .. .. .. .. .. .. 106,385 New Zealand grapefruit .. .. .. .. 69,675 Sweet oranges .. .. .. .. .. 16,280 Citrus orchards at Kerikeri have again been adversely affected by drought, but growers who installed irrigation systems have benefited by their action.

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— Apples. Pears. Total. Exported to Great Britain Distributed to consumers by Internal Markei Sold privately by growers Sold to canning-factories Sold for dehydration, pulping, cider, &c. ing Division .. Bushels. 281,969 2,086,984 270,230 150,317 108,600 Bushels. 18i*971 52,660 21,689 500 Bushels. 281,969 2,268,955 322,890 172,006 109,100 Totals .. 2,898,100 256,820 3,154,920