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HORTICULTURAL DIVISION 0 REPORT OF W. K. DALLAS, DIRECTOR Climatic Conditions Though, drought conditions were experienced in many parts of the Dominion during the past year, on the whole they were beneficial to the horticultural industry. After a drought up to the end of March, 1947, the rainfall in the Auckland Province was general and heavy, but from October onward drought conditions again prevailed. A succession of three wet winters and three dry summers has had the effect in some areas of depreciating the condition of the fruit-trees, with a consequent increase of physiological troubles. In the Hawke's Bay fruitgrowing district the lack of moisture in the subsoil is having a retarding effect on the normal good growth of the trees, and this season's heavy crops are placing a heavy strain, on the trees. Climatic conditions in the Nelson district were exceptionally favourable to all horticultural crops. The good rains in the winter of 1947 were sufficient to keep the soils moist, with a consequent benefit to the crops and fruit-trees. In Canterbury the season was dry, but was favourable to the production of fruit and vegetables. There were no serious losses because of frost. Though stone-fruit and pip-fruit crops in Central Otago had a setback because of frost, the season as a whole was favourable for the stone-fruit crops. Apple crops in the Ettrick and Dumbarton districts were seriously reduced as the result of late-spring frosts. Area and Number of Orchards For the year under review the number of orchards registered was as follows: Taxable orchards (containing 120 or more trees) .. .. 1,911 Non-taxable orchards (less than 120 trees, but not including domestic orchards) .. .. .. ..1,703 Total .. .. .. .. .. 3,614 This shows a decrease of 1,199 registrations from those of the preceding year. The total acreage devoted to pip, stone, and citrus fruit trees at 31st March, 1948, was 16,300 acres, the areas utilized for commercial production of the principal kinds of fruit being approximately as follows : Acres. Apples .. .. .. .. .. 8,790 Pears .. .. .. .. .. 1,050 Stone-fruit. .. .. .. .. .. 4,710 Lemons .. .. .. .. .. 610 Other citrus .. .. .. .. .. 960 Other tree fruits .. .. .. .. 180 Total .. .. .. .. 16,300 The relative sizes of taxable orchards in the Dominion are : 10 orchards over 50 acres. 55 „ 26-50 acres. 41 „ 21.-25 acres. 116 „ 16-20 acres. 239 „ 11-15 acres. ' i 503 „ 6-10 acres. 947 „ 1-5 acres. 1,911 orchards aggregating about 15,650 acres.

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