Among The FRUIT TREES

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29245, 1 July 1960, Page 6

Among The FRUIT TREES

Pruning, planting and spraying will keep the home orchardist busy from now on, as the success or failure of next season's fruit crop will depend upon how thoroughly these jobs have been done.

For spraying, it should be sufficient at this stage to give a reminder on the formulas of red oil at one part in 20 for apple, pear, quince, logan, gooseberry and purrant; and lime sulphur for all stone fruit trees, apples, pears and walnuts. The reason for the distinction is that while almost all fruit trees are subject to fungus blights which call for treatment with lime sulphur or bordeaux spray, stone fruits escape the insect attacks to which the others are subject, and therefore do not need the oil spray. Sites for planting new trees should be carefully prepared. Brick or mortar rubble is an excellent drainage foundation, and manure or compost can liberally be dug in. It pays to do the job well. Pruning is an annual routine job. It is important with gooseberry and currant bushes to prevent them getting overcrowded with growths. Keep all branches pointing upwards and outwards, and crop picking will be easier. Plant strawberry plants a foot apart with two feet between rows. Three rows to a bed are sufficient for easy future cultivation. Raspberries are best planted four roots together in clumps at intervals of three feet.