ORCHARD NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, 9 August 1926, Page 5

ORCHARD NOTES.

The following notes on work for the present season are from the current issue of the " Journal of Agriculture " : Finish of Pruning. Pruning should now be pushed on with all possible despatch. Such a reminder is necessary, judging by the fact that it is not unusual to see pruning being done after trees have commenced to shoot. When this takes place it is a sure sign that the sap has commenced to circulate and nature is functioning throughout the tree; therefore, any part of the tree removed after this time necessarily removes some of the sap-flow, and the tree receives a check which is detri mental to its growth. If it is not possible to finish all pruning before growth commences, endeavour should be made to get the trees of less vigorous growth and those that move the earliest completed first. Wet-day Jobs. There are manyidays during the winter when it is not possible to prune, but there is usually no dearth of jobs requiring attention during the slacker part of the year. In view of the approach of the spraying season the spray-pump and engine should be taken down and tho- , roughly overhauled and cleaned. It is unwise to trust to luck that it will be all right for another -season. The fruitgrader requires cleaning up also, and bearings and belts adjusted. Orchard picking-boxes need repairing and renailing, and the orchard implements cleaning and oiling. There is nothing more irritating, after deciding to get on with certain work, than to find that a day or so must be lost to get the necessary repairs effected. Spraying of Stone-Fruit Trees.

The necessity of spraying stone-fruit trees with an insecticide must be determined by the condition of the trees. The common pests to be looked for are San Jose scale and red mite. Green aphis may have been 1 prevalent during the preceding season, in which case spraying will be a preventive measure against attack in the coming season, as the eggs will be secreted round and under the bud scales. Red-oil emulsions, at a strength of 1-15, can be used before bud movement on stone-fruit trees, choosing bright sunny days for the work, as the oily mixture will then penetrate better into the cracks and bud scales and likewise smother the insect eggs better. One cannot expect eggs or insects to be destroyed if the spray does not reach them. In bad infestations of San Jose scale it is better to remove all limbs and twigs than trust to the insecticide, as it is almost impossible for even oil sprays to penetrate through the overlapping scales in excessively bad infections. Lime-sulphur may be used at 1-10 in lieu of oil. Some growers prefer to use this, depending on it to act both as an insecticide and fungicide. I favour the oil sprays, followed by bordeaux later, if these pests are to ba successfully contended with. Control of Fungoid Diseases.

As soon as the bud 3 have a tendency to swell, bordeaux should be applied at 8-6-40. If delayed longer the spores of leaf-curl fungus and shothole become active, and the disease will then not be so easily controlled. This mixture will also control the fungus causing bladderplum and peach and plum rusts, and will also be of assistance against brown-rot infection. As an aid to the control of the latter all primings should be picked up and destroyed, as well as mummified fruits that may still remain ungath2i*ed. Bordeaux, at 3-4-40, can be applied again at the first sign of pink if the trees are liable to bad attack. Ploughing and Manuring.

After a fine spell ploughing should be proceeded with where green crops are ready to be turned in. If it is proposed to use phosphatic manures such as basic slag, basic super, bonedust, or a dressing of lime, these can be spread prior to the ploughing. If put in at this time greater benefit to the trees will accrue than if left till latar on, especially if the weather sets in dry. Effort should be made to dig round the trees prior to spring-time in order to bury all leaves and rubbish, remembering that blaik-apot infection largely comes from the fallen leaves.

Be\torking op Undesirable Varieties.

It will now be obvious to growers that some of the older and more inferior varieties, especially the mid-season sorts, have had their day and will nc longer stand transportation charges, etc., and leave a profit. It is difficult, however, to know what to substitute. It would appear to be unwise to work on any more Delieious ; there are thousands of trees of this variety yet to come into full bearing, For export purposes Statesman promises well, being a free grower, good cropper, and producing a percentage of fancygrade fruit. Golden Delicious is being talked of a good deal, but from recent information gathered from a vis.itqr from America this apple is very variable, according to the locality where grown, and very tender to handle. Thorough trials in each district would appear advisable before heavy reworkings are undertaken.