IN THE ORCHARD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 231, 12 September 1934, Page 5

IN THE ORCHARD

Seasonal Operations HOLD-UP IN SPRAYING There has been a hold-up in spraying operations for several days and as the period is now due for the first fungicide spray it will be necessary to have everything in readiness for a spray application to be made immediately. On account of the very moist conditions prevailing the season may be regarded as one favourable to black spot development and growers would therefore be well advised to take extra precautions to combat this disease. A more general use of Bordeaux Mixture for a foundation spray on apples might be adopted with benefit. This should apply particularly to all those varieties which are normally subject to black spot,- especially Dougherty, Delicious and Ballarat. Lime sulphur would be preferable on Stunners, Dunns, Jonathans and Cox’s Orange. Bordeaux as a foundation spray should be used earlier than “tight cluster” on apples on account of the liability to russetting. The first fungicide spray on pears with the excep tion of Josephines should be Bordeaux under present conditions. Strengths of applications (Ist) should be as follows: —Bordeaux, “green tip” to “tight cluster,” 5.4.50; lime sulphur, “green tip” to “tight cluster,” 1.45 x. The second application, at the “pink” period, should be lime sulphur on all apple varieties —strength 1.90. (x Lime sulphur strengths refer to a lime sulphur with a polysulphide content of 18 per cent.). On pears Bordeaux 3.4.50 should be used after the “tight cluster” period. Tender skinned varieties which take on a disfiguring russet should be sprayed as for apples for the second and subsequent sprays. This applies to Josephines, Winter Cole and Doyenne du Cornice.

Where black spot has been troublesome previously a more intensive spray ing programme might be adopted. Instead of only two fungicide sprays up to the blossoming, three sprays should be arranged for by bringing the second application forward to pre-pink and working in a third lime sulphur 1.150 at full pink. A few of the most advanced buds will be in open bloom. This has the effect of narrowing the intervals between sprays -which is most desirable over the period extending from “tight cluster” to some time alter petal fall.