SEASONAL ORCHARD NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 15, 15 December 1937, Page 30

SEASONAL ORCHARD NOTES.

(By J. \V. Whelan, Orchard Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Palmerston North. ■ Seasonal spraying apples and pears. —On no account should spraying operations be suspended at this time of the year, neither should the period between sprays be unduly delayed. The spray schedule as outlined in last month’s notes for application from mid-December onwards should be adhered to until about 14 days prior to picking. In view of the fact that the •commencemerrt of the holiday season is but a few days away, all growers, commercial and domestic, are advised to arrange their spray schedule so as to make a spray application as close as possible to the 25th instant. This will ensure an adequate protection against black-spot, powdery-mil-dew, and codlin-moth, etc., during the holiday season, even should festivities be- prolonged. Red-mite will probably be., on the increase towards the end of the month, and as the natural dropping of fruit will be over at that time, applications of white summer spraying oil, 1 fluid oz to 4 gallons water, is recommended for its control. _ In mixing White summer oil with water, it is essential that soft water be used. If in doubt add a small quantity of washing soda to the water, then take equal quantities of oil and water and pour the water slowly into the oil, stirring vigorously the while. The result should be a perfect emulsion to which should be added the balance of water, making up to four gallons. Two applications at ten-day intervals should suffice for the control of mites, woolly aphis, young scale, and apple leaf hopper. It is important that the under side of the foliage be as well covered as other parts of the tree. »ummer oil must not be applied until at least 14 days have elapsed preceding or following a sulphur spray, or sulphur in any form. Thinning.—Apart from the removal and destruction of diseased fruit from the trees, thinning should not be carried out until after the natural dropping of fruit is over, usually about mid-December. It is inadvisable to supply summer oil prior to this occurence owing to the fact that such oil apparently intensifies this natural dropping. Thinning is an operation which consists of removing from the trees all fruit which is imperfect, insect infested, diseased over-crowded in clusters, and all surplus fruit which can well be dispensed with and which it is obvious the tree is incapable of nourishing and bringing to a profitable

On the other hand, over-thinning (which may easily result if the work is carried out before the natural dropping is over) must be avoided. It is important when carrying out this work to space the fruits so as to prevent them coming in contact one with the other. By so doing the risk ot injury by pests and diseases, if not eliminated, is very much lessened. The foregoing applies to the thinning of all pip and stone fruits. Grafts.—Where top working of fruit trees has been carried out during the past grafting season, it is a wise precaution to examine the trees and, where good growth has been made, to loose the binding without disturbing the scion or wax. The safest and simplest method is to sever the binding by drawing a sharp knife from top to bottom of same, well away from the scion itself; no other action is ne Stone y fruits.-Stone fruits not ready for harvesting should still receive a - tention by periodical applications of the combination sprny outlined m pr - vious notes published in this P a E er ’ For control of leaf roller caterpillai and pear slug on plums and cherries, apply arsenate of lead joz. (bare), plus hydrated lime Hpz., water 4 gallone. Peaches, nectarines, and apricots will not tolerate arsenates; therefore to control leaf roller caterpillar, etc., on such trees, apply one or two applications of summer oil, loz. to 4 gallons water. ~ «• Budding.— Budding operations may he carried out in the following order: Cherries in December, apricots early January; plums, apples and pears latter half of January; nectarines and peaches latter half of February and early March- This is the only method and opportunity as far as the current season is concerned of reworking trees where grafts have failed, or working young stocks grown for the purpose. Cultivation.—Cultivation should be continued as long as it is possible to do so without injury to the trees or fruit.