THE ORCHARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLVIII, 18 December 1914, Page 2

THE ORCHARD

(By \V. A. Boucher, in "Jumna] of Agriculture. ' ')

Tra iact that V#-* -weeds will b© making their appearance in orchards where the exceptionally dry conditions have been experienced will no doubt induce many glowers to neglect cultivation-work. 'J.'hey will have failed i<> realize, that repeated cultivation is not valuable for weed-sup-pression- alone, but is of great assistance m maintaining that loose surface mulch which is so effective in retaining moisture, and therefore is a. process of the greatest importance in exceptionally dry weather; Many small orchardists at the present time are allowing the grass to grow between their trees, with the object of convex-ting this into hay. Using tire orchard for this dual-purpose objective will, of course, mean that the hay will be produced at the expense of the> fruit, Not only will the production of gfass 10b the trees' of much of their nourishment, but with grass being grown for hay the owner will probably neglect spraying-work in order that the grass will not be trampled upon or be affected by the spraying-mixture, Again, grass affords an excellent harbour for insect pests. In these days of critical markets it only pays to grow and sell absolutely good fruit, and unless the grower is prepared to conduct his business on tlic_mbst up to-date lines it Were better for him io utilize his land for some other purpose.

iSummer pruning, which is so valuable for converting useless stiblaterals into useful fruit-spurs, should npt be attempted before the mid-summer has gone, for to cut away a sublateral at an earlier period means that further growth will be encouraged and the object be defeated. The general rule is to cut back the sublaterals not required for main leaders to about six buds, and in the following winter to cut back again to two or three buds. A result of summer pruning, amply demonstrated by experience, is that by this diversion of the activity of the tree from limb-formation a corresponding energy of the tree is transferred to fruitdevelopment. It .nlnst be emphasized that no main leader should be touched in the summer.. Tho principle of summer pruning is one of tho most debated topics in fruitgrowing. Yet the fact remains that some of the most successful grovrers have proved it to be the best method of building up a really profitable tree. It develops the fruit-spurs "on those parts of the tree where tho fruit should be carried —at the lower portions of the limbs. Fruit-spurs encouraged from, the base of the limbs 'upwards means greater carrying capacity. In other words, summer pruning- means the production of fruit in the right place on the tree, therefore making for. a stronger tree of heavier yielding-capacity. Of course, it will bo understood thai summer pruning is.generally advisable only in the case of apples and pears, and then only with varieties of these wbich carry, their fruit on spurs.

DISEASES. If spraying with kerosene emulsion for . mussel scale were neglected in November and December ■, it is not too late to spray now in ordei-to-kill the young scale which will be on.the fruit. Some growers have used to advantage red : oil emulsion in the proportion of 1 to 60. ! One of the most serious and most common pests is woolly aphis. Where the winter treatment has not been altogether effective and the aphis is reappearing the only method of effectually checking its further spread is to paint the isolated colonies with red-oil emulsion undiluted. Codlin-moth must hot be neglected. Tri January and February two heavy flights of the pest may be expected, therefore spraying with arsenate of lead should be continued in January. Rightly speaking, the work of spraying should have commenced just after the. had fallen,' and should be repeated at fortnightly.in-; tervals, weather permitting, till the end of February. > Arsenate of lead is useful for all chew-ing-insects. Therefore, while spraying, for jodlin-moth, leech, bronze beetle, and leaf-rolling! caterpillar will aso be fou^at MIXING-ARSENATE OF LEAD. Quite a number- of inquiries have been received in regard to failure to. mix this spray effectively. The trouble has been that the work; of mixing has been .gone about in the- wrong, way. :JThe arsenate Should ..be-.plaoed:-.in-:>the?bottom--of:-the-: vessel, being'. added, .gradnally iii small qUahfcities'c .-'Jt - is: useless;- to; at- :■ tempt to make arsenate dissolve will adding thfe-whole of tile water at the'onetime. '-- _;■'."■•"••'■•-.'-•-'.'■ '• '7-"';-''.;''-' ■"•■■•■'•■. .'■• 'A mistake mSade-in preparing- •■Bordeaux-.-: mixture -is' ; to 'be in.-' too ."great' ti liurrjr in'adding the water to the lime. The inie ' should be slaked as gradually as possible. .'■'■•...