ORCHARD PRUNING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 19 June 1936, Page 3

ORCHARD PRUNING

EXPERIMENT IN TASMAN MANY COMMERCIAL ORCHARDISTS PRESENT Last week an interesting function was carried out in the orchard of Mr A. Austin, Tasman, consisting of the establishment of a five year pruning trial on apple and pear trees, to be carried out by. the Horticultural Division of"the Department of Agriculture, under the auspices of the Hills Union Fruitgrowers Association. Forty growers were present. _ Mr A. Forsyth introduced tne subjects to be dealt with by the instructor, and expressed, his hope that growers would take keen interest in the proceedings. He trusted that the results would prove of value to them as commercial orchardists in the management of their properties. The Government Instructor, Mr M. Davey, commenced the afternoon’s operations on pears, continuing with tire introduction of new methods to be tried out on apple trees, and finally, at the request of those present, demonstrated up-to-date methods in pruning the peach and nectarine. For the information of those growers in the district who were unable to be present, it may be stated the objectives of the experiment are to induce more fruitful conditions in Winter Cole pears, regulation of crops, and renovation of debilitated apple trees; also to try out some of the radical changes in pruning questions now being instituted in the North Island as compared with orthodox and wellproved methods generally recommended by the Department. Growers will be invited to inspect the trees at blossom period and again prior to harvesting, when the fruit will be measured and recorded by the Department’s Instructor. At the conclusion of the afternoon’s operations a vote of thanks and appreciation to the instructor and also to Mr Austin, who had kindly placed his orchard at the disposal of the Der partment was proposed by Mr J. W. Hall and carried by acclamation. Mr Hall stated that the Hills Union was to be congratulated on making arrangements with the Department for the pruning experiments to be carried out over a number of years.