THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18709, 15 May 1924, Page 12

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

EXTENSION OF ORCHARDS. 'HOW TO PLANT TREES.

PREPARATION OF ' SOIL. . , ' : yy.y-y BY h, MCEWIK. 1 ■ The- planting season for fruit trees commences this month, so a few practical instructions lon this work ; should be acceptable. In digging the holes ~; in ; which the trees are to be ■ planted the average width should be from twenty-four to thirty inches, and the depth will average nine or ten inches if the trees are to be put in the same depth at which they were planted in the.nurseries. , There should be several inches of pulverised soil in the bottom, and the centre should be slightly raised, so that when the tree is set 'in, there will be a slight downward trend of : the root ends. The planter should trim the roots by making a fresh clean cut of all ends that have been severed by the spade when lifting the trees, and then hold the tree upright in the position where it is to be. The filler or fillers-in should then first shake in a few inches of fine mould, the roots first having been set in the directions required to, give ' the tree an allround hold. Should two large roots lie closely together they should be spread apart as far as' ; possible before the earth is shaken in on them. After filling the. hole something more than halffull the soil should be tramped firmly around, taking care to leave the stem of the. tree upright. If artificial manure ii being used it should be spread on the heaped soil that is thrown out of the holes and ' not placed in direct contact with the roots as would be the case were it sown in the hole. Unless the orchard be planted in a very sheltered position it is very wise to provide a stake to each tree for the first three years from; planting. Much time will be lost by young trees if they arc blown about during the growing season to such extent as to work on the roots, and it will be seen later that many trees will develop a lean from the side on which the prevailing winds blow. . : Team of Three Persons.

~: A full planting team consists of three persons, and with this number there should be no waiting for the other man. If the soil of the paddock that is being planted is loose and free, shovels will be better for filling-in than spades, but should it be new- ground full of S. grass and scrub roots spadesi"; will be the better. After the tramping process the fillersi complete the filling up around the tree and slightly pile it against the stem leaving a loose surface. If stable manure be used it is best worked in slightly on the surface around the trees after the planting is done, when it will act as a ; muicn during '■-, the summer and keep the soil friable and moist. -

', If a tree be found, when planting, with a ' badly ' damaged root system it should be thrown S out. In an orchard one of the most pleasing features is uniformity, and if: poor or weak trees are put in it will go to ; make this less certain. *.: Some planters in order to save time make" a practice of pruning their tree* while handling them before planting, but this is not to be .recommended, as one cannot judge the -n shape v ;and,, balance nearly • as'well ' as ') when the tree >is standing upright-in.; its position in the orchard. There ;is also the risk that in the handling during planting the top buds /-may be rubbed off , and thus frustrate; the pruning that has been done. An orchard ; tree 1 ! is ] only planted once, . and lif it be' badly ' or; carelessly \ done, it is':;': a matter?-that?- cannot be remedied thereafter, and will : affect the whole, lifetime and value ofi the tree. ! ; Not 'speed, - but careful planting should be the object kept in view during this operation. . :

Hints lor Wet Winters. l • Should the winter prove an extra wet one it. is better ;to leave the planting till close- up to the ;>spring;" time when .the ground will be in a better condition, and the trees -will then have less time to >wait for; the ■ growing and 1 healing process uikt - takes place at;-.the cut ends of the roots. The ; first year after planting is the most critical, time for the young orchard tree, and this is ehiefly owing to the fact that so J many ; large roots have/been severed [ in : , the lifting process* Should the tree ] then be planted -.:• in a wet bit of ground arid left" say for ; six or eight: weeks ' befoi'e the growing season then' there is', great risk of the water soaking;, up be-i tween the• bark and wood and "deca-;-set- i .ting in, which, |if it : does not kill the ! tree will cause the' main roots affected to' die back thus compelling the tree to put : out a new root system which will take it', a couple of years* struggling; meanwhile, it will scarcely make -any*' top growth, and '.will probably be stunted : for life. As to whether a ; tree should be pruned ; immediately.'"; it is planted in _ its orchard position, or left for some time thereafter, many j old' ;v horticulturist are of ■ the> opinion ■ that it should ' not be cot for,. several .weeks,; following planting as they contend -that > the lifting -with its consequent root' severing is* a big ■ shock, and. should : not ;be closely;followed by , another.';-;':■:.', - .... .u-;.YtY^';,3; _• y.:' ; :■> :'.-•- The test in appearance of' a tree or plant that has been well and' truly planted j is, that it should look just as if it had grown there?" '^-■'.-:.'.'. :■■ '■~-. "■-'■■.'.^ : .\'■•'■': '■"■■\ | - : 'Newly '■ planted trees should be well cue i back 1 leaving only a 'few inches of wood; of the young growth. Failure'to do this, will generally result in a poor, growth for* the first year. Three to four limbs and not more- should- be left. Whether the tree 'ist to be r low 'headed or high, is a matter that will have been settled largely in the nursery when the head was formed, but the following three years pruning in 'the ; ? orchard will also \ have a considerabe { effect as -to whether-the; tree will".'-.e leggy or : ; sturdy - and branchy in ; appearance. j