THE FRUIT SECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19486, 16 November 1926, Page 20

THE FRUIT SECTION.

CURRENT ORCHARD WORK. The time for thinning out fruit crops has arrived. It is sometimes necessary to thin the crop on account of it being too heavy for the branches to carry. This occurs more often on plum trees than on other truit trees. Thinning is practised also for the purpose of increasing the size of the fruit. It is far better to have fewer fruit of larger size than allow too many fruits to remain on the tree, with the result that none of them is able to develop to a decent size. The thinning should take place before the fruit gets too large or else there will he a needless waste of sap which would be Utilised _ to better purpose in developing the fruits that are retained. Spraying operations should not be neglected at this season. Indeed the operations are numerous about this time. Apply the second spraying of arsenate of lead to apples and pears about four weeks after petal-fall for controlling the codlin moth. Spray apple and pear trees for black spot also using Bordeaux 4-4-40. Any trees that are infested with mussel-scale should be sprayed now, using kerosene emulsion. Peach and nectarine trees that show signs of shot-hole fungus should be sprayed immediately with lime sulphur 1 in 100. Pear trees infested with the pear and cherry slug will reouire a spraying of arsenate of lead. Should woolly aphis make its appearance in the orchard it is controlled most effectively by dabbing it with kerosene. Carry cut the pinching and cincturing operations on grape vines at the correct times. The vines would benefit from a spraying of lime sulphur 1 in 80 or Bordeaux 4-4-40 made when the leaves are well developed. Look over the vine also for any possible sigis of borer and apply* the remedy by injecting benzine.