THE ORCHARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19720, 20 August 1927, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE ORCHARD.

SPRAYING AND MANURING. A favourable change in tho weather will be hailed with pleasure by all engaged in orchard work. Hitherto spraying has been of little value, though many of tho varieties of stone fruits are rapidly developing their flower buds. Pruning, too, has been considerably delayed by incessant and heavy rain. With pip fruits there is still time enough for the performance of these operations, but in regard to stone fruits this is just tho timo when spraying is most effective. No op-

portunity should be lost in giving the trees a thorough dressing with Bordeaux mixture or other approved fungicide. In addition to pruning and spraying the manuring, cleaning, and breaking up of the soil requires attention. All orchard trees, especially when in a fruit-bearing condition, are benefited by manurial assistance when the treas are about to start into growth. Any stimulating manure applied at this time assists to strengthen and develop the flowers so that more perfect fertilisation can take place. Numbers of trees which flower freely each season yet fail to set fruit could, without doubt, bo made moro productive if this system of cultivation and manuring was adopted. In some instances, it is truo, certain varieties may not freoly selffertilise. This however, is usually due to the fact that they aro isolated from other varieties. Some judgment, of courso, must be exercised in applying manure. Young, vigorous-growing trees, for instance, do not require strong stimulants as they have sufficient strength to develop their flowers without further assistance. With fruit trees that carry regular crops thorough cultivation and manuring are the prime agents in keeping tho trees healthy and fruitful. After a long, rainy season, no matter what the nature of tho soil, the surface naturally becomes beaten and cakod and requires to be well broken up. Simply digging small holes around tho stem is of little assistance as tho roots have spread far beyond the space cultivated, and manure, to bo effective, requires to bo distributed so as to provide food for the moro scattered roots. In every instance fruit-bearing trees thrive better when tho whole of tho ground is kept in a good state of cultivation. In the cultivation of the soil around bush fruits, such as gooseberries, currants, loganberries, and similar plants, care is necessary not to disturb the ground too deeply. These are naturally surface-root-ing plants, and deep digging or hoeing is liable to check growth and impair their cropping capabilities. Light hoeing, sufficient to removo tho weeds, id mulching, is tho most successful method of treatment for these plants. The mulch need not be applied until early next month, as tho main object is to retain the necessary moisturo when the plants are in flower or until tho fruit is set. Good stable manure, if obtainable, is best for this purpose, as it not only provides ; necessary mulch, but stimulates root growth. The transplanting of fruit and other trees should be proceeded with as weather permits. In no case, however, should the planting be done while tho soil is in a sodden condition. Trees that were planted early in the season will need to be carefully * looked over as, in many instances, pur' led holes will have been formed around the necks of the plants by the swaying of the trees. These should be at once strengthened up and the holes filled. Willi evergreen trees, especially if the situation is at all exposed, it is always advisable to securely stake as soon as I the planting is completed,]

Tho grafting of fruit trees may now bo proceeded with, but a- - pies and pears can bo safely left until well into next month.

Trees that budded during tho summer will soon need to be cut back according to the varieties worked. Stono fruits can be cut back to immediately abovo tho bud at onco, but pip fruits can bo left for a few weeks.