WORK IN THE ORCHARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20420, 23 November 1929, Page 6 (Supplement)

WORK IN THE ORCHARD.

THINNING OF THE FRUIT.

Tho' season has again arrived when attention will have to be Riven to the thinning of Ihe fruit crops. Throughout the flowerine period tho weather was all that could be desired lor the setting of tho fruit, and lias resulted in some heavy crops having set. While it is quite true that Nature often does its py"""—

part in relieving the trees of some of its burden, there are, in most instances, some trees thafc set more fruit than tiio trees' can properly mature. In' such cases thinning is economy, for if allowed to be overburdened with fruit the trees not only produce' fruit of inferior quality, but the energies of the trees arc so overtaxed and their growth so checked that little or no fruiting material is provided for the following season's crops.

With (ices growing in exposed situations harsh, fierce winds often do all, or more than the thinning required. Unfortunately, this mode of thinning, however, is bv no means confined to trees carrying only heavy crops but affects light and heavy crops alike. In almost every garden or orchard there arc, in most instances, some varieties of trees that should be relieved of some of their burden in order to obtain better matured and finer flavoured fruit. Inferior fruit, in any case, is no longer in demand, so that whether grown for market or for home consumption the aim of the grower should be only to produce the best. In thinmug, the condition and capabilities of the trees must be considered. Healthy, vigorous growing trees, for instance, can carry and mature more fruit without their energies being unduly taxed than trees that were overburdened with fruit last season or trees that have become stunted in growth. The full flavour of any fruit can only be obtained from well-grown, fully-de-veloped and ripened fruits. Neglect in thinning is, in most instances, confined to amateur growers, while the commercial orchardrsts' aim is to produce fruit of the highest market value. With such fruit, as apples there need be little or no waste, especially if they are useful cooking varieties, as they may be allowed to grow until they obtain a useful size, when they can be thinned and used for culinary purposes. Judicious thinning in this way allows the fruit left on the tree to develop to their full size. Probably the necessity for thinning is in no case more in cvidenco than with the Japanese plums. Many of these set far more fruit than they can possibly mature, avid if allowed to hang upon the trees produce fruit 01 such inferior quality as to be quite useless for cither culinary or table use. This is especially the case With the Burbank, although two or three other varieties often set heavy crops. THE SUMMER CYFIiESS. Kochia trichophvlln—(he summer cypress, or belviderc —is a rapid growing annual, with finely cut tender green foliage, that changes in the autumn to rich russet crimson. It is of a compact graceful habit of growth and admirably adapted lor the centres of beds and here and there in the border to give variety and contrast with the surroundings. A few kochias in every garden are desirable. The tendency has been to over-plant and detract from the beauty of the garden by making it too formal. Kochias are specially adapted for potculture. Potted now and grown on and re-polled when necessary with larger sized pots, splendid specimens may be obtained..