WORK IN THE ORCHARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20472, 25 January 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

WORK IN THE ORCHARD.

NECESSITY FOR SPRAYING. The spraying of orchard trees, should fine weather prevail, will need to bo more zealously performed. Up to the present the spraying in numbers of instances has not produced the results desired, the frequent and heavy rains soon weakening, if not destroying, the strength of the material. To grow and mature sound fruit, or even protect the trees from injury spraying during the growing and fruiting season is absolutely eeseptial.

Growers of apples, pears and other fruits subject to the attacks of codlin moth know that it is only by regular and persistent spraying that sound fruit can be obtained. In far too many instances, however, all spraying ceases with the gathering of the fruits, irrespectively of the varieties and the insects to be combatted, With apples, little harm may result, but with pears, quinces, plums and other trees affected by leaf-cating pesta, spraying is even mora important than earlior in the season, as the leech, at any rate, is more numerous and destructive at this time.

In too many cases these pests are allowed to multiply and feed and defoliate the trees at the time when they should be furnished with healthy foliage. If trees are allowed to get into such condition all growth is practically checked until the autumn, when weak, secondary growth is made at the time when healthy, wellripened trees should be practically dormant.

Though thore are several varieties of leaf-aating pests, thore are none so destructive to tho foliage of plums, pears, quincos and cherries os the leech. Spraying for these, however, is equally effectivo in destroying other pests, such as beetles, leaf rollers and others. There is no excuse for allowing tho foliage to become so mutilated as to check growth, as by an occasional spraying with arsenate of lead solution the pests are easily kept under control. Tho spraying must, in a measure, be regulated by tho weather. In showery weather the material is naturally less effective, and requires to be applied more frequently, but in fine weather the material adheres to the foliage, and is effectivo in destroying the pests over a much longer period.