THE FRUIT SECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20598, 24 June 1930, Page 15

THE FRUIT SECTION.

Nt F.s.n.

PLANTING NEW TREES.

Orders tli.it were placed for fruit trees sonic timo ago should bo delivered at any time now, and 0110 should, therefore, have everything in readiness for tho planting to ho carried out immediately they arrive. If tho treea tiavo to como some distance and arc two or threo days 011 tho way, tho bundle should bo opened I up ou its arrival to see whether tho roots I have dried out. If this has happened | the trees should bo placed in a bucket of water for an hour or so, after which they should bo planted. The mounds should be forked over thoroughly before tho trees ure planted. They j should also receive this treatment now j and again until tho trees arrive, to keep Iho ground in the best possiblo condition. Before they are put in their places the trees should bo root-pruned. This is a most important matter and should never be neglected, as tho stability of the tree in after years (hay depend on it. An evenly-distributed root, system is just as important as a well-balanced top. If the root, system is one-sided it, will be best to remove some of the roots where they aru closest. The remainder will be spaced more evenly and will bo stimulated to make up the leeway when spring arrives Removing Damaged Roots. Any damaged roots should ho removed or pruned so that the injured portions are taken out. Tho roots will develop more rapidly if the wounds are clean than if they are jagged, this being so because they will heal up sooner. A damaged portion will probably decay somewhat beto;e it heals, and this would naturally make the further extension of the root slower in commencing. When pruning an injured root one should shorten it back to .1 side, root so that tho latter will continue as the main root. In nearly all cases iho trees are lifted at tho nurseries with a spade and as this is vot. the sharpest of tools, it is more than likely that tho roots are not severed cleanly. One should, therefore, prune off tho tip of each root. To enable, tho plants to be. placed ill their respective positions with tho greatest ease some of the soil should bo taken from the top of each mound. A circular hole about 30in. across and 9in. deep ■ should bo excavated. The soil in the bottom of the hole should be scraped up to form a little mound ou which tin tree is rested, the roots being spre.id evenly down tho sides. The mound in the bottom of tho hole should not bo very pronounced as it is desired to encourage tho roots to develop in a radial manner rather than to penetrate into tho subsoil too much. Spacing the Roots. j The icots should be spaced evenly so I that they will be able to hold the tree. I securely in position. If they are all the I same distance apart the roots will bo able j to send their lateral roots over the greatest area with the lenst overlapping, jhe soil should be tilled in gradually so that it can be placed carefully around the roots themseles. The. extent to which it may be firmed will depend on the state of the soil at the time. If it is fairly dry tho soil may be trampled a little but if it is very moist one should not attempt to firm it much at all. As far as that goes, 0110 should not carry out the planting in any ease if tho soil is rather moister than cue would like. If the soii is not in a suitable condition when the trees arrive they should bo heeled in for the time-being until tho conditions improve. it will be necessary to provide some means of support until the trees have established themselves, and a Hake will be found the best way to do this. Tho stake should be driven in on a slant so that it does riot, go into the ground within tho circle in which tho roots are. It should bo wrapped around with some sacking and the trunk of tho tree should be secured to it by means of tape or raflia. The support may be required for a period of 12 months and so a permanent tie such as the tape is justified. The raffia or flax, if this be used, will have to be re newed every now and then as it will rot. If one is in doubt when planting as to how deep the tree should bo put one should observe the trunk closely. The depth to which tho base of the trunk was buried before will bo visible through tho bark abovn the ground being a different colour from that which has been submerged. Tho tree should be buried up to this mark again, and, although tho soil that is left loose on the surface will compact a little tho tree will draw down into tho soil slightly also and this will compensate for tho former. Pruning After Planting. After tho trees have been planted it wiii bo necessary to prune them as this is not done in the nurseries as a rule on account of the increased risk of damage to tho trees during transit if (hey are pruned. In the case of now trees this pruning is of the greatest importances as it will affect the shape of the troo permanently. | In order to produce the sturdiest frame- [ work it is necessary to pruno fairly I severely for tho tir.st two or threo years after planting. On the average the 1 leaders should be cut back to within 'Jin. of their point of origin the first timo and should have a slightly greater length ' left the next year. Tho length of leader retained may vary somewhat, though, according to circumstances, at tho first year't; pruning and may bo 6in. to 15in. long. One of tho chief things to remember is that a tree with an open centre ifi at ail times most desirable. When shortening any of the leaders pwni.uy consideration must be given to this, and every shoot must be pruned bad. to an outside bud. This will cause the next extension to grow out from the centre of the tree .in every case. Even if one has to leavo a littlo more of the shoot or to curtail it a littlo more than was originally intended, one should stick to tho practice of pruning to the outside bud at all costs. After the tree has been pruned it will be less liable to bo blown about and loosened in its position. Pruning before planting is not as .good 11s performing tho operation afterwards, as one can get a better idea of where to make tho curtailments when the tree is stationed in the ground. Question of Manure. Tho question of manure needs to bo considered at tho time of planting as one has to decide whether to make any application then or whether to leave it until tho trees have awakened into active growth. There is something to bo said in favour of both schemes and it will rest with the orohardist's fancy which one is followed. When the manure is applied before iho trees are put ill, 0110 hns a better opportunity of mixing it into tho soil evonly and this should bo considered. On (he other hand tho food will not 1)0 required for perhaps three months and during the intervening spaco of time some of it may be washed out of the ground. This difficulty may bo overcome by using fertilisers that are not immediately avail able, but which will have become available by the timo the trees require them. The quantity and kind ni manure will depend 011 tho condition of the soil. If tho ground is known to bo in good heart, tho nitrogenous manure may be omitted from tho mixture, but if the soil is rathor poor some food of this nature should be provided.