THE HOME ORCHARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20768, 10 January 1931, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE HOME ORCHARD.

WAR AGAINST PESTS. The various pests that attack the fruit and foliago of orchard trees are still so active that growers need scarcely to bo reminded of the necessity for spraying. Even where only a limited number of trees are grown the growers arc expected to use all reasonable measures to* prevent the increase and spread of pests. Where the varieties are confined to apples, pears, quinces or other fruits, subject to the attack of codlin moth, growers soon learn that it is only by regular and systematic spraying that sound fruit can be obtained. With many amateur growers, however, all spraying ceases with the gathering of the fruit irrespective of the varieties of insects to be dealt with.

With apples little harm may result, but with pears, quinces, plums, cherries, and other trees that are attacked by leafeating insects, spraying is even more important than earlier in tho season, as the leech—or what is sometimes termed pear' slug—is more numerous and destructive during the hot dry weather. This pest increases so rapidly if left unmolested, as to quickly destroy the foliage and check all growth. It* is no uncommon thing to see plum trees practically de- ' nuded of foliage at a time when they should be in full -vigour of growth, the result of the attack of this pest. Such a premature check in growth is almost sure to result in the trees making a weak secondary growth in autumn, and they often produce flowers from buds that should otherwise remain dormant until the next fruiting season. Wherever these trees are grown, although there may be a scarcity of fruit, in no case neglect, to spray and keep the foliago in as clean and healthy condition as possible until it falls naturally from the trees with tho return of the sap. It is by means a difficult pest to deal with, as an occasional spraying with ; arsenate of lead, applied so that every portion of the foliage is moistened with the emulsion, will effectually protect the foliage from its attack and prevent the risk of the loss of next season's crop. In addition to the leech there are the brown beetle, leaf rotters and other leafeating pests that prey upon the foliage. Tho trees can be kept comparatively free by the judicious use of the arsenate of lead solution. THINNING OF FRUITS. The thinning out of the fruit crop is a matter that at this timo often needs some attention. There are certain varieties of fruit trees that often set more fruit than the trees can properly mature and if left unthinned not only produco inferior fruit, but the energies of tho trees bcoome overtaxed and the growth so checked that little or no fruiting material is provided for the next season's crop. Probably in few instances is the necessity for thinning more in evidence than with somo of tho varieties of Japanese plums. With the Burbank, especially, the fruit usually sets so freely and become so densely packed together that unless well thinned it is almost impossible for tho fruit to attain their full size, or to produce anything like the flavour of well-developed fruit. Unfortunately, this season tho uncongenial weather experienced at the timo tho fruit was setting has done much of tho thinning needed. HOW TO OBTAIN GOOD FRUIT. In private gardens the object in almost every case is to obtain tlie finest and best-flavoured fruit, so that in thinning tho trees should only bo allowed to carry what thev can fully mature and ripen. In this tlio condition of the trees must bo considered. Healthy, vigorous-grow-ing varieties can naturally carry and mature moro fruit without their energies being overtaxed than frees that were overburdened with fruit, last season and so have become stunted in consequence. Thinning, however,' should by no means be confined to plums, but to any trees that have set more fruit, than they aro capable of' perfecting. Willi apples, especially of culinary or good cooking varieties, there need bo 110 waste, as there is always a demand for these as now, as they ue largo enough for cooking. Nearly all imported apples are dessert varieties, and aro of little Value for kitchen uso, so that if but little moro than half grown goodcooking varieties aro always in demand. Relieving the trees of somo of their burden will also allow tho fruit left to more fully mature. GYPSOPHILAS. FREE FLOWERING PLANTS. Gypsophilas are exceedingly hardy, freeflowering plants. The small white and pink flowers, produced in diffuse panicles, and the very graceful, fairy-like growth of the plants, renders them most attractive and useful for cutting for bouquets, vases, and for mixing with somo other flowers, notably, sweet peas. Tho variety elegans is an annual. Tho perennial paniculator is a graceful border plant, smothered at its flowering season, with dainty white flowers, that, are most valuable for cutting. There is a double-flowered form that produces small, snow-white, double flowers. Healthy strong seedlings of the paniculata, planted now, soon grow into flowering plants. Being perennials they are permanent. The annual varieties rcquiro to be sown during tho early spring. The cultivation of these hardy, graceful flowering plants is much neglected.