TRANSPLANTING TREES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

TRANSPLANTING TREES.

PREPARING THE SOIL. A few weeks ago attention was drawn to the importance of taking advantage of the dry weather to break up and prepare any lard in which it is intended to plant out fruit or other trees. This should not be left until the time of lifting, or until the soil becomes sodden and cannot be satisfactorily prepared. One of the most important matters in tree transplanting, more especially fruit trees, is to have the soil in the best possible condition for their reception. It is in fact better for intending planters to defer planting for a season than to plant in soil unsuitabls for plant growth. Bad planting is the cause cf so many failures that too much attention cannot be drawn to tho subject. In almost every instance tho result depends upon tho treatment the trees receive in planting and during the first two or three years of their growth. Tho extent of preparation required will naturally depend upon tho naturo and condition of the soil. If tho land has been broken up and cropped very little preparation will be required. But whatever tho nature of the soil thorough drainage is absolutely essential, as stagnant water at (ho roots is fatal to growth. r J he nonfulfilment of certain principles which are necessary in tree planting to obtain good results, is the chief cause of failures and disappointments. In numbers of instances trees are planted with little or no previous preparation beyond digging a hole and with littlo regard to their future well being. To an experienced planter this advice is unnecessary as he knows too well tho advantages of planting in well prepared soil.

ESSENTIALS OF SUCCESS. lor all kinds of fruit trees tlio soil should bo in such condition as would grow other crops successfully, and although tho preparation of the ground may entail n, little extra labour and expense, especially when a fair number of trees are to ba planted, ib is the only method of treatment to ensure success. Tho work should be taken in hand during the summer, so as to allow the soil to thoroughly sweeten and to permit of it being well worked. It is better still if it has been manured and a crop taken off the ground before planting. If for any reason tho whole of tho ground cannot lie prepared tho best best plan is to break up strips about 6ft. wide, where the rows of trees are to bo planted. This could be thoroughly worked and marie ready for planting, while tho remainder could bo worked after tho trees are [ilantcd.

ORCHARD PESTS.

SPRAYING OF TREES. The spraying of fruit trees for the destruc.ion of the various fruit and leaf-eat-ing posts must still have attention. With apples and other late fruits subject to codlin moth, spraying is absolutely necessary to protect the fruit from injury so long as these pests are active. But in addition to fruit-eating pests, other fruit trees are often left unsprayed both before and after the fruit is gathered with the result that tho foliage is often destroyod and the future crops are impaired by leafeating insects. In no ; ase ii> this jnore apparent than with tho leech that infests the foliage of plums, pears, quinces, cherries, white thorn and oilier plants they attack. This insect increases so rapidly if left unmolested that in a very short time practically the whole of the foliage is destroyed and the growth for a tiino checked. As a result, in a short time, such trees break {gain into growth anrl often develop flowers that should, under natural conditions remain dormant until the spring. This second growth rarely ever properly ripens and is ruinous to the trees and the future of the crop. There is no need for the trees to bo allowed to got into this condition as the pest is by no means difficult to kill. By an occasional spraying with the arsenate of lead solution (ho foliage can be kept healthy and free from this pest.

PLUMS IN BEARING.

POLLENATING NECESSARY. To cause Angelina Burclett and Purple King plums to {rait successfully and bring I hem into bearing at an early age, regularly and prolifically pollenating vaneties are essential. Angelina Burdett is one of the best flavoured of the English plums, but lakes many years to crop freely. To rectify this defect Jenkin's Seedling, a splendid new Australian seedling of large size and delicious flavour, planted in close proximity to the Angelina Burdett, will pollenate the flowers and cause them to set freely. The same remark applies to that splendid large and exceedingly handsome local pedigree seedling Japanese plum, Purple King. The cherry or Christmas plum, or any of its seedlings planted near will ensure bountiful crops. This is a fact that should lie generally known, as many planters of Purple King have, been so disappointed with its non-bearing as to contemplate cutting tho trees down or working them over.