The Orchard.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 993, 13 March 1891, Page 21

The Orchard.

HINTS FOR FRUIT-GROWERS-Persons who are making preparations to plant new fruit gardens or to add to their old ones, during the present autumn, should remember that thero aro many old trees which have lost their vigour and bear reduced crops, with poorer quality. In some cases a more satisfactory result may be obtained by restoring the old trees than by planting new ones, giving immediate and larger crops than the young trees, which require years to come into bearing. There are two means by which old trees may be restored, pruning and enriching cultivation. The pruning must be moderate and judiciously applied, taking out all dead limbs if present, and giving mellow cultivation in connection with manuring, either broadcast over the orchard or in broad circles around the trees as far from the trunk as the height of the tree. Heavy top-dressing with manure will accomplish much, even oil grass land without cultivation. Wo have known this treatment, applied to trees which had many dead twigs and branches, and had nearly ceased bearing, to restore them to strong and healthy growth, affording crop 3 of fruit the specimens as large and fine as those growing on young trees. An essential requisite for such success is in undertaking no more than can be accomplished, and not spreading the enriching process over much ground. Apple trees require less frequent renewal than some other fruit-trees, and under tho best management will grow and bear well from twenty-fivo to fifty years, according to climate. Those which stand in the corners of cultivated gardens, where they receive all the requirements for good culture, generally outlive all others.

A modorate amount of pruning, especially of dead limbs, may be performed in autumn, but if the trees receive much cutting it makes them more tender for the time, and tho work should bo left till early spring. It is often desired to increase and extend old orchards which give fruit for family use, and when this is the ease a careful selection of varieties is better than a largo indiscriminate number. A succession, which will afford fruit for the table or for cooking during every day in the year, will be especially valuable. As the earliest fruit continues fora short time only, fewer trees will be required ; autumn varieties keep longer, and larger quantities will bo needed; while long-keeping winter apples, to supply a period of as many months as tho early sorts do for summer, should constitute two-thirds or three-fourths of the whole planting. The eamo care must be given in providing a well-prepared piece of ground for other fruits. With peach trees clean and mellow cultivation is more important than with most other fruits ; while cherries will endure short grass and moderate fertility. Plums generally do better with a rich, cultivated land, and aro stunted in grass in a hard soil and thick crust. A top dressing with manure on soils where tho leaf blight prevails often prolongs the season of growth, and vigour imparted to peach treeß early in the season is the best remedy for the curl of the leaf. As a summary, therefore, or general directions, there are two points to be well borne in mind in planting trees, whether in autumn or in spring, namely, well-prepared, enriched, and w^ell-cultivated laud ; and then only as many trees set out as can receive the best attention, selecting those which will afford as nearly a regular succession as practical. Productive varieties will be more profitable in supplying the family than thin and uncertain bearers ; and it will cost no more to set such as 'are delicious quality than those that are unfit to eat. And the importance of good cultivation must be constantly and at all times remembered, and tho great superiority borne in mind of such fruit as comes from •well-treated trees. A single tree, under the best treatment, may give handsome, juicy, delicious specimens fit to grace the finest

table and gratify the most refined appetite, and be incomparably better than the product of a dozen neglected Irees, with tlieir scabby, distorted, insect-bitten specimens and poor flavour. Plant moderately, therefore, and give the most thorough culture, as the cheapest way to obtain full and satisfactory returns. —Albany Cultivator.