The Orchard.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1013, 31 July 1891, Page 25

The Orchard.

APPLE CULTUREBy Henry li. Illman. (written for the n.z. MAIL ) I am sorry to see that the miotake made, very generally, many years ago throughout the principle apple-grow-ing districts of Great Britain is in great danger of being repeated in 1 this colony. In fact, during the past three years very many cases have come under my notice, that I am sure it is being perpetrated to quite an alarming extent here, not that this mistake is made wilfully, but more frequently through an insufficient knowledge of the requirements of the trade the majority of these planters are anxious to share iD. What I refer to is the fatal mistake of planting fax too many varieties, and many of them of no real value either for dessert, or culinary use. Hundreds of orchards are to be found in England in which are very fine trees. But unfertunntely no quantity of any of the most useful and marketable sorts. The consequence is that tho great fruit dealers will not buy, or if they do, only at a price such as is given for cider fruit, and that average from tenpence to two shillings per bushel, each bushel containing ten gallons,

Now seeing the result of the mistake made at Home, why should intending plauters repeat it here ? There are very few persons but will admit that it is no more trouble to grow a good sort than an inferior one, It is in every way as easy to grow varieties that will fetch from ten shillings to twenty shillings per bushel, as it is those sorts that will only realise one shilling per bushel, and then of no use only to pas 3 through tho cider mill.

The production of apples in this colony has a grand and most profitable future. If those about to embark in it will only plant the right sorts, and those in very large quantities, say for instance, ten acres are to be planted, theu I would not recommend more than five varieties should be planted, and if fifty, or even five hundred acres, then ten sorts should not be exceeded on any account.

Tho only exception I would make, and one I would strongly recommend, is that each orchardist who is anxious to try to keep pace with the times, should have a testing or trial ground, where now, or very highly commended varieties may pass their probation, prior to planting them extensively, and thus avoid cumbering the ground with unprofitable sorts. If those about to plant would make their selection from tho following sorts and plant very large quantities of each, taking care to prepare the ground properly, always avoiding planting too deeply, (one of the most common and fatal mistakes that can be made) r.ud afterwards give the necessary attention, i.e., staking, pruning, cultivating, and keeping clean, both from insect pests, and also weeds, 't hey will then in a very few' years prove apple growing an ever increasing source of pleasure and profit. The following I name with confidence to select from, viz., Ohinemuri, Ribstoue pippin, Kenny’s winter, Magg’s seedling, Stone pippin, Sturmer pippin, Australiau June eating, Purity, Lane’s Prince Albert, Cleopatra, Cox’s Orange pippin, Wellington ayn, Dumelow’s seedling. MANURE FOR PEACH TREES. First of all, the peach tree needs a rich soil. This may be produced by using barnyard manure liberally. Ground bone has been fouud an excellent fertilizer in many orchards, applied at the rate of twenty bushels per acre. Wood ashes have given good results. Manure for a peach orchard cannot have a good effect unless the soil is friable. Some experienced peach growers say that peach trees should never be set upon a soil that has been made suitable by undsrdraining. In other words, a peach soil shou ! d bo naturally well drained. The peach cannot bear going with ‘ wet feet.’ One of the most iroublcsurao difficulties of the peach is the so-called ‘ yellows.’ This yellowing of the foliage is often due to the lack of nourishment in the soil, or because the soil is too wet for the roots to take it up. There is another kind of yellows that is contagious, and may infest any orchard, and manure cannot cure it. Digging up the trees and burning them is the remedy.