Orchard Work.

Southland Times, Issue 19409, 6 October 1904, Page 3

Orchard Work.

■ ■•■■" ♦ ■ ■■ " Yesterday afternoon Mr J. C. Elackmore, 0 overnment pomologist, gave practical demonstrations in Mr Stroud's orchard, Waikiwi, in pruning and spraying work in the presence of about 50 persons interested in orchard work. Before going into his subject, Mr Blaclunore informed those gathered around him that in accordance with the provisions of •'.ha Orchards and Garden Pests Act, ascently passed, it was the intension- of the Government to compel the destruction of tho various pests in orchards, even where there aro only two or three trees. It had annoyed him to hear it so often expressed that there were a great many <arden pests in New Zealand.- Theee were really very few in comparison with other countries, and those prevent could be easily controlled If orchardists would make proper use of a few simple remedies. They should determine on as few remedies as possible, but see that each was thoroughly efficient. As an insecticide he recom-< mended the lime, sulphur and salt wash for the reason that tit was an efficient insecticide, as .well as a valuable fungicide. This wash destroyed both the apple scale, as an insecticide, and helped to destroy tne mycelium of the peach aphis, as a fungicide. Another spray he highly recommended was Bordeaux mixture, but this, which is purely a fungicide, is not ia destroyer of- fungi. It is simply preventive, and an application is required each year.. Mr Blackmore went at some length into the life of the pests, and the action of the wash and mixture on them . Itwas best to apply the lime and sulphur wash late in the spring, this to be followed by an application of Bordeaux mixture, iuunedrateiy after the petals drop from the trees, while the latter mixture should again be applied ten days: later. These remedies thus appli.ed would have a marvellous effect in doing away With*»the pests, if it were done with judgement, and regufcirly each year. ** The application of the Wme and sulphur wash should be made with a fairly coarse spray and with considerable force, so that the wash nnight penetrate overy crevice of the tree. On the other hand, the Bordeaux mixture should be put on gen-tly'i-the tree should just be bedewed — but care should be taken that the surface of every" leaf is covered, for it is only by forming a thin corrosive film over the leaves that the fungus spores are destroyed. . / ■ '.'■ While. arrangements were being made for ■the preparation of these two washes, Mr j Blackmore . gave a demonstration of pruning. He: said a few words concern- j ing /the planting -of -apple trees-trenching. sub Soiling and liming— laying particular stress on the use of water-slaked lime, not air-slaked lime, adding a caution concerning the crowding of tho trees. He advised orchardists to put in trees one or two years' old. After they had been planted it was nece_sary that they .should be headed-back to the height desired to start the superstructure from. . It was desirable thas the superstructure should be as near the ground as possible ; the height of a man's knee was a standard. jlf ■ there ■ were* no branches below that height the buds could b.;> rubbed off, I leaving only : three *? ranged equally round trie trunk. " "When these branched they should b« cut back, leaving about 12 or 14 inches. Mr Blackmore explained how from. these three '" onain branches others: were allowed to spring and were similarly treated until they had a basin-shaped tree of 12 , branches. Then came the treatment of the lateral twigs. These were shortened-back in the summer pruning ; if the tree were making a very vigorous growth it would be well to cut back the laterals 'during January, but if not vigorous the cutting back could be delayed ttill the middle of February. Tho terminal . shoots of the branches should be cut back in winter. The objects to be attained liy priming, were diverse, but by the method explained, in apple and pear trees, a limited number of branches were produced, and the fruit was borne on these branches, where weight-carrying capacity was greatest, so that the fruit was not. dashed about by the wind, while it gave the tree a nice open formation which allowed free access to the sun. Mr Blackmore advised orcharlsts to get only the varieties of apples, etc., that were suitable for the climate; all information concerning these varieties was to be had from the Agricultural Department. During his remarks Mr Blackmore was busy with his pruning knife on picked trees in order that -his methods mieht be fully explained. . I The preparation of the sprays fcame next, and a comimencement was £rrade with Bordeaux mixture. In the preparation of this the lime used must be abso- I Jutely fresh, and for. this reason it is best' to make a "stock "• solution, as the mfixture keeps indefinitely. The ingredients 'were : sulphate of copper 41b, unslaked lime slh, water 50 gallons. Por this he had model casks, two representing

25gal. capacity -each ami one s<>gnl. capticity. Five gallons of hluestone (sulphut>> of copper) .solution wns mixed with 2>> gal. water and 5 gal. milk, of lime, with 20 gal. water, and these were poured at the same time into, the 50 gal. cask, whore they amalgamated at once, forming the mixture. The vessels used must all be of wood, as the copper acts on iron vessels to the detriment of the mixture. In 'addition to this mixture, two washes were made, one the lime, salt and sulphur wash and tho other the lime, soda and sulphur wash. The lime, salt, and sulphur wash was mode by a new method, which cuts down to 20 minutes a process that formerly occupied about two hours. The lime, soda, anil sulphur wash possesses almost exactly the same properties as the other, but it is dearer to make, and its value lies In. the' fact that less appliances are required, so that it is well suited for very small orchardis ts. The recipes are : — Lime. Salt, and Sulphur Wash.— Lime, unslaked, 151 b. sulphur (flour) 151 b. salt! 51b, water 50 gal. Put 4 to 5 gallons of ! hot water in an iron boiler of 20 gal. capacity : add 15Tb lime, and weft stir to spread it about ; then, as soon os in | full ebullition fron slaking, add 151 b sulphur and mix briskly with lime, adding boiling water as needed to bring the entire mass into a thick paste. Work the mass into a perfectly homogeneous* paste, then add the salt, and hot/ water enough to make 10 to 12 gallons, and boil 30 or 40 minutes. When the wash is cooked, which will be denoted, by its assuming a reddish orange to rich blood colour, strain through wire netting of fine mesh, and dilute with hot water to 50 gallons Lime. Soda and Sulphur Wash— 33ll lime, 17ib sulphur (flour), 4Jtt> caustic soda, 50 £al. water. Slake two-thirds of the lime with water enough to prevent either burning or drowning, and during the process sift over and stir in half oi the sulphur ; then add the remainder of the lime with more water, and as the boiling continues stir in tho balance of the sulphur -, add water as needed, stirring to help the combination' While the mixture is yet steaming, add one-third of the caustic soda, which will cause a violent boiling, and before this is over add another third ; if then the mixture has not reached a brick-red colour, add the remainder. If too much water is used at the beginning or during subsequent operations, it may De necessary to use m«re | soda than the formula calls for to ensure jthe red colour of the mixture. This is [then diluted to 50 gallons. Both these washes are applied to the trees hot. The demonstration was concluded with a display of the working oi several spray pumps, after . which Mr C. S. Longufct, on behalf of the onlookers, thanked Mr Blackmore for his demonstration, and the visitors departed . In the preparation of the mixture and washes, ami in the spraying. Mr Rabbits assisted Mr Blackmore.