THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13892, 24 December 1913, Page 2

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

ORCHARD WORK FOR JANUARY

• .Mr W. k. Boucher .writes in the Journal of 'Agriculture :■ — . • As ' reooniemnded .oji previous issties of tire Journal, <;lean cultivation of' orchard lands should bo maintained, especially throughout the warm dry months of sumer. During periods of dry weather- it is only by this means that •sufficient moisture can bo retained in 1 tho soil to enable fruiting trees to continue ihftir normal growth and dovelop ! their crops.

Codlin-moth: In some districts of the-, Dominion growers have expressed the opinion that there is but little dnngor to bo fear&d from infection by codlin-moth, after the end of December. This idea is quite erroneous. Careful investigation of tho life-history of the codlin-moth in New Zealand has demonstrated that a. large percentage of the grubs that have escaped from infected fruit during one- season remafn dormant throughout tho months of November and December, mid only develop into the chrysalis and moth stages toward*} the middle of January of the following yoar. It is, therefore, most important that the necessary measures —in Spraying carefully and thoroughly with'a. reliable brand of arsenate'of lead —should be carried out during tho early part of the month; in any case, if possible, not later than the 10th, in order to protect crops or pip-fruit from the inevitable percentages of loss that will ensuo if spraying at this critical period has been neglected. It has been noticed that somo< growers have been inclined to delay tho application of the first spray for the control of codlinmoth until rather, late, while .others will commence sufficiently early and discontinue operations before all risk of moth-infection is over for the season. In both cases the result is the same —more or less of the crop, according to the general condition of the district, being rendered unmarketable owing to the presence of the grubs of this pest. In view of the fact that the export trade in apples is steadily developing season by season, it-is most important that all commercial growers should make every effort to eliminate, the possibility of moth-in-fected fruit leaving the ports 'of the Dominion for foreign markets. It should be recognised that, if necessary, provision should be made for storage before grading and. packing, so that any codliu-grubs from eggs in the' process of incubation might be packed with fruit that is free, and in transit develop infection, which must be detected at the part of destination, and so bring discredit on our export trade.

Bronze Beetle and Leaf-roller Caterpillar:' Leaf-roller caterpillar is always more or less troublesome during the summer months.- This pest, unlik<! tho larvae of tho codlin-moth, does not eat its way into and through the fruit, but usually, fastening a leaf to the surface, is content to exist beneath this protective covering by nibbling the skin and a portion of the flesh of the fruit. The result is to cause a blemish which remains and gives an unsightly appearance. Not only does fruit so attacked lose much of-"its.■■marketable value when offered for sale locally, but it must bo considerd. as quite, unsuitable for export purrposes. Generally speaking, the spray that is" applied for the control of codlin-moth is effective in destroying the leaf-roller caterpillar, provided that the fruit hae received an effective coating of the poison before the caterpillar has attached tho protective covering mentioned above. In many j parts' of the Dominion tho bronze beetle wiU by this period.have ceased to give further trouble for -the season. As previously recommended in the pages of this Journal, the addition of a small quantity of resin solution to the arsenate-of-lead spray during the early part of the season will add much to its effectiveness in controlling the beetle.

Apple and Pear Scab: In districts throughout the Dominion where warm dry weather is experienced during the month of January little or no further trouble will bo experienced with apple and pear scab for the remainder of tho season. This ir> duo to the fact that a comparatively low temperature with rainfall and a jnoijit atmosphere are necessary for the development oi the fungus, which causes such injury to the skin of the fruit as; even tocbring about cracking in cases where the attack has been severe. .For the control of apple and pear scab up to the present time no remedy has been found that is quite as • effective as tho Bordeaux mixture, it is true that under certain .atmospheric conditions russeting of the fruit will follow, the application. This is especially so in tho case of some of the tender-skin-ned varieties. Many experiments have been carried out with a view to discovering an effective and safe substitute the lime-sulphur solution has been under test for some time past, but, as in the case of the Bordeaux mixture, certain . atmospheric conditions seem to bring aboiii results that are not altogether satisfactory. Further tests may furnish gome'interesting data, for further reports. As mentioned above, in some districts no further trouble with .apple -and pear scab may be experienced during the season, but in others, less favoured, .growers will still require to take tho necessary precautions to protect their crop? from attack.

Leech: As far as po;irs fire conoornfid, bearing trecM \vU in most districts -have boon spraying with sirsonato of lead for tlio control of codlin-moth. Iliis will afco prore effective for the control oi the leech. In the cuse of cherries some growers prefer to use arwnnto ol' lufiil as for codiin-moth, whilo others prefer lielleboro po\v<lor. Tbo luttor is also recommencJod for sninf varieties of ulnn>« the foliage of whi<Ji is susceptible to injury if arsonate of load bo applied. Tomatoes: Tomato-growers will find it woll worth whilo to keep tomato fungus disease and caterpillar well under control. The Bordeaux • mixture summer strength for fungus disease., to which IJ-lb. of arwiiatc of

Has been ladded for catorpillqr, ha* been proved to be thoroughly effective in keeping the plants • healthy and vigorous. Care, however, should be taken' to epray the under-sides of the leaves thoroughly. To accomplish "this a. bent elbow is frequently usqd in order to direct the spray upwards- from beneath.