ORCHARD WORK FOR JUNE.

Waipa Post, Volume V, Issue 217, 2 June 1913, Page 4

ORCHARD WORK FOR JUNE.

AN IMPORTANT MONTH. Dealing with the question of orchard work for June, Mr W. A. Boucher gives the following advice in the Journal of the Department of Agriculture : PLANTING. In some of the warmer districts of the Dominion the planting of young trees may be carried out during the early part of the month, provided the soil has been well prepared, and is otherwise in a suitable condition. For the benefit of those who have not had a great deal of experience in the treatment of moisture-reten-

tive clay lands, it may be as well to again remind intending planters that if the soil is wet and cold, the setting out of orchard trees may with advantage be deferred until spring weather has brought about a satisfactory condition. In the meantime, trees purchased to order will probably have arrived. These should be heeled in, and allowed to remain until suitable soil conditions admit of planting.

INSECT PESTS AND FUNGUS DISEASES.

Most nurserymen nowadays adopt satisfactory methods of treatment for the control of insect pests and fungus diseases before the dispatch of fruit trees from their nurseries. In such instances purchasers are saved any further trouble in this respect. But if such treatment has not been carried out before the trees come to hand, then it will be advisable before heeling in. or planting out to take such precautions as may be required against infection by insect pests or fungus diseases. The simplest and least expensive method of accomplishing this is to prepare a cask of the Bordeaux mixture, 10-10-10 formula, and, bundle by bundle, holding the roots upwards, dip the branches and stems into the mixture as far as the soil marks. Later on the trees should also be dipped in the red-oil emulsion, winter strength, in order to destroy the eggs of the red spider, mussel, scale, etc. If these necessary precautions are effectively carried out the trees will require little or no further attention for the control of most orchard pests and diseases during their first season. SPRAYING PEACHES AND NECTARINES. Many growers are still content to spray their peach and nectarine trees once only during the dormant season with the Bordeaux mixture, 10-10-40 formula. The best results in controlling the fungus diseases that attack these fruits can only be attained by spraying twice, the first time in the autumn as soon as possible after the leaves have fallen, and the second in thi spring when the buds have commenced to swell. MEALY BUG. Of late years this pest has been spreading considerably in apple orchards in several localities. Consequently it becomes necessary to draw the attention of growers to the necessity for adopting such measures as may be required to keep it well under control. No doubt in many instances the fact of its existence in the orchard is unknown to the owner, and for this reason it seems desirable that all apple orchards should be thoroughly sprayed during the dormant season with the red-oil emulsion diluted to the winter strength.

MUSSEL SCALE AND RED SPIDER

Both these pests are much more in evidence than they should be, even in districts where spraying has been regularly carried out each season. Jt would almost appear as though either an inferior grade of oil had been used, the emulsion not properly made, or diluted to 100 great a degree. On account of the necessity lor keeping mealy bug, mussel scale, and red spider well under control, so that fruit arriving at the markets may pass unchallenged, it would be as well for growers to investigate the reasons for the more or less indifferent results that in many instances' have followed the applications of spraying compounds. CHERRY LEAF SCORCH. As a precaution against attack by this destructive fungus cherry trees should be sprayed with the Bordeaux mixture, LO-10-40 formula, as soon as the. leaves have fallen.