IN AND ABOUT THE FARM.

Waipa Post, Volume V, Issue 225, 1 July 1913, Page 4

IN AND ABOUT THE FARM.

FRUIT-CROWING IN THE * WAIKATO.

LESSONS FROM RUAKURA. The following article is taken from the June number of the Journal of Agriculture : The Waikato district is eminently adapted for the cultivation of fruits of the Temperate Zone. In the earlier days of settlement commercial fruitgrowing was carried on in this part of the Dominion by quite a large number of orchardists, but of late years dairying has largely displaced the industry. There was therefore no necessity to demonstrate at Ruakura Farm of Instruction that fruit could be grown in the Waikato. An experimental orchard was, however, established in order to discover and demonstrate the varieties of different classes of fruits most suitable for the locality, to illustrate the most satisfactory methods of pruning, and to test the value of different spraying and other compounds for the control of disease.

In reporting on the orchard at the present time it must be remembered that the trees are yet young. Some have been six years planted, others but five years, while the remainder were subsequently added by annual plantings. The selected area at the first planting presented an exceedingly rough appearance, being undrained poor kahikatea swamp. Consequently it could not be expected that the trees would make much headway for a time, and experience has shown that progress is slow for the first two years under such conditions. Success, however, with some varieties, on this class of land, is each season becoming further assured. On the other hand, with the vast number of varieties under test, it can be seen that some will- prove unsuitable for this locality. They will not flourish in this environment with the same degree of success met with in other soils and situations.

To any one desiring to plant in this district, an inspection of the orchard would -be amply repaid. It is most instructive to observe and compare how well one variety thrives while another alongside it can barely exist. . With the exception of a block laid out for spraying experiments, the number of trees of each variety is limited to two. In order to conduct trials with various sprayingcompounds it was considered necessary to plant a block with a few well-known varieties, and a sufficient<number of each to provide the means for properly conducting the desired experiments. In all such trials it is essential that trees of the same variety should bd included in each test, as a basis for comparison. The opposite occurs with variety trials, and with these one spray is used throughout. It is the pruning which is difficult to regulate in variety tests. The amount and style of pruning unavoidably varies, according to the vigour of the tree and the habit of growth characteristic of the variety, Nevertheless, the same system is followed as much as possible. The amount of cultivation and the manure to be applied can easily be regulated.

In regard to spraying, this season's results have contributed something to past records, especially in regard to the control of codlin-moth and scab. It is generally recognised in spraying that the treatment necessary to counteract the disease must be applied before the disease presents itself, the spray acting as a preventive measure rather than as a cure, Too much stress, therefore, cannot be laid on the importance of winter sprayings.

It has proved profitable to apply two winter sprayings of Bordeaux mixture at a strength of 10-10-40 for the control of apple and pear scab (Fusicladium clendritricum) This materially reduces the number of summer sprayings necessary to hold the disease in check. With some varieties no summer applications have been considered needful. Directeur Hardy, Harrington's Victoria, and P. Barry pears, and Duke of Clarence, Aromatic Russet, Brownlee's Russet, Wealthy, Lord Derbv, and Cole's Rymer apples, all gave clean fruit, without any application of the summer formula. Summer sprayings were found indispensable for the following varieties of pears: — Beurre Die], Vicar of Winkfield, Marie Louise, D'Uccles, and Williams' Bon Chretien ; and for the following varieties of apples : Adam's Permain, Sharp's Midseason, Romanite, Red Quarrenden, Tairaru Seedling, Betty Geeson and Rhodes Orange.

With peaches it has also proved that for the die-back fungus (Clasterosporium carpophilum) two sprayings are to be preferred, the first to be applied as soon as possible after -the leaves have fallen and the second just before the blossom buds open, using the Bordeaux mixture at a strength of 10-10-40. Little good can be done by spraying after the disease has made its appearance, therefore spray before the disease appears. This same rule must be remembered when applying arsenate of lead for codlin-moth (Carpocapsa pomonellaj. Get in early or the moth will win. To combat mussel scale (Mytilaspis pomorum), woolly aphis (Schizoneura lanigera), and red spider (Bryobia pratensis), a winter spraying of red oil, or lime-salt and sulphur, is all-important. Miss this spray and these pests will give endless trouble during the summer. C. D. Jarvis, in his bulletin on apple-growing, sums up the whole problem explicitly and correctly in these few words : " Know the pest; ki.ovv what to use ; know when to use it; apply it thoroughly." Some varieties which prove suitable for planting in this locality are here tabulated. There are other promising varieties not included in this list, but the trees are young, and it will take some time to prove their suitability : Peaches: Brigg's Red/ May, Wiggins, Early Newington, Ruby Red, Hales' Early. Triumph, and Reeves' Golden Nugget.

Nectarines : Gqldmine and Ansenne.

Apples: Scarlet Permain, Golden Pippin, Irish Peach, Duchess of Oldenburg, Prince Alfred, Willie Sharp, Early Almond, New Rock Pippin, Brownlee's Russet, and Jonathan. Pears : Directeur Hardy, Beurre de Capiaumont, Howell, Kieffer Hybrid, William's Bon Chretien, Grosse Calibasse, and Harrington's Victoria.