Farm and Garden.

Waipa Post, Volume VII, Issue 330, 14 July 1914, Page 8

Farm and Garden.

THE VINEHOUSE

Jn the cool vinehouse all pruning should be completed this month. Mention has been made in the notes for May condemning the practice of early pruning—that is., before the vine has cast its leaves in a natural manner. After this stage—at least, for some weeks—there is little chance of a vine " bleeding." To what has been stated in previous notes on the mistaken view taken by some growers with regard to early pruning, I would add that shortening in the green shoots during autumn and also pruning in close while there are green leaves still on the vine, instead of assisting'the development of the buds, is really harmful.

We know that (says Mr Anderson in the Agricultural Journal) in the case of the vine the bud is a little store-house of vital energy capable of producing an individual vine when placed in the right conditions. The buds always occur at the axil of a leaf (with the exception of a few clustered at the base of a shoot). Strong healthy buds are only to be found in connection with large healthy leaves. It must follow, therefore, in the case of a deciduous plant like the vine, where the growth put forth in spring is so vigorous, that the proper time must be given it to store every atom of energy the leaf can impart. Where "the pruning is done too soon some of this energy must be lost.

LATE PRUNING

A few remarks may be made on the error of late pruning. There is not the same amount of evil done, generally, by late pruning, because the grower is usually alarmed at his vines "bleeding," and for this reas-on he avoids cutting them late in the season. A considerable period will elapse between the falling of the leaves and the commencement of growth in the spring so that there is ample time to attend to all the necessary work in the vinehouse. It is best, however, to commence as soon as possible after the leaves have fallen. Directions for the pruning of the vine are furnished in Bulletin No. 40 (new series). This can be obtained from any branch office of the Department. After pruning and planting the rods, and before tying them up in their places, it may be necessary to arrange them at better distances apart. In many houses they are placed much too close. To expect to get good results when rods are only ißin to 24m apart is out' of reason. It is natural that a grower should be loth to cutout good rods, but 3ft is the least distance that should be permitted between the rods. Where rods are 'showing barren places or showing very weak laterals, good eyes or buds at the base of the old rod, anywhere between the ground and the topplate, may be selected to produce fresh rods. In growing this new rod there is no waste of the vine's energies, but actual recuperation of loss. The old rod may be kept until the new one is grown so that in the meantime there need be no loss of fruit.

THE ORCHARD. July can hardly be regarded as an ideal month for the planting of orchard lands. In many localities, owing to climatic conditions the soil is not in a suitable condition for working. It is, therefore, better to postpone operations, and at a later period set out the trees when the soil is warm, friable, and moist but not wet. In the meantime consignments of trees arriving will require to be heeled in. For heeling in, a trench is prepared with plough or spade in moist, friable soi'. The trees are laid in the trench either singly or in small bundles. Loose earth is then shovelled in, shaken among the roots, and pressed down firmly with the foot in order to prevent as far as possible any air-circula-tion among the roots during such time as it may be necessary for the trees to remain in the trench. SPRAYING. Advantage should be taken during the month of July of any favourable opportunities that may occur for spraying for the control of various orchard pests and diseases. This is recommended especially when the red oil is to be used for the control of mussel scale, red spider, and mealy bug. One or another, or perhaps all three, pests are to be found in many orchards, and no effort should be spared to keep them well in check. In this connection it may be as well to point out that only well-tested and reliable spraying-compounds should be used. The principal cost of spraying is in the labour employed, and not in the material purchased for this purpose. There is, therefore, nothing to be gained but much to be lost, by endeavouring to save a trifle in ex-

penditure on the cost of materials which, after application, will I rove ineffective in result. It is noticeable that fruit well and well packed will when opened for inspection show infection by red spider, mealy bug, or mussel scale. None of thes -. pests should be found on fruit coming from a carefully sprayed orchard, provided that well-tested and reliable spraying compounds have been used. This phase of the question of sprayi-ng is one that presents considerable difficulties to fruit inspectors when examining consignments destined for local consumption or for export. With the steady expansion of the export trade each year, it becomes more imperative than ever that orchard pests and diseases should, as tar as possible, be eliminated. Complete eradication can hardly be expected, but infection can be reduced to a minimum, provided that satisfactory spraying-compounds are carefully and thoroughly applied at the right periods of the year.