THE ORCHARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 244, 15 October 1932, Page 7 (Supplement)

THE ORCHARD

BLOSSOMS AND FRUIT There is probably no season of the year when orchard trees present a more attractive and interesting display than during the present month, when most of the hardy fruit-bearing trees follow each other in succession in developing their flowers. Peaches, nectarines, Japanese plums and other early flowering varieties are now clothed with an abundance of blossom, and if one could judge from present appearances it would seem safe to predict some heavy yields. The setting of the fruit, however, depends in a great measure upon the weather prevailing at this time. This more particularly applies to peaches, nectarines and tender subjects. Pests and Spraying Even after the fruit is set, adverse weather often results in the. foliage becoming badly attacked with leaf curl, and the growth is so checked that much of the foliage and fruits is destroyed. Judicious winter spraying assists to obviate the difficulty, but does not finally remove it when cold incongenial weather prevails. With plums now in flower, the Japanese varieties predominate and are a mass of blossom. With several of these varieties, the difficulty is usually not in any scarcity of the fruit setting, but in allowing the trees to carry farmorc fruit than the tree can possibly mature. Necessity in Thinning If trees are allowed to carry anything like all the fruit that sets, only immature, flavourless fruit will be pro duced. In such cases the fruit shoulu be liberally thinned. This not only applies to Japanese plums, but to all free setting fruit. When fruit is being grown for private use, the chief object of the grower should be to produce the finest and best flavoured specimens, and this can only be attained by allowing the trees to carry only the quantity of fruit they arc able to fully mature. Any thinning necessity will depend in some measure upon the condition of the trees. Varieties, for instance, which have a tendency to make vigorous growth, may be allowed to carry more fruit than trees making less, or weaker growth. Apples and Pears Though too early to speak of the prospects of apples, pears and other pip fruits, they certainly appear to be well furnished with an abundance oi fruiting buds. Every encouragement should be given to the trees at this time by applying a good dressing of good stimulating manures. An ideal mixture for general fruit trees consists of three parts superphosphate, one of sulphate of potash and one of blood and bone manure. This should be scattered around the

trees within a radius of 2ft. to 4ft., according to the size of the trees. The : quantity of fertiliser applied should 1 vary from about 21b. to 61b., according to the size and condition of the tree. The Codlin Moth Trees will shortly have to be sprayed for codlin moth and other leaf and fruit-eating pests. This is too often delayed, especially in small gardens, where only a small number of trees are grown, until the fruit is well advanced in growth and the damage is partly done. As soon as the fruit is fairly set, the first dressing should be applied as the fruit is then in an upright position, and is sure to catch a certain quantity of the liquid in the eye as well as over other parts of the fruit. As the grub more often attacks •, the fruit at this point, it is important • that a certain, quality of 4he poison be deposited there before it commences its work. Some apples and pears are later in flowering and setting their fruits than others, and spraying should be regu latcd accordingly. For most leaf ana fruit eating insects, there are no better remedies than the arsenate of . load solution. If applied through a fine distributing nozzle so that every ' portion of the tree receives a portion . of the liquid, it is most effectual. Newly-Planted Trees r All newly-planted trees should have ? the surface soil around kept well loosened up. Mulching, when practic- ' able, is the best treatment, but where t this cannot be applied a nice loose ! surface is the next means of conservI ing moisture. ;■ Grafted trees will need careful atten- . tion. Occasionally examine the grafts - to see that the tics are not cutting 1 into the wood so as to damage grafts . or unions. As growth advances th° shoots that start out below the grafts should be removed from time to time. ’ _ - i