ORCHARD WORK FOR MAY.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 4, 15 April 1913, Page 416

ORCHARD WORK FOR MAY.

W. A. Boucher.

Autumn Planting.

In some districts the month of May frequently proves suitable .for autumn planting. Many growers 'prefer autumn. to spring planting of orchard lands. Much, however, depends upon the nature of the soil and climatic conditions of the season whether autumn planting is desirable or otherwise. Two most important considerations are the nature of the soil and its condition when the setting-out of an orchard is contemplated. In the .case of light, free, well-drained soils planting may be carried -out in spite .of showery weather sometimes experienced during the months of May and June, but in the case of moistureretentive clay lands, even when well prepared, the rainfall will at times reduce the land to such a saturated. condition that'planting should be deferred until spring, when, with dry warm weather, the soil will have become friable again and suitable for working. Should fruit-trees ordered in the early part of the season come to hand when the land is not in a satisfactory condition. for planting, they should be heeled in for the time being, to be lifted again and planted out when the soil has become moist and friable. ;

Pruning.

. In some districts of the Dominion the pruning of orchard-trees may now be commenced with advantage.. Instances, have occurred, however, where heavy winter pruning has been commenced when the trees were still in full foliage and the leaves green and fleshy.- This -practice is one that cannot be recommended, as in time the removal of- a large quantity of vigorous foliage would react seriously upon the vitality of the trees.

Lemon-culture.

Recently lemons have proved a very profitable crop, the returns received by the grower being entirely satisfactory. This fruit is one well worthy of cultivation in the warmer districts of the Dominion. In suitable soils and localities lemon-trees grow freely and come into bearing at . an. early age, provided that they receive the necessary cultivation and- the treatment required for the control of the pests and

diseases to which they are subject. All of these can be both easily and' economically kept in .check if -the necessary measures recommendedby the Department are adopted. One disease, due to attack by the fungus commonly known as “brown-rot,” requires the attention of growers during the month of May, and certainly not later than June. “ Brown-rot ” first made its appearance in New Zealand in the year 1908. Unlike many other parasitic fungi which require moist. warm weather for germination and dissemination, the fungus that causes brown-rot thrives in cold wet weather. For this reason it is necessary to adopt preventive measures not in the early part of the season, as is usually the case with diseases of this class, but in the latter part shortly before winter weather sets in. A treatment that has been' proved to be thoroughly effective is to apply around the trees a soildressing of pulverized sulphate of iron, at the rate of 1 lb. to 4 lb. per* tree, according to size and age of the trees. This should be scattered beneath and round about the trees and lightly worked into the soil. The object of this is to, as far as possible, destroy the spores of the fungus, which during the summer months - remain dormant, only to become active again when winter weather is approaching. To further protect the crop the trees should be thoroughly sprayed with the Bordeaux mixture, 4-5-50 formula. Provided the trees are kept healthy and vigorous, successful results in lemon-culture depend mainly upon the careful handling of the fruit. There is perhaps no other fruit that requires such careful preparation for marketing. Lemons should be gathered not according to ripeness but according to size, a diameter of 2|in. producing a lemon which when- cured will realize the highest market value. In order that lemons may keep, cure, and carry well, every care should be taken to avoid bruising when gathering from the tree and in the necessary handling afterwards. It does not appear to be generally recognized by growers in the Dominion that lemons carefully handled and cured will keep in excellent condition for some months, thus affording an opportunity for supplying the markets when the fruit is most in demand and values correspondingly high.

Spraying Peaches and Nectarines

In some of the colder districts of the Dominion peaches and nectarines will ’ have shed .their leaves before the end of May. In order to protect the trees from attack by the fungus Clasterosporium carpophilum, ■ commonly known as “ die-back,” they should be thoroughly sprayed with the Bordeaux mixture, 10-10-40 formula. This is desirable because “ die-back ” fungus attacks during the winter months the bark and buds of the young twigs of the season’s growth— is, the

fruiting-wood of the following season. From this it will be seen that prospective crops of peaches and nectarines depend very largely upon the, care bestowed in keeping the trees free from the. disease. It .is to be, noted that the strong winter formula of the. Bordeaux mixture recommended above is not .to be applied to the trees until they have shed their leaves. ‘