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ORCHARD WORK FOR JUNE.

W. A. BOUCHER.

June may be regarded as a month during which much important work in the orchard may be accomplished. . 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-retentive 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. Instructions for heeling-in will be found on page 398 in the November (1910) issue of the Journal. Treatment of Nursery Stock for Insect Pests and Fungus Diseases. Most nurserymen nowadays adopt satisfactory methods of treatment for the control of insect pests and fungus diseases before the despatch 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, 10-10-40 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 red spider, mussel scale, &c. .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 the spring when the buds have commenced to swell.

Mealy Bug.

Of late years this pest has been spreading considerably in appleorchards 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 appleorchards. 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. It would almost appear as though either an inferior grade of oil has ■ been used, the emulsion not properly made, or has been diluted to too great a degree. On account of the necessity for 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 carefully investigate the reasons for the more orless 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, cherrytrees should be sprayed with the Bordeaux mixture, 10-10-40 formula, as soon as the leaves have fallen.

Brown-rot of Lemon.

Growers may again be reminded that treatment for the prevention of attack by this fungus should be adopted before the end of June. The application, as previously suggested, of pulverized sulphate of iron at the rate of 1 lb. to 4 lb. per tree, according to the size and age of the trees, can be recommended with confidence. . The sulphate of iron should be scattered over the surface of the soil beneath and around the trees, and lightly worked in. . The crop should also ■ be protected by spraying with the Bordeaux mixture, 4-5-50 formula.

Strawberry-leaf Spot.

. Plants that have remained comparatively free from the “ spot ” during warm, dry weather will frequently show considerable infection when cold, wet weather has set in. Strawberries should be thoroughly sprayed with the Bordeaux mixture, - 4-5-50 formula.

Pruning.

In order to avoid a rush of work later in the season, the pruning of the orchard may be commenced as soon as the leaves have fallen from the trees, and continued, as the weather permits, during the months of winter. As disease may be carried from one season to another on the wood that has been removed when cutting back, all primings, as far as possible, should be gathered up and burned.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZJAG19130515.2.28

Bibliographic details

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 5, 15 May 1913, Page 527

Word Count
864

ORCHARD WORK FOR JUNE. New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 5, 15 May 1913, Page 527

ORCHARD WORK FOR JUNE. New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 5, 15 May 1913, Page 527