ORCHARD WORK FOR JULY.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 6, 16 June 1913, Page 652

ORCHARD WORK FOR JULY.

W. A. Boucher.

Planting. : • • •• In many localities in the Dominion the planting of orchard-trees during the month of July is to be avoided, on account of the unsuitability of soil and. climatic conditions. Usually at this season of the year cold and ■ more or less wet weather prevails. Under such circumstances the soil is not in a satisfactory condition either for working or for planting.It is far better to wait for a later period, and set out the trees when the -soil is warm, friable, and moist, but not wet. Consignments of trees arriving from the nursery should be carefully heeled in until such time as the . soil and climatic conditions are favourable for 'planting the orchard. To heel in, prepare a trench in moist friable soil, either with the plough or spade. When the trench’ has been prepared lay the trees in, either singly or in small bundles; shovel in the loose earth, shake it in among the roots, and press down fairly firmly with the foot. The object in view is, as far. as possible, to prevent’ the air from reaching the roots during the period in which the trees must remain in the trench. , ■ Spraying. During the’ month of July spraying for several pests and diseases can be satisfactorily carried out- — fact, every opportunity should be taken of suitable weather-conditions to push on the. work, in order to avoid an unnecessary rush at a later period. Mussel scale, red spider, and mealy bug should receive the careful attention of growers, and every effort be made, by thorough spraying with the red-oil emulsion, to .as , far as possible eradicate these pests from the orchard. It has been noticed that fruit infected with all three pests has arrived at the markets from districts and orchards where spraying is regularly practised. A Fruit Inspector naturally has no desire to find unnecessary fault, but in the course of his duties must draw the attention of growers to the fact that pest-infected fruit is coming forward, although he may know that spraying for the control of the pests has been carried out. Mt is then for the grower to investigate and find out the reason why, even in'spite, of spraying, the pests are still in evidence.. The question of results is a most important one. The principal cost involved in spraying is that- of labour, so that, every effort should be. made to

secure and effectively apply a material that will produce the results desired. It should be remembered that the cheapest spraying-materials are not always the best, and that the saving of a small amount in the. cost, of material may lead to considerable loss in the cost of labour and possible loss of fruit. It is especially desirable that only compounds of proved worth should be used, in view of the export trade that is now being established. ' It is obvious that only fruit free from pest or blemish of any kind should be sent to foreign markets, and to secure such fruit the most thoroughly effective spraying with compounds of proved value will be required. . Pruning. . - - Pruning operations may now be carried on with advantage. It will be necessary to cut back young trees and thin out older ones. Where canker is known to be present in an orchard special attention should be given, and care exercised to see that infected twigs or limbs are cut back to clean healthy wood. It is not infrequently the case that prunings are left to lie about in an orchard or garden or in the vicinity. All prunings should be gathered up and burned, as some diseases, at any rate, are carried over from season to season in the diseased bark or wood that has been removed from infected trees. Peaches and Nectarines. Fruit-trees .of this class that have not. already been sprayed should receive an application of - the Bordeaux mixture —10-10-40 formula. It is important that a first spray should be applied as soon as possible after the leaves have fallen,, in order to protect the bark of the trees, and especially the leaf and blossom buds, from attack by the die-back fungus (Clasterosporium carpophilum). Gooseberry Leae-spot. Gooseberry-bushes should be ’ thoroughly sprayed with the Bordeaux mixture, 10-10-40 formula, to protect them against attack by leaf-spot, which in many instances of late years has proved fatal to the crop, and in some cases to the bushes themselves. Raspberries and currants will also benefit by the application of the Bordeaux mixture—lo-10-40 formula. ERRATUM. Journal, Vol. vi, p. 509, 15th May, 1913, “Analyses of Soils”: The amount o citric-acid soluble potash in soil fromjWaihao Forks (last on list) should read “0-010 per cent.,”- not 0100 per cent.” ’