WORK FOR THE COMING MONTH.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XVIII, Issue 1, 20 January 1919, Page 45

WORK FOR THE COMING MONTH.

THE ORCHARD.

The fruitgrowing industry has no doubt been one of our primary industries,, most adversely affected by the war,, although this did not occur altogether in the manner at: first anticipated. The peculiar position of the industry at the beginning of hostilities could not fail to have a prejudicial effect. Large areas of fruit-trees had been planted annually, new areas were coming into bearing, and crops were increasing in proportion year by year. This, taken in conjunction with the early cessation of export owing to. the lack of shipping, suggested a real danger of the overproduction point being reached well before the position again reached normal. Fortunately, however, nothing of a very disastrous nature in this direction has yet eventuated. Moderate crops on the one hand, and considerably improved marketing methods and the extension of cool-storage accommodation on the other, assisted very materially in saving the situation. Naturally, however, the war conditions did affect orchard-extension. Planting continued briskly for a season or two, but in the circumstances this could not be expected to continue, and as a natural consequence orchard-extension has for some time practically ceased. This fact, as may be readily appreciated, has had a very disastrous effect on the business of many New Zealand nurserymen who had their nurseries' stocked with trees in anticipation of further orchard development. The fruit-tree-raising industry has, indeed, suffered to a decidedly greater extent than that of fruitgrowing. However, the great war is now successfully concluded, and the fruitgrower is beginning to breathe more, freely and to look with less misgivings upon the industry he is engaged in. The question of export is being taken up in many quarters as an immediate possibility. ' Oversea buyers are already making inquiries and announcing their willingness to trade, and all that remains is the assurance of shipping-space to allow of a reopening of our export trade being made this season.

Advice. and reminders in orchard work for the coming month are given ■ as usual in the district notes which follow. ' Owing to staff changes in progress the Canterbury notes are temporarily omitted. —J. A. Campbell, Assistant Director of the Horticulture Division.

. AUCKLAND. ■ ' With the advent of February, bringing with it the full rush of the fruit season, the grower will find every moment fully occupied in attending to the proper picking, grading, packing, and marketing of his produce. The working methods adopted on quite a number of commercial orchards at the busy season are not conducive to . the best results being obtained, and this is undoubtedly ■ responsible for the loss of much valuable time. The adoption of a plan of methodical working is recommended, more especially when a large bulk of fruit is to be marketed—a certain fixed plan of picking and bringing to the sheds, handling, grading, and finally, packing and stencilling. Assign to each hand employed at this work his or her certain duties, so that uniformity may be obtained.'

The first and second early peaches and plums, and some early apples, will already have been marketed, and during the month the midseason peaches will he matured. Attention is directed to remarks in last month’s notes regarding precautions to be taken by consignors of stone-fruit with respect to brown-rot infection. As a preventive measure against infection just at the ripening-period the application of commercial lime-s.ulphur, 1-125, or self-boiled -lime-sulphur, 8-8-50, is recommended.

Growers are advised to continue with the three-weekly application of arsenate of lead for control of codlin-moth, leaf-roller caterpillar, and also leech on pipfruit trees. Plums may be kept free from leech by the application of arsenate-of-lead paste, 1 lb. to 50 gallons. Where lemons are affected by scale insects spray with red oil, 1—40, when' the young late spring growth has hardened. Clean cultivation should be maintained throughout the orchard. Spraying summary.-Peach, nectarine, and plum : Commercial lime-sulphur, 1-125, or self-boiled, 8-8-50- —when fruit begins to ripen, and further as circumstances demand.

Pear, apple, and quince : Commercial lime-sulphur, 33 0 test, 1—100, in conjunction with arsenate-of-lead paste, i|lb., or powder, | lb., to 50 gallons—every twenty-one days.

Lemon and orange : Bordeaux, 4-4—40 —when petals have fallen from main crop of blossoms ; red-oil emulsion, 1—40 —when young spring growth has hardened (following bordeaux). • — W. Collard, Orchard Instructor, Auckland.

HAWKE’S BAY.

Codlin-moth and leaf-roller: Regular applications of arsenate of lead,' i|lb. paste, or 1 lb. powder, to 50 gallons water, must, be maintained at intervals of about three weeks for the successful control of these pests. To minimize the danger of condemnation of fruit at its destination growers would be well advised to spray their fruits to within a few days of picking. At this season many grubs hatch out during transit.

Black-spot: Regular examinations of pears and apples should be made, and lime-sulphur or bordeaux applied on the first signs of live fungus. If there is any danger of black-spot development on susceptible varieties, such as Williams and Louise Bonne of Jersey, it is a wise plan to spray prior to picking or packing, so as to control the disease during transit. . Woolly aphis : A second spraying for this insect is usually necessary about the middle of January. Black-leaf 40 is giving the best results so far. This spray seems to have much better penetrating ' properties when combined with limesulphur or arsenate of lead, or even combined with the two compounds. Use lime with the arsenate : it will minimize the danger of burning. General spraying : Keep leech under control on cherries, plums, and pears. Spray with arsenate of lead, 1 lb. paste to 50 gallons water. . Plum-rust should be attended to and sprayed with bordeaux, 3-4-50, or lime-sulphur, 1-100. This spray will also assist in controlling brown-rot. For fungus diseases on peachtrees use lime-sulphur, 1-130. Spray mildew-infected apple-trees at regular intervals of about four weeks with either lime-sulphur or atomic sulphur. Combined sprays : As the season advances and the f oh age gets older it will not stand up to such severe sprays as it will when younger. This should' place growers on their guard against possible injury to the foliage. Combined- sprays are the most treacherous, and when used every care should be taken in their preparation and mixing. Considerable trouble can often be traced to not cleaning out the sediment in the spray-tank. Lime should be used if there is a risk of the spray being acid. If it is possible, to reduce the strengths of the sprays do so, but these must not be reduced below the point of efficiency. .

—G. Esam, Orchard Instructor, Hastings.

NELSON.

Spraying : Unusual variations of climate experienced in the Nelson District this season make orchard spraying a difficult subject. Applications of arsenate of lead will need to be continued to counteract the attacks of codlin-moth, leafroller, and leech. At this season red mite, mildew, or brown-rot fungus is apt to be troublesome ; should this be the case, apply lime-sulphur, 32 0 , 1-125, or

2 6°, 1-98. Green aphis has been very prevalent on the peach-trees. The pest does serious damage unless quickly checked ; not only does it destroy the foliage and restrict the growth, but the spread of parasitic fungi is greatly facilitated. These aphides are easily destroyed by two or three applications of tobacco concentrate.

Gathering the crop : Midseason varieties of apples and pears -will soon demand all the attention of the grower. This section is a very large one in the Nelson orchards, as it includes, comparatively, all the export varieties of apples. It is a section where heavy losses have been incurred during the last four years of war, when the apple-export trade was completely stopped. A great deal of this loss can be avoided in future if the unfortunate experience of recent years is properly considered. Cox Orange and Jonathan apples and William Bon Chretien pears are some of the chief varieties concerned. The commonest mistake has been to pick these varieties too ripe, when they become spongy and decay at. the core before they reach the consumer. The. right time to pick-this class'of fruit varies with the class of land and orchard-management, which makes it impossible to lay down any ruling on the subject and necessitates each grower giving the matter careful consideration. The colour of the seeds and the red blush on some apples are some of the factors indicating maturity ; another, . very much stressed in an excellent bulletin recently issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, is the change in the green ground-colour of immature fruit, which begins to yellow slightly as it approaches maturity. These and suchlike varieties are best picked immediately they mature ; this will necessitate at least two separate pickings. The experience of the last season or two has taught us that this class of crop must be handled with despatch, and should it for any reason be. necessary to hold it for a while it must be done in cool store. Orchard fruit-stores—more or less insulated

— often do splendid work storing some late varieties of apples, but with the higher temperatures of summer they are usually unsuitable for holding midseason fruits.

Budding : In reworking orchard-trees, specially the stone-fruit section, this operation is of great value. It may be carried out most satisfactorily at the present time. —W. C. Hyde., Orchard Instructor, Nelson.

OTAGO.

Stone-fruits will be in full swing from now on, and growers will be hard at work harvesting and marketing the crop. During this time other orcharding operations are liable to be neglected, much to the detriment of the quality and quantity of the later fruits of the orchard. This is often the case in regard to codlin-moth, and many hundreds of cases are destroyed through leaving the fruit unprotected for too long a period. Get a spray on as soon as possible ; about the end of January is a. critical time both as regards codlin-moth and leaf-roller caterpillar. Use arsenate-of-lead powder, fib. to 50 gallons, or paste, i|lb. to 50 gallons. ■

For all fungus diseases lime-sulphur and atomic sulphur are best from now on, as they act as insecticides as well as fungicides. Reduce the strength of limesulphur in this and subsequent sprayings to 1-120 to 1-130. Use atomic sulphur, 10 lb. to 100, on any varieties susceptible to burning, especially if using a combination spray.

Cherry and pear slug will now be troublesome, and trees will soon become defoliated. Do not neglect to spray with arsenate of lead even though the trees have no fruit. Neglect of this on young trees often means disappointment at next pruning-time, when it is found that growths have not developed as anticipated.

Where red mite and woolly aphis are both present make one spray do by combining lime-sulphur and Black-leaf 40. Use plenty of pressure and drive well into knots and crevices.

In the thinning of apples pay special attention to Scarlet Nonpareil where large crops are being borne. These are inclined to run small if not thinned, and trees suffer by becoming stunted if allowed to bear excessive crops.

Strawberries will soon be over and leaf-spot making its appearance. Spray with 4-4-40 bordeaux for this disease.

Where peach-rust has given trouble in previous years use lime-sulphur, 1-130, or atomic sulphur, 10-100. Choose cool weather for stone-fruits, as they are liable to scorch. This spray will also assist in checking brown-rot should it be in evidence. —J. H. Thorp, Orchard Instructor, Dunedin.