WORK FOR THE COMING MONTH.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XVIII, Issue 4, 21 April 1919, Page 227

WORK FOR THE COMING MONTH.

THE ORCHARD.

At the conclusion of the fruit-picking season in May most growers will have made up their minds in regard to extending their orchards and replacing unsuitable varieties with better kinds. It is a wise policy to place orders for fruit-trees as early as possible, so that nurserymen will have ample time to select and execute the order.

In connection with ordering, growers may be reminded of the regulations governing the grading of fruit-trees for sale. These will be in operation this season for the first time, and all nurserymen are required to grade their trees according to the standards laid down. In regard to apples and pears, the “A” or commercial grade includes trees whose diameter is not less than in. nor more than fg in. ; “ B ” or nursery grade includes every tree whose diameter is less than in. ; while the “ C ” or special grade includes all those whose diameter is more than in. All diameter measurements are taken 2 in. above the union.

In placing the order for apples and pears the grade desired should be stated, as this will ensure that the trees are up to the specified standard. On the other hand, if no specific grade is stipulated, the nurseryman will have the option of filling the order with one or more of the three grades, provided that such apples and pears are sold solely in accordance with the grade assigned to such trees. Apples and pears of all grades must be well rooted, and, if branched, of fair shape, and are to have three branches averaging 18 in. in length.

The requirements in regard to the grading of apricots, peaches, and nectarines are that every graded tree shall have a diameter of not less than T 8 g in., and be well rooted and branched, and of fair shape.

Orchard work for the coming month is fully outlined in the district reports which follow.

—Gordon Esam, Acting Assistant Director of the Horticulture Division.

AUCKLAND.

Orchardists can regard. May as the finish of the fruit season, and attention may be turned almost entirely to a general cleaning-up of orchards, sheds, spraypumps, &c. This work should include the collection and destruction by burning of all mummified fruits that may be yet left hanging to the trees, or on the ground. Intending planters are advised to get the work of preparation of ground for planting well in hand. The autumn rains will. have put the soil in good condition for.this work during the month. If left until after. May the ground will probably be in too wet a state to permit of the carrying-out of successful preparation, more especially on the heavier type of gum-lands. ' ; ;. . Opportunity should be taken, before all the leaves - fall from the trees, to mark all those affected with silver-blight, in order that the desired treatment may be given whilst they are in the dormant and semi-dormant stages. . - - .•• Spraying for ' woolly aphis and San Jose scale on apples may be carried out at the end of the month, if necessary, at strength 1-25. - —J. W. Collard, Orchard Instructor, Auckland.

HAWKE'S BAY

Picking and marketing late varieties of apples will at the end of April still require attention. Select and cull out as much of the fruit as possible at pickingtime, and thereby conserve haulage to the fruit-store. No grower should have reject fruit at the store —it should all be culled in the orchard.

Where orchard planting or extension is contemplated the land should be prepared at once, so as to ensure a good tilth prior to planting. The varieties should be selected and the order for trees placed early.

A start can be made in May with the pruning of stone-fruits. Rake up all prunings, fallen leaves, &c., and destroy all orchard-refuse. As soon as the foliage has fallen it is desirable to spray many of the stonefruits with bordeaux, 8-6-40. This will be found especially useful in controlling die-back on peaches and nectarines. All stone-fruits infected with San Jose scale should be sprayed with lime-sulphur, 1-15. —W. H. Rice, Orchard Instructor, Hastings.

NELSON

Spraying: Orchard-trees infected with aphis, red mite, or leaf-hopper may still be sprayed with Blackleaf 40 or red oil with great advantage. . Storing the crop : While the ordinary cool store is necessary for storage over long periods, and is a great convenience at all times, many growers find that an insulated store, without refrigeration, is very useful in the orchard. Indeed, it is claimed by some that Washington, Rokewood, Commerce, and similar varieties of apples keep better in such a store than in a refrigerator. No doubt most late sorts will keep for three months in a store only insulated if the conditions are right. Before using a store of this kind it should be thoroughly cleansed, all decaying vegetation being removed and ‘the place washed out with lime or bluestone, or fumigated with sulphur. Fruit should be rigidly* culled before storing, grading out all that are bruised, broken, or punctured, as such will not keep under any circumstances. The goods may be stored in clean orchard-boxes, the stacks being placed on a false slatted floor to allow free ventilation. For the same reason a small space should be left abound each case as when stacking in a refrigerator, and occasionally between stacks a 4 in. interval will be an advantage.

Yet another factor must be considered if the store is to be a.success, and that is the intelligent and consistent management of the ventilators. The object is a low even temperature. This is usually obtained by shutting up the vents during the day to exclude the warm air, and opening them after sundown to allow the cold night air to blow through. These conditions are more easily secured if the store is surrounded by a grove of pine-trees or other evergreens. Drains : Drainage is of the first importance in Nelson District orchards. The drainage-system is often rendered useless by being blocked up or overgrown. Trim down the sides of open drains and clean up the bottom, and see that drainpipes finding an outlet there are clear and working satisfactorily. . Any depressions likely to hold up surface Water should have channels cut to let the water off. This may be often done by a single stroke, of the plough. —William C. .Hyde, Orchard Instructor, Nelson.

CANTERBURY

By the time for which these notes are intended the fruit season will be practically over. Growers will be able to “ balance the ledger ” and see whether their operations for the season have been successful or not. Unfortunately, the growers in this district have had a very bad time with frosts and gales, resulting in serious losses to many. Unfortunately, too, many growers neglected spraying because of the small crop of apples ; consequently the orchards are not in as good a condition with regard to pests and diseases as they might be. Evidence of this can be plainly seen in the markets and the quantity of the fruit that has had to be condemned and destroyed. Woolly aphis has been very bad, and will require strict attention during the coming dormant season. Good results were obtained where growers sprayed with red oil, at strength of 1-60, during the last month or so. The proper grading and packing of fruit has not received sufficient attention in this district in the past, but it is hoped that, with the help of classes, a decided improvement will be noticed another season. Now is the time for a general clean-up in the orchard before the winter operations commence. Stack away all empty cases and keep them dry ; they will come in handy next season. Growers are advised to see -that their sprayingapparatus is in good order and everything in readiness, so that no time will be wasted .when spraying actually commences.

If no green cropping is being done, orchards should be rough-ploughed and allowed to remain for the winter months. This will expose the soil to the effects of frost and rain, sweeten the land, and make cultural operations mu'ch easier in the spring. Where new orchards ■ are being planted the land should be got into good trim. Growers who have not yet decided upon the varieties to plant should lose no time in doing so.

All information can be obtained from the Orchard Instructor for the district.

—G. Stratford, Orchard Instructor, Christchurch

OTAGO

The fruit-harvest will now be nearly all gathered and autumn leaves falling, and growers will be making their plans for the winter operations. First and foremost among these should be the destruction of all disease-infected leaves and fruit that is lying around, and which if allowed to remain will carry on . the disease for the reinfection of next season’s crop. This applies to fungus diseases mainly, and embraces such troubles as black-spot, brown-rot, powdery mildew, leaf-curl, shothole fungus, and peach-rust. , If it were possible to gather and destroy by burning all refuse such as mentioned much would be accomplished in this direction. Ploughing the land well and deep will cover most of the leaves, and it is advisable to throw the furrows towards the trees, thus ensuring good drainage, especially on the lower parts of the orchard. Then the spray-pump needs looking over and putting into order; leaking valves, connections, and hoses make spraying a nightmare. See that everything is right for a good start on the new. season’s spraying. Where die-back is troublesome on peach and nectarine trees a good autumn dressing of bordeaux, 8-6-40, is advisable in the autumn ; when rust or brown-rot have been prevalent it is also worth while. Where woolly aphis is troublesome a spraying of red-oil emulsion is of great advantage, a strength of about 1-40 thoroughly applied doing good work. at this time of the year. Pruning will be the next consideration. This is a most important operation, and on it largely depends the success or otherwise of the crop. Make a study of each variety and every individual tree of each variety. Help the weaker ones by lightening their burden, but give the strong a chance to yield a return, by leaving them some fruiting-wood to bear on. How often do we see trees putting out fruiting-wood during the growing season only to have it all removed again in the winter by the seccateurs. But these are points one cannot discuss on paper ; the orchard is the best place to do this, and the writer hopes to meet growers • there in due course. . -

A word to growers about to plant new areas. Spare no trouble to get the land in good order for planting. Subsoiling pays, especially if the soil is not of good depth above the subsoil. Avoid too shallow planting, and, above all, see that you receive well-grown healthy trees, even if you pay a little more for them. Yearling trees are preferable, but if the land is good and well worked good wellshaoed two-vear-olds will save a vear and cive a return more ouicklv.

J.H. Thorp

.CL Lilli 111U1C C[LllUlkiy. , Orchard Instructor, Dunedin.