WORK FOR THE COMING MONTH.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXIII, Issue 5, 21 November 1921, Page 305

WORK FOR THE COMING MONTH.

THE ORCHARD.

The meeting of the export committee set up at the recent Fruitgrowers’ Conference to go into matters covering the coming export season in conjunction with officers of the Department, as referred to in last month’s notes, was duly held. The chief item of interest is no doubt a recommendation received from the committee to allow a lower grade of fruit to be exported. While this may probably be agreed to, it must be understood that the innovation, so far as New Zealand export is concerned, is on trial only at the request of the growers themselves, and it should not be expected that the Government would stand behind it to the extent of the lower grade, being covered by the guarantee of id. per pound if the guarantee on export fruit is again forthcoming. As a result of last season’s experience, several minor alterations will be made to the working-conditions of the export regulations. The full text of these will be made available- at the earliest opportunity to the Orchard Instructors and exporters. .. . . “ Fireblight is again on the move in northern districts, new season’s infection being reported from all the previously infected areas. So far no infection has been reported from , other districts than those previously infected, but it behoves every fruitgrower to be vigilant and immediately report to the local Orchard Instructor any suspicious symptoms showing in his locality. Advice regarding general orchard operations for the main districts are contained in the notes by the Orchard Instructors which follow. . ■ W. T. Goodwin, Assistant Director of the Horticulture Division.

AUCKLAND.

■ Apple, pear, and quince : The following spraying programme is recommended for December —Arsenate of lead, fib. powder or i| lb. paste to 50 gallons water, for the control of codlin-moth, every fourteen to twenty-one days, together with commercial lime-sulphur, 1-90 to 1-100, for the control of fungoid disease. • Peach, nectarine, and plum: Growers are advised to spray with commercial lime-sulphur, 1-120 to 1-125, as a preventive against brown-rot. Citrus-fruits: Spray with bordeaux, 4-4-40, as soon as the fruit has set on the main crop of flowers.. Citrus-growers are again reminded of the necessity of removing all wood injured by frost during the winter, otherwise it may lead to fungoid trouble or give opportunity for the entry of borer insects. —J. W. Collard, Orchard Instructor, Auckland.

HAWKE’S BAY

Early peaches and plums will soon be in a marketable condition, also a few early varieties of apples. A very pronounced habit of this early fruit 'is its erratic ripening, and several pickings should be made at intervals to secure the fruit at the correct stage for marketing. Handle all fruit carefully, and never leave picked fruit exposed ,to . the sun, otherwise rapid deterioration is sure to result. With lighter crops than usual it will be more than ever necessary to market the crop, in the most attractive condition possible, and care in handling, grading, and packing will do much towards this end. Though the harvesting of crops will now demand attention, cultivation should not be forgotten. Neglect in this respect occurs too often at this period of the year, with the result that the . evaporation of moisture is excessive, and the trees suffer more than need be during dry weather. Seasonal spraying will consist as follows Apples, pears, and quinces For codlin-moth, leaf-roller, and red mite, applications at twenty-day intervals of arsenate of lead, 2 lb. powder or 3 lb. paste, plus an equal weight of lime, and lime-sulphur, 1 gallon to 100 gallons of water. Where powdery mildew is troublesome 6 lb. of atomic sulphur may be added... Woolly aphis usually makes some headway at this time of the year, and for varieties where this is the case Black Leaf 40, 1 pint to 100 gallons, should be added to the arsenate spray. Endeavour to make a direct hit on colonies wherever the woolly substance appears, a direct hit with good pressure being the secret of summer control for this pest. Stone-fruits —For leech on plums apply arsenate of lead, 3 lb. of paste or 2 lb. of powder per 100 gallons of water. With very tender varieties, and when there is a risk of

staining fruit nearing the ripening-stage, hellebore powder, J oz. per gallon, should be used instead. . Hellebore powder should be boiled for. about twenty minutes in a small quantity of water to secure full efficiency. Peaches and nectarines— Lime-sulphur, 1-125, should be applied where brown-rot is expected, • the last application being made about fourteen days prior to picking. —W. H. Rice, Orchard Instructor, Hastings.

NELSON

Trees overloaded with fruit must have some of it thinned off if the crop is to be kept clean and allowed to colour well. This operation also maintains the constitution of the tree for future cropping, and prevents the breaking-down of valuable leaders. Make a special feature of removing fruit that may have set close about the tops of leaders. When doing this work keep a lookout for fruit affected with codlin-moth or brown-rot, and carefully destroy any which may be found. Spray the trees .as previously recommended, avoiding application within two or three weeks of picking. An orchard clean-fallowed year after year in this district soon becomes harsh and hard underfoot, and the soil goes back in mechanical condition. A ■ green cover-crop, if only of weeds, is necessary to maintain the supply of fibre and humus. These good things, however, are not fully available to the tree unless good clean cultivation is maintained at this season. The trees which are carrying a crop usually need this assistance. . • During stormy weather and in odd moments clean up the fruit-store and packingshed in preparation for the new crop. Boxmaking is another job for such times. The harvest will now be starting for berries and stone-fruits. Nothing is more objectionable than to receive boxes of stone-fruit of uneven maturity,- and this must be guarded against by careful picking. Pack to suit your market. If it is at a distance, and ' considerable handling is necessary, the goods must be very firm to get there safely ; the riper lines must be sent to the handier places. The larger fruits —say, 2 in. and upwardswill look all the better if they are sized and packed like apples. ' Spend a little time occasionally in looking at the grafts put on in the spring. Stop growth from the stock below the graft before it has run to any great length. When the scions are established draw a knife through the ties, but do not remove them. See that they, do not get blown out by strong winds. —W. C. Hyde, Orchard Instructor, Nelson.

NELSON CENTRAL.

During this month the land should be well cultivated to obtain the best results with both fruit and wood growth. Where well-cultivated land has become hard and set a further ploughing will be found beneficial, and will facilitate subsequent operations. Spraying : For black-spot and mildew continue applications of lime-sulphur, 1-100, with the addition of 3 lb. or 4 lb. of milk of lime, or the same weight of atomic sulphur. Mildew is much in evidence at present. Where this is the main trouble, reduce the quantity of lime-sulphur solution and increase the quantity of atomic sulphur, especially if the foliage is showing signs of cracking and dryness through constant applications of the former spray. Cut back badly infected laterals to good clean spurs or shoots, as these are the main source of mildew infection. As red mite is prevalent in most orchards, non-bearing trees as well as those carrying a crop should be sprayed. The same precautionary remarks apply to woolly aphis, for which use Black Leaf 40 at I—Boo. Make a point of getting an arsenate-of-lead spray on towards the end of November, as the codlinmoth will be depositing eggs about this time. Repeat the application about three weeks later. Cherry and pear leech will be making its appearance. Apply arsenate of lead, f lb. powder or i| lb. paste to 50 gallons water. When ripeningtime approaches use hellebore powder, 1 lb. to 20 gallons, in preference to arsenate for cherries and plums. It quickly dissipates and does not mark the fruit. Timber for fruit-cases should be stacked up to dry. If left in the bundles, especially when not under cover, it is liable to become very discoloured and unsightly in appearance. —J. H. Thorp, Orchard Instructor, Mapua.

MOTUEKA

With the month’ of December the weather will be getting hot and dry. Where cultivation had to be delayed owing to the heavy rains no time should be lost in attending to the work, reducing the soil to as fine a tilth as possible so as to retain the maximum amount of moisture. ’ , ■’ '' • ' .

Although there , is a light setting on many varieties of apples this season, especially in some localities, the thinning of those trees with a good set should not be neglected. The result will be beneficial both as regards quality and size of fruit. It is also advisable at this stage to pick off all malformed, damaged, and diseased fruits. Pay attention to the fruit on young trees, removing all fruits from the tops of the leaders. The notes supplied last month for this district with regard to spraying will still apply. Where brown-rot is in evidence it is'necessary to collect all infected fruits and effectively destroy them. Leaf-hopper in the nymph . stage has been noticed in several orchards. This pest is much easier to control when in this stage than when on the wing. If the lime-sulphur sprays do not cope with it, Black Leaf 40, 1-1000, should be applied. . —G. Stratford, Orchard Instructor, Motueka.

CANTERBURY

Cultivation : Cultivation should now receive special attention, and every effort should be made to reduce the soil to as fine a tilth as possible. Stir the soil when sufficiently dry after rains so as to prevent a crust forming on the surface. Grafts : Growers are advised to make an inspection of recently grafted trees and remove all shoots and buds appearing below the graft. - Disbudding, &c. : Remove from the roots and trunks all superfluous shoots so that the energy of the tree may be directed toward the development of leaders and laterals. In young trees surplus and misplaced growth which would have to be cut out at the winter pruning should now be carefully removed. Thinning fruit: Peach-growers should give this important phase of orchard work some attention. Practically all danger from frost is now over. All fruit should be taken off from the tops of leaders of young trees. Remove damaged and diseased fruit. Thin out sufficiently to give the remaining fruits ample room for development. Spraying of pip-fruits : Apple, pear, and quince—For codlin-moth, leafroller, and pear-slug, apply arsenate of lead, 3 lb. paste or 1J lb. powder to 100 gallons. For red mite, leaf-hopper, woolly aphis, mussel scale, black-spot, and powdery mildew, apply lime-sulphur,' 1-100. As alternative treatment Black Leaf 40, 1-1000, plus 3 lb. Sunlight soap per 100 gallons, may be applied for woolly aphis and leaf-hopper ; bordeaux, 3-4-50, on pears in localities where black-spot is prevalent; and atomic sulphur or sulphur atoms, 8 lb. to 100 gallons, as a control for powdery mildew. All powdery-mildew-infected twigs should be picked off and burnt. . . ■ • - ' Spraying of stone-fruits : Apricots and nectarines brown-rot, leaf-curl, aphis and red mite, apply lime-sulphur, 1-125. Carefully pick from the trees and gather . from the ground all brown-rot-infected fruits and destroy by burning. Plums and cherries — slug apply arsenate of lead as for apples, &c. For brownrot apply lime-sulphur, 1-125. Trees infected .with silver-blight are again numerous this season. Cut out and burn all dead limbs and branches. —W. K. Dallas, Orchard Instructor, Christchurch.

- - OTAGO. Keep a close watch for black-spot. Lime-sulphur, 1-100, should now keep this in check, but if infection is visible use bordeaux, 3—4-50, this being the better fungicide, although more liable to cause russeting. Spray varieties of apples that are affected with powdery mildew with lime-sulphur, 1-100 or 1-120, or atomic sulphur, 8 lb. or 10 lb. to 100 gallons. As an additional means of control pick off and burn all affected twigs. For green and black aphis on peach-trees, &c., spray with Black Leaf 40, 1-800 ; 3 lb. soap per 100 gallons improves the mixture. This spray will also be found to help in the control of woolly aphis. Spray apple and pear trees for codlin-moth, leaf-roller caterpillar, and pear-slug with arsenate of lead, 1 lb. powder or 1J lb. paste to 50 gallons.

Fruit-thinning will still be one of the necessary duties to perform if the best results and prices are to be obtained. Pay particular attention to small varieties of apricots. The result of judicious thinning will be greater weight and better quality of fruit. Muir and Triumph peaches pay well for careful thinning-out, also Burbank plums. Among apples, Scarlet Nonpareil and Cleopatra require special attention, for the sake of the trees as well as the crop. All young appletrees should have the fruit removed from the previous season’s growth, to give the leaders a chance. - Where the main orchard cultivation is completed only light surface cultivation will be needed to keep the weeds in check and retain the moisture in the soil. • — B. G. Goodwin, Orchard Instructor, Dunedin.