THE ORCHARD.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXVI, Issue 4, 20 April 1923, Page 253

THE ORCHARD.

RECORDING THE SEASON’S EXPERIENCE. The best teacher is experience, and a fruitgrower will be wise (the busy harvest period being about closed) if he sits down and makes a careful note in a the orchard log of the conclusions the experience of the season now passing has impressed upon him. It is best done now before the impression fades and while there is the possibility of some little leisure. - For instance, in some of our larger fruitgrowing centres the season has been remarkable for the unusual amount of black-spot on the pip-fruits. What is more remarkable still, there are large areas of Cleopatra and Delicious applesvarieties specially susceptible to this disfiguring fungus—that are remarkably clean, while in the same orchard often Dunns and Jonathans —that are commonly immune badly "affected. Why is this? Have these well-known characteristics been suddenly reversed ? For the last two or three years there has been a tendency to defer the all-important early sprays/ To apply them in early spring instead of in the depth of winter was an advantage that has been amply proved. Of late years fruitgrowers have been tempted to defer the application to the “ green-tip ” stage, and now they are inclined to make the application later still— the “ cluster-bud ” stage. The inclination may be a good one, but experience has shown it to be very difficult to follow, especially on the larger areas. When deferred to the last moment in this way it only takes a brief spell of wind or rain or a pump breakdown to miss the important strong dormant spray altogether, ■ and black-spot, fungus activity then commences before preventive measures can be adopted. This happened in many instances this past season. Such recommendations, excellent as they may be, can only be carried out with confidence in the case of orchards that are abundantly equipped with spray-pumps and manual assistance. Otherwise it is not safe to defer the' commencement of the first pip-fruit spray much later than early September, completing it before the fungus activity commences. . The wet spring and early summer made many growers reluctant to thin the rather heavy crop of apples that set, lest “dropping” should follow later. Dropping did not take place to any extent, and as a result four, five, and sometimes more fruits developed on a spur. This led to broken branches, a quantity of “ fallings,” forced off as maturity approached, and a big percentage of blemish on the remaining fruit owing to the impossibility of effectively spraying the tight clusters. The result was a 60-per-cent. (or less) “Fancy” grade in the crop. Experience surely has taught a lesson here.

In some stone-fruit sections during the months of January and February, when the weather was moist and hot, brown-rot was very prevalent in fallen fruit and on the trees. The fruitgrower was inclined to take consolation in the opinion that “it was the same in every orchard.” But such was not the case ; in some such areas this fungus was hard to find, and a good crop of stonefruit was marketed. Brown-rot must be treated as a most infectious thing and given no chances.

These points and many more now demand the careful cogitation of the commercial fruitgrower, and that will not be effectual unless the conclusions for amended treatment are recorded in the log-book for use the following season. FENCES, DRAINAGE, ETC. The present is the best time for repairing the orchard fences and gates, trimming hedges, and cleaning out ditches and drains. It may seem like a counsel of perfection, but there is great comfort and saving of time in the fact that the fences are sufficiently secure to keep the hares out and the pigs in, and everything in its place. Again) drainage is only a name if the outlets are not

kept clear. Flood-waters should not be allowed to stand on orchard areas ; one or two plough-furrows in the right place will go a long way to keeping the surface dry. A load or two of shingle in some of the more frequented gateways, and by the tank-stand where the spray-pump is filled, will not be amiss ; it will save time and horse-harness in the busy season. FRUIT IN STORE. Fruit in store requires . very close attention for . the first month or so of storage. If the store is of the closed kind it should be ventilated freely at night and during the colder days, in order to dispose of excessive humidity and gases given off by the fruit. _ w _ c Hyde , Orchard Instructor, Nelson. CITRUS FRUITS.... x In many citrus-groves a scarcity of autumn blossoming is very noticeable, particularly so in those which suffered from the frosts of last winter. When the blossom-petals have fallen from this blossoming an application of bordeaux (summer strength) should be given for the control of fungoid diseases. If scale insects are troublesome an application of red oil, at the rate of i part of oik to 40 of water, may be applied with beneficial effect when the trees are in the autumn growth.

Those growers contemplating the laying-down of new areas in citrus-trees during the coming season should now put the work of preparation in hand. The soil at this period is usually in excellent condition for the work. It is advisable that those requiring new trees should place their orders early,, and have a careful selection of the best-grown trees on the right stocks only supplied to them.

—J. W. Collard,

Orchard Instructor, Auckland.