THE ORCHARD.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXVII, Issue 3, 20 September 1923, Page 194

THE ORCHARD.

SEASONAL SPRAYING.

During this season of the year the new growth of trees is at the tenderest stage of development, ' which condition, combined with the moist to humid weather generally prevailing, renders the trees very susceptible to the various fungus diseases which become active at the same period. The hope of success with the coming season's crop • depends in. a great measure on the precautions taken to guard the. developing growth from attack not only by fungus diseases, but also by the insect pests which abound at this season of the year.

The tender state of the trees necessitates the exercising of great care in the use of sprays in order to avoid damage to the foliage and promising crop, but. on the other hand, the prompt use of a suitable spray is the best safeguard: against attack or infection. Under no reasonable circumstances should such a spray be neglected, as it becomes almost impossible to later regain the control over diseases which, have become established

Peaches, nectarines, and Japanese plums should be sprayed with limesulphur, 1-125, plus 6 1b. atomic sulphur. The addition of atomic sulphur to the usual lime-sulphur spray is well worth while, as wherever tried it has increased efficiency in the control of brown-rot. Black aphis may be expected on this class of trees, and should it appear Black Leaf 40, 1-800, may be added to the above spray. Where there are a few isolated bad colonies it is wise to cut out the infected parts as an additional precaution. English plums are somewhat later in showing growth. Bordeaux mixture, 6-4-50, should be used at the tight-cluster stage as a special precaution against rust. Too often these trees are missed with the spring bordeaux, as they are somewhat out of time with the other stone-fruits.

Seasonable spraying for pears will be bordeaux, 6-4-50,. at tight-cluster, followed by a further application at 3-4-40 at pink-cluster, as late as possible before the bloom opens. In districts where black-spot is not prevalent, or on varieties not prone to this disease, lime-sulphur, 1-25 and 1-80, may be substituted at the same periods.

As the price received for good quinces is, in the main, more remunerative than that for mid-season apples and pears, it is difficult to understand the general

lack of attention to these trees. Many at present semi-neglected trees could, with a little extra care, be made much more profitable. Spraying as for pears will materially assist towards this end.

For apples the tight-cluster spray of bordeaux, . 6-4-50, is the foundation spray against black-spot. A further spray is then necessary about open or pink cluster. This should be lime-sulphur, 1-80, on. varieties least susceptible to spot, and bordeaux, 3-4-40, on others. It is at this stage that the greater part of the russet is caused ; therefore bordeaux should not be used except where spot is anticipated. A word of warning is also necessary in regard to the use of limesulphur at this stage, as when it is applied on Delicious, Lord Suffield, and Ribston Pippin there is a tendency for these varieties to shed the fruit.

When the petals have fallen (calyx stage), apples and pears should be sprayed with arsenate of lead, 2 lb., plus lime-sulphur, 1 gallon to 100 gallons of water to which the milk of 2 lb. freshly slaked lime has been added. While some orchardists argue that this calyx spray is not necessary for the control of codlinmoth, its application should not be omitted, as. there are various other biting and chewing insects to be considered, and if these are controlled at this stage better .fruit results.

ELIMINATING LOW-GRADE • FRUIT.

There can be no two opinions about the detrimental effect low-grade fruit has on the markets, and the desirability of keeping the latter as free as possible of this class of produce. There is a variety of opinion as to how this may best be accomplished,, but the surest method is to eliminate the production of such fruit.

After the experience of the past season it behoves every orchardist to make a special effort to reduce to a minimum the production of “ culls.” This is the season of the year when the majority of the culls are made—bad weather conditions or faulty spraying allowing black-spot and other diseases to get hold ; wrong mixture or wrong time of application causing russet; neglect of insecticide permitting insects to injure the fruit and cause blemish ; lack of attention to thinning resulting in deformed and undersized fruit ; overcropping causing malnutrition ; and lack of cultivation inducing shortage of summer moisture. The foundation of at least three-quarters of the faults in cull fruit is laid at this season, which is the most opportune time for checking the factors causing defects in the crop.

CULTIVATION, GRAFTING, AND THINNING.

’ ' Where spring ploughing has been delayed the work should be undertaken at once, and the land so turned over worked down with as little delay as possible. Continue the cultivation of ploughed land and endeavour to secure a good tilth.

Grafting may be done as the sap rises and the bark moves freely on the stocks to be worked over.

Some of the earlier varieties of peaches will have attained a fair size by the end of the month, and a start may be made to reduce the number of fruits carried. This work should be undertaken very cautiously until the fruit has proved fertile by the development of the pit. . As a preliminary to thinning of pip-fruits the flowers should be pinched or cut away from the tops of the leader growth. All the bloom should be removed from one-year-old wood in any case, and may with advantage be removed from two-year-old wood on leaders of trees which are weak in habit or health. ' ‘ , , „ ■ . •

—W. H. Rice, -Orchard Instructor, Hastings.

CITRUS FRUITS.

In cases where spring work in the citrus orchard has not yet been undertaken this should be immediately put in hand. Manuring, digging, and ploughing should be carried out at the - earliest possible date, followed by early spraying with bordeaux, 4-4-40, when the majority of the. blossom-petals have fallen after the main flowering. In regard to manuring, an application of two parts of blood-and-bone to one part of super is recommended. The addition of a small percentage of potash will also be found beneficial in most instances.

FIREBLIGHT.

It is noticed that there is a considerable lack of interest taken by some growers in regard to the proper disposal of prunings taken from pip-fruit trees.

While the menace of fireblight is still on hand, . no risk should be taken in this regard; all prunings should be carefully collected and destroyed by burning, in preference to the practice adopted by many orchardists of placing the prunings in,or under the shelter-belts adjacent to the orchard. This is always dangerous, from many points of view, and should be avoided. >

J.W. Collard,

Orchard, Instructor, Auckland.