THE ORCHARD.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXVII, Issue 6, 20 December 1923, Page 405

THE ORCHARD.

STONE-FRUITS

The period of stone-fruit harvest will soon be at peak, and marketing of the crop in the best possible condition should be the aim. This can be done only by careful selection at picking-time. Once the fruits have attained size for the variety, close watch should be kept for signs of ripeness. Ripeness from the orchardist’s point of view is rather different from the ripe condition expected by the consumer. Ripeness for the grower is when the fruit has attained that degree of advancement beyond which it would commence to become soft-ripe. On the judgment shown by the picker in selecting fruit which is mature but not soft often depends the difference between profit and loss.

It is very rare for all the fruits on any tree to be found in condition in less than three pickings, while it is astonishing to the uninitiated what development takes place in the smaller fruits which are left on the tree at first picking. Observation discloses that a large proportion of the overripe peaches and nectarines come from the inner part of the tree. Fruits exposed on the outer parts naturally colour up better and are more readily seen ; those in the sheltered parts very rarely take on colour, to indicate ripeness, yet, once they • have attained size, ripening takes place even more rapidly than with exposed fruits. Close attention should therefore be given to fruit grown on the inner parts of the trees if loss due to overripeness is to be eliminated.

Careful grading as to size and quality also assists towards presenting the fruit in the best condition. Fruit packed on size reduces the risk of a loose pack and shaking contents, and consequent bruising in transit; fruit of the one quality packed together also presents a better appearance.

With the risk of brown-rot appearing in a ripening crop or developing in transit every effort should be made to counteract this disease. Lime-sulphur, 1-125, plus 6 lb. of atomic sulphur^ should be applied up to within, say, ten days

of picking. Though at all times there is uncertainty of control, this mixture is giving the best results of any in use at the present time. Further measures for control are the use of new cases and, above all, the prevention of skin-puncture.

After the fruit is. harvested the orchardist should go over the trees, cut out any broken limbs, and daub the cut with coal-tar to prevent the entry of silverblight. The land can then be sown down to a cover-crop. Any crop found suitable to the district is preferable to weeds, but a leguminous crop should be chosen if such can be grown. . i

PIP-FRUITS.

Now is the time to concentrate on getting the pip-fruit area of the orchard into the most advanced condition. If any work falls in arrear at this season it is most difficult to overtake, as picking, &c., will soon demand first consideration. Cultivation should be continued to kill weeds, and, most especially, to break the earth-crust after any shower of rain.

Seasonable pests and diseases to be prevented or controlled are codlin-moth, leaf-roller, leech (arsenate of lead, i J lb. to 100 gallons) ; powdery mildew (limesulphur, i-ioo, or atomic sulphur, 8 lb. to 100 gallons), also pruning off all mildew-infected tips if time allows ; leaf-hopper, red mite, woolly aphis (nicotine, i pint to 100 gallons) ; and black-spot (bordeaux, 3-4-40, or lime-sulphur, 1-100).

With the fruits showing signs of colour it is now more than ever necessary to avoid as far as possible. the spray being deposited in drops, otherwise the colour will be spotted. The casein-spreaders are best for this purpose, causing an even diffusion of spray often desired but not. attained prior to the introduction of this valuable adjunct. Casein in the crude form requires special preparation, but there are several brands of prepared material on the market. An efficient dosage is 1 lb. per 100 gallons of any spray.

There is at this period a market for the more advanced sizes of such cookers as Alfriston, Lord Suffield, Prince Alfred, &c. Some degree of immaturity is permissible thus early in the season when cookers are in strong demand, size being the main consideration. Immaturity is not permissible in marketing early dessert sorts, such as Irish Peach, Astrakhan, Quarrenden, &c. ; indeed, it is to be avoided in them. Fruits arriving in immature condition usually meet with poor demand and injuriously affect the market. When a market opens slack and low it is often difficult to restore confidence or prices. That immature fruit has a depressing effect is well known to those who view the markets as a whole, but is not sufficiently recognized by those who each send a few cases, which combine to cause the effect. , ' ' '

ORGANIZATION.

Orchard conveyances, packing-sheds, grading-machines, and . fruit-harvesting gear should now be put in order to receive the crop, cases made up, and preparations made for action generally. ' Special boxes should be reserved for handling the fruit in the orchard, and clean cases used in which to pack the fruit for market. . When the cases are used in the orchard they often become discoloured and dirty, and bring discredit on the contents. The movement among growers for concerted action in the endeavour to improve market conditions depends for success a good deal on the individual orchardist. ' While the main organization can do much good, it must fail in part, if not altogether, unless supported by the grower perfecting his own orchard organization by providing proper packing facilities, materials, &c. While efforts should be made to economize by reducing marketing-costs, efficiency should be the keynote; but without forethought and organization, efficiency is interrupted. This will apply with equal force whether the channel of distribution be through a central controlling Board, merchant, or auctioneer. . —W. H. Rice, Orchard Instructor, Hastings. :

CITRUS-CULTURE.

In groves where Lecanium oleae scale has not been efficiently dealt with by the early application of red-oil emulsion, 1-40, in the spring, a further application of this spray should now be made. It is very noticeable that quite a number of growers are not dealing with this pest as they should. Some growers have gone so far as to say that spraying with red-oil will not efficiently check

the spread of the scale, but I am firmly of opinion that this troublesome pest can be almost completely controlled by the careful and judicious application of the emulsion at the correct periods.

A citrus-tree is always a hard tree to spray in an efficient manner, as, owing to its glossy foliage, one is apt to consider that all parts of the tree have been well covered with the spray when such is not the case. In many instances too little attention is paid to the proper covering of the under-surface of the leaves, which, especially in the case of the lemon, is the chief breeding-ground of the scale. Again, a large number of growers, who for one reason or another allow their trees to grow too thickly, and in some cases allow the lower branches to drag right on to the ground, are preventing to a large degree the carrying-out of proper spraying.

If two applications of the oil are not sufficient, then a third one should be made, applied at the time best calculated to catch young scale on the move. The defoliation caused by the use of oil, of which one hears so much from some growers, is to a very large extent caused either by faulty emulsification or badly mixed sprays. No doubt also in some instances the defoliation may be traced to weakness in those particular trees.

Where the application of bordeaux, 4-4-40, has been deferred, this may yet be applied.

FIREBLIGHT.

It may now be reasonably expected that fireblight will show up in various localities at any time during this season of the year. The second infection namely, tip-infection be looked for in apples at any time from now on. It is too early at the time of writing these notes to definitely state the degree of freedom or otherwise from fireblight of orchards in the Auckland District, but it is pleasing to note that up to the present time only one infection has been identified in the commercial areas. Although this is the case, it does not follow that any other district will be in such a happy position, and it is therefore necessary to maintain a strict watchfulness over all pip-fruit orchards, whether they are situated in an area where fireblight has previously been known to exist or not.

Although fireblight has been existent in New Zealand now for three years, it is possible that there may be some growers who have not yet made themselves conversant with the procedure advised to be adopted in the event of the disease being identified. The disease is easily detected at this stage, whereas later in the season—during the winter months —it is difficult, and in many cases impossible, to locate.

Control measures consist in the removal of diseased portions of infected trees. On lateral shoots cut some inches below cankers ; on larger branches cut out the cankers and all discoloured tissue with a sharp knife. The wounds should then be sterilized with a corrosive-sublimate solution, and painted over with coal-tar. It is important that all instruments used—secateurs, knives, &c. should be sterilized after each cut. This is necessary so that these instruments will not spread infection.

All severed laterals, cankered portions, &c., should be immediately burned, for if they are allowed to lie about they will be the source of further infection now and in the following spring.

For sterilizing knives, secateurs, &c., use formalin, 1 part, and water, 20 parts. Mix and keep in a convenient wide-mouthed receptacle, so that the instruments can be readily dipped in it. Quick immersion will be sufficient to kill any organism likely to be present.

For disinfecting areas on the trees that have been cut use corrosive sublimate, 1 part, and water, 1,000 parts. This equals one tabloid to 1 pint of water. Apply with a small brush. This is a deadly poisonous compound, and should not be left lying about. Keep it in a glass or earthenware receptaclenot in a tin —and do not dip knives or secateurs into it, as metals decompose the solution.

As a wound-covering after sterilization with corrosive sublimate use pure coal-tar. Apply with a stiff brush. It is practically harmless to the tree, and when coated on the wound prevents the entry of parasitic fungi.

— J. W. Collard,

Orchard Instructor, Auckland.