THE ORCHARD.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXIX, Issue 6, 20 December 1924, Page 419

THE ORCHARD.

, FRUIT HARVEST. The season is now at hand when all energies will be devoted to the picking, grading, packing, and marketing of fruit. In order to give this portion of the work all the attention it requires, together with the spraying necessary for keeping in check the various pests and diseases, cultivation will have to be reduced to a minimum. If cultivation is carried out in a proper manner up to New Year very little will be needed during the next few months. However, if a cover-crop is contemplated a little preparation will be necessary before it is sown in February. It should now be fairly easy to estimate the extent of the crops of both stone and pip fruits, and every endeavour made to secure a full supply of cases, if this has not already been done. During the busy season, when both' stone and pip fruits are being dealt with, everything should be in readiness so as to handle the crops as expeditiously as possible. PICKING AND PACKING. . If it is worth while to exercise care and skill in growing the fruit it is equally important to take pains at the harvest. Just when and how the fruit should be picked depends largely on the species or variety, and on the distance it has to be shipped. The closer and better the market, the riper the fruit should be when gathered. It would seem to be unnecessary to say that all fruits intended for a good market should be hand-picked, and yet it is a fact that such fruit is often shaken from the trees. After fruit is picked it is very important that it should be kept cool and away from the sun. The correct time to pick can scarcely be described in words; experience in the orchard is the best teacher. It is impossible to carry out the packing operations in a successful manner if a convenient packing-shed is not available. Packing in

the orchard has little to recommend it, as it is not feasible to carry out this operation under adverse weather conditions. ■ SPRAYING. ’ . Codlin-moth, leaf-roller caterpillar, and pear-slug will all be in evidence at this period, and trees should be sprayed with arsenate of lead — I lb., or powder |lb., to 30 gallons water. For powdery mildew on apples use atomic or atomized sulphur, 8-100 ; for blackspot on apples and pears, lime-sulphur, 1-125, or bordeaux, 3-4-50. It is a great mistake to think that one. or two sprayings are sufficient to control these pests and diseases. It is necessary to repeat the applications well on into the autumn. Woolly aphis will now be working freely, and the trees should receive a dressing of Black Leaf 40, 1 pint to 100 gallons water, plus 3 lb. soap, the application being repeated in two weeks if necessary. Where bud-weevil is troublesome in raspberries they should be sprayed immediately after the fruit is packed, using arsenate of lead, 2 oz. to 4 gallons water. This pest does considerable damage by eating out the buds from the. new canes.

—L. Paynter,

Orchard Instructor, Christchurch.

CITRUS-CULTURE. Phenomenal blossoming has taken place in most orange-groves and in the majority of lemon-orchards. The blossoming, however, is rather later than usual this season, doubtless owing to the wet weather experienced. . Growers will therefore have to time their bordeaux application for the control of fungoid diseases accordingly, bearing in mind -that the most opportune time to make the necessary application is when the majority of the blossoms have dropped from the petals. It can be anticipated that the humid conditions existing at the present time may cause such disease. to. give slightly more trouble than is usually the case, and, that being so, it may be necessary to make a second application - of bordeaux, 4-4-40, which should be carried out some three weeks to a month after the first. ' Thrip has been rather troublesome in some lemon-groves, and recently it is noticeable that Eureka and Villa Franca suffer the most in this regard. Where the red-oil emulsion, 1-40, has not been fully effective an application may be made, with benefit, of nicotine sulphate, at the rate of 1-750. Such spray will also control any black aphis that may be present. The spray applications referred to may be considered to be the most important of the season, and, as pointed out in . previous notes, the very best results are obtained by the use of a power sprayer, using spray ■ guns. The infection . of citrus-trees by either fungoid disease or insect pests is always much in evidence on the. under portion of the leaves. It becomes necessary, therefore, that this: portion of the trees should be very well covered with spray, and the best results are obtained in this respect as mentioned. . With, regard to cultivation, the chief work will- be scarifying- and hoeing around the trees where necessary, the latter applying chiefly to young growing trees. • ' ’ -

FIREBLIGHT . . ‘ J Although it is a little on the early side at this juncture to state definitely that the commercial areas in the Auckland District are- entirely free from fireblight infection for this season, it may now be reasonably supposed that as no infection has so far taken place in those areas there is little risk of an outbreak in regard to blossom-infection. However, it does not follow that other districts are yet entirely safe in this respect, and the strict watch which has been maintained should be continued without relaxation. .. . STRAWBERRIES. '. Harvesting the crop is now the chief work of the commercial grower. Already large quantities have been put on the Auckland market, and the regulations for the packing of this class of fruit for sale have been brought into operation. Strawberry-growers generally in the Auckland District are to be congratulated on the manner in which they have come into line in compliance with the regulations. They will be gratified to know that retailers report increased demand by the public on account of the improvement in the pack.

J. W. Collard,

', Orchard Instructor, Auckland.