THE ORCHARD.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2, 20 February 1928, Page 127

THE ORCHARD.

SPRAYING OPERATIONS. Attention must still be given to the later varieties of apples that will not be picked for some time. The hot, dry weather experienced will be conducive to various pests in the orchard, and red mite will probably be on the increase. If nothing is done for its control this pest multiplies very rapidly not only detrimentally to the fruit in the ■current season, but to the production of strong healthy buds for the next season. Lime-sulphur sprayed at strength of about 1-120 will help to keep red mite in check, although Black Leaf 40, 1-800 or 1-1,000, has been proved to give better results. Owing to the high cost of Black Leaf, some growers have been using red oil, strength 1-160, or a 2-per-cent. kerosene emulsion, both sprays having been found satisfactory for the control of red mite and leaf-hopper. When spraying for these pests it is advisable to direct attention to the under-surfaces of the foliage as much as possible, using considerable force to drive the spray to every part. Stone-fruit growers are advised to give their trees a good application of bordeaux as soon as possible after the fruit has been picked. This will act as a preventive against the overwintering of spores, and thus reduce the trouble from fungous diseases next spring. Any fruits ■affected with brown-rot left on the trees or lying on the ground should be gathered up and destroyed. MARKETING. The importance of care in the marketing of fruit, whether for local •or overseas markets, cannot be too strongly emphasized. The placing of the rejects from export on the local market is detrimental, and ■causes dissatisfaction among the buying public. These fruits have not reached the proper stage of maturity for local consumption, and very rarely fetch satisfactory prices. If more discrimination were shown when picking, much of this trouble would be eliminated. Where it is intended to cater for the local market it would be preferable to reserve ■certain trees in the orchard for that purpose, picking the fruit at the

proper stage of maturity and placing it on the market in the very best of condition. The fact that apple-trees should be picked over two or three times is not always realized, with the result that many fruits picked in the early stages are much below the minimum size allowed for that variety. These are put on the local market, with the result as stated above. If left on the tree for a second picking they would size up to the requirements for export, and if too mature for export would be in proper condition for the local market. The handling of fruit for the local market leaves much to be desired. It should be remembered that there is always a good demand for the best, and the grower who sets a standard and consistently keeps to that standard will soon become known to the buyers, who in turn will always be prepared to give a satisfactory price for the fruit. No fruit with bruises, disease, broken skin, or other blemishes detrimental to its quality should be included. The cases should be well packed with good, sound fruit of uniform size, and neatly stencilled, giving all necessary details. It is only by attention to these several points that the local market can be successfully fostered. —G. Stratford, Orchard Instructor, Motueka.

Citrus-culture. ‘ Owing to the extremely dry weather experienced this summer trees are backward in development, and little could be done to assist them except where irrigation was possible. In order to minimize as much as possible the ill effects of this drought it will be well to put intoaction all possible cultural practices during the coming autumn. After the first rainfall the soil should be cultivated to break the surface, otherwise the full benefit of the succeeding rains will be lost, as much will run away. The trees may be expected to make more vigorous autumn growth than > usual, and this should be attended to by pinching and spacing, in order to ensure that the growth may be reasonably hard to withstand the frosts to be expected later. It is in winters following such seasons as the present one that winter-kill of tips is most damaging, mainly because the growth is soft. . Autumn manuring also has a bearing on the texture of the growth, and highly nitrogenous fertilizers should be sparingly used. Most trees will, of course, require an autumn dressing, but the most suitable this year should be phosphates and potash, with slower-acting nitrogen such as blood-and-bone. This is a good season of the year for examining and trimming all trees, removing old and worn-out parts and branches which have a tendency to sweep the ground.

—W. H. Rice,

Orchard Instructor, Auckland.