ORCHARD AND VINEYARD

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 71, Issue 3, 15 September 1945, Page 305

ORCHARD AND VINEYARD

Spraying, Cultivation, and Grafting

SEPTEMBER is generally recognised as the time for the first spray applications, and in some districts the foundation sprays will have already been applied. Some essential points in successful

disease control are:— 1. The use of proper spraying equipment in thorough working order. ment m thorough working order. 2. Application of sprays at the proper time - . • . 3. The use of reliable spraying materials. 4. Care in weighing and measuring spray ingredients. 5. Thorough spray coverage of all portions of the tree. Climatic variations make it impos- . sible to give a complete spray programme for the whole of the Dominion, but with slight modifications to meet special circumstances according to district, the schedules below are applicable to all parts of New Zealand. • The alternative programme is recommended where bitter rot (Glomerelict cingulata) or ripe spot is pre- - valent. ' Where leaf hopper becomes troublesome nicotine , sulphate should be added at a dilution of .1-800 when the nymphs appear, which is usually about January, but in some districts and under - dry and warm, conditions this pest may appear much earlier. Therefore, it would be wise to keep the foliage under observation from October onwards.

APPLES. PERIOD OF APPLICATION. TREATMENT. ’ DISEASE OR PEST. Early green-tip . Bordeaux 5-4-50 or Black spot, powdery mildew. Lime sulphur 1-30 Open cluster to pink Lime sulphur 1-150 Black spot, powdery mildew. Petal fall Lime sulphur 1-200 Black spot, powdery mildew, Colloidal sulphur codling moth, .bronze beetle, 21b.-100 (40%) leaf-roller. Lead arsenate 1 1-100 Hydrated lime 31b.-100 Ten to 14 days later Ditto Ditto Fourteen- to 18-day intervals to mid-December Ditto Ditto Eighteen- to 21-day intervals to end of January and later if required.. Ditto, or Black spot, powdery mildew, Bordeaux 1-2-50 bitter rot, ripe spot, codling Lead arsenate 11-100 moth, leaf-roller. Plus spreading agent PEARS. PERIOD OF APPLICATION. TREATMENT. DISEASE OR PEST. Early green-tip Bordeaux 5-4-50 Black spot Open cluster to pink Bordeaux 3-4-50 Black spot Petal fall Bordeaux 3-4-50 Black spot, codling moth, w plus lead arsenate 11-100 Fourteen days later Ditto Ditto Eighteen- to 21-day intervals Ditto Black spot, codling moth, to January and later If leaf-roller, pear slug, required. ■ ■

Should red mite appear, it may be necessary to make two applications of summer oil at a dilution of 1-100 during January and February, but oil must not be applied within 10 days of a sulphur spray.

Cultivation ~ i. u . Spring ploughing should be completed as soon as possibl6) which the g roun d should be cultivated frequently in order to work the soil down to a fine tilth, which is very necessary for the conservation of moisture during the drier periods of the year. If this work is neglected until later in the season, many soils set hard, making it difficult for impleto break through the surface, • careful and clean cultivation the Gestations of some insect pests, especially bronze beetle, can be reG. P a^ ic ularly during the period ls . pest ls on the wing. The grafting of unsuitable varieties can be undertaken during September an d October, and the work should commence as soon as the bark will lb:t freely. Bark or rind grafting is the method generally used on fullyS r °wn trees, but on younger and sma her trees the whip graft is more sGable. Care should be exercised in cutting of both stock and scion, anc J grafts should be securely sealed with a suitable grafting preP tion m order to exclude all air. The refurnishing method has frequently been used within recent years, and although much extra work is en-

tailed, it has the advantage of a considerable saving of time in bringing the tree back to full production. In refurnishing, the trees are more or less skeletonised, and scions are inserted along the whole length of the main limbs at a distance of from 15 to 18in. Suitable laterals and fruiting arms are cut back to short stubs for grafting, while others should be removed entirely. Leaders should be shortened slightly and grafts placed on top of the cut. —D. J. HOGG, Orchard Instructor, Mapua.

Citrus Notes

Fungus Injury

THE banding of the trunks of citrus trees with tangle-foot in areas where dicky rice weevil is present should be completed by the end of October. This is important because the first brood of adult weevils commence to emerge at the beginning of November, and it is while the fruits are very small that the worst injuries can be caused. Injury frequently takes place before the blossom petals have fallen. The material should be applied in bands about 2in. wide and a thickness of not less than one eighth of an inch. The surface of the band should be rubbed over at approximately monthly intervals to break the film which is likely to form on the surface. All branches should be kept clear of the ground and weed growth or pasture prevented from coming in contact with the branches, otherwise the banding operation is rendered almost useless.

Injury to citrus by dicky rice weevil is not confined to the fruit and foliage, as the weevil, when in the larval stage, feeds on citrus roots. The debilitating effect this pest has on citrus trees is most marked where there is appreciable infection, consequently it is important that trees not yet in bearing should also be banded. Sufficient tangle-foot material to meet requirements for the season should be ordered immediately, if this has not already been done. Citrus Verrucosis The fungus disease known as verrucosis is one of the major diseases liable to attack the fruit and foliage of the various kinds of citrus in New Zealand. The Meyer lemon, Citronelle (rough lemon), and the Wheeny grapefruit are most susceptible to the disease, but other varieties of lemon, mandarins, tangelos, and grapefruit, including the New Zealand grapefruit, are also liable to become severely infected if adequate preventive measures are not taken. Control

of verrucosis can readily be secured by the use of Bordeaux mixture sprays at a strength of 3-4-50. The number of applications necessary depends on the susceptibility of the tree and the prevalence of the disease. Trees severely infected may require as many as four applications during one season to effect a satisfactory control. In such cases the initial spray should be applied when the earliest blossoms become fully opened, the second approximately one month later, and the third about mid-Decem-ber. The fourth application, which is generally required for lemons only, should be made during the autumn blossoming period. Where only very slight infection has occurred during the previous season one application made when most of the spring blossoms have fallen will generally prove sufficient to effect control. The correct periods of application and complete spray coverage are important

factors in securing control of the disease. Infected fruits should be removed and destroyed. Care in Handling Fruit-rotting fungi . cause considerably more wastage in citrus fruits during October and November than at any other period of the year. Consequently, it is important that special care should be exercised in the handling of fruit during this period so that wastage will be reduced to a minimum. The stalks of fruit should be cut flush with the “button,” but on no account should the “button” be injured. Field cases and grading bins should be kept free of dirt, protruding nails, and splinters. The over-filling of picking bags and field boxes can readily result in injury to fruit. Finger nails of pickers, graders, and packers should be kept cut short if gloves are not worn, as microscopic injury to the delicate oil cells of the rind is sufficient to permit the entry of fruit-rotting fungus spores.

BRANDING OF CASES. THE provisions of the New Zealandgrown Fruit Regulations 1940 make it compulsory that one end of ail packages of fruit offered for sale shall be branded in a specific manner. For oranges, lemons, and grapefruit the principal requirements are as follows: Bottom left-hand corner: The grower’s registered mark. Bottom right-hand corner: The grade, kind of fruit, and count, and,

in the case of Meyer lemons, the variety and the words “cured” or “not cured.” The word “grapefruit” should be preceded by either “dessert” or “marmalade,” according to the stage of maturity. All of the above details should be branded in decipherable characters of not less than fin. block type. The shipping or forwarding mark should be placed in the centre of the end. If a grower desires to include his name and address, this should be placed directly under the registered mark and be in decipherable characters of not less than gin. block type. When any citrus fruits are being despatched as a gift the words “gift fruit” must be clearly marked on the case. For any citrus fruit sold direct to a factory or packing establishment the only compulsory brand required is the registered mark of the owner. All of the markings mentioned above should be included on one end of each package, but can be repeated on the other end if desired. Under no circumstances should the tops, bottoms, or sides bear any brand or inscription. While it is permissible to brand packages by means of a stencil, it is preferable to use rubber stamps, which are more speedily applied and present a more attractive appearance. Rough markings with pencil or crayon are not permitted; furthermore, packages marked in this manner are likely to create a poor impression when the contents are presented for sale on the market.

—P. EVERETT,

Orchard

Instructor, Kaikohe.