CANKER IN APPLE AND PEAR TREFS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1499, 5 March 1887, Page 3

CANKER IN APPLE AND PEAR TREFS

This disorder arises from sevetal causes, all connected with the subsoil. It may be owing to the unfavorable mechanical condition of the subsoil, as m the case of hard gravel, or impervious cold clay, or excess of moisture, or the presence of deleterious substances In the sabsoil, which m itself may not otherwise be unsuitable. The evil is direotly caused by the invelopment of roots m the subsoil, and the prevention of this is or ehculd ba the fi st object of the cultivator m t>n. deavoring to effect a cure. Trees affected with canker should be carefully lifted, If they are worth the trouble, and replanted, bringing all their roots ne*r the surface, and inducing them to remain there by means of dressings of manure or rich compost. At the same time the eubaoil ought to be improved by drainage if very wet, or by being broken up, if oloae and hard. It is not neoeßsary or desirable t) do this m order to give freer access for the roots into the subsoil, quite the contrary. They shou'd be prevented by every possible means, /torn entering it, and the best way to do so is to feed the trees from the rurfaco by means of dressings, Buch as have been mentioned, and which are beneficial In evuy way. But the improvement of the bottom or snlsoil, m the way indicated, will alo improve tho surface soil, which is cfton also bad because of the ill condition of the bottom. Once the roots are brought to the surface they are usr.ally easy to keep there by means of top dressing once or twice a year, say, during winter aB aoon as pruning is done, and m November as early as possible. If the trees are far gone with canker, the best thiDg to do Is to bum them and p'ani afresh, improving the soil and subsoil before dolrg bo. Fresh plantations thould be treated with the view of preventing the dieoidor from making its appearance, by inducing the roots to pasture on tin surface m the way above indicated. Where canker In prevalent, the surface soil aroand fruit trees should never be dug with either spade or fork, which leadß to the destruction of every fibre as far as the tool penetrates. The tree is thereby deprived of its best support, and the annual recurrence of this practice fOl ces it to send its roots deeper and deeper m quest of nutriment, good or bad. Any time during late autumn, or winter, or early spring—in open weather suitable for planting— is suitable for operations of the kind above alluded to.

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