HOME GARDENS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 7, 4 July 1949, Page 6

HOME GARDENS

(By J. W. Goodwin, N.D.H. (N.Z.), F.R.H.S., Massey Agricultural College.) FRUIT FOR THE HOME The tendency in recent years has been to neglect fruit trees; but high prices and erratic supply of fruit have convinced many families that some fruit should be grown in the home garden. Furthermore, tree-ripened fruit is the fruit choice of young and old alike. Some fruits, such as the almond and Feijoa, make excellent ornamental plants, whilst most fruits are attractive in flower. A spray programme which is planned to cope with the various types of pests will keep a large number of insect and fungoid species under control. For instance, all chewing insects may be poisoned with arsenate of lead, whilst sucking insects may be smothered by oil sprays or killed by inhaling the fumes of “Blackleaf 40.” Arsenate of lead is termed a stomach poison and the others contact sprays. Bordeaux is the chief fungicide and even the slightest trace on a leaf surface will destroy germinating spores of many different fungus diseases.

Timing is most important, both for time of application and the most suitable sprays for a given time of the year. The Horticultural Division of the Department of Agriculture has prepared spray programmes and these are freely available from any branch of the Division. The Department is willing to help and advise on all horticultural matters. Spray Programme Necessary If we desire to grow fruit trees we must first ask ourselves if we are prepared to spray to a regular programme. A knapsack spray pump is the handiest in the home garden and, though rather expensive at first, will give effective spray coverage and save a great deal of time. It must be remembered • that besides fruit trees, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, roses, cinerarias, chrysanthemums and many other garden plants w«ill benefit greatly from spraying with similar sprays. The stirrup or bucket pump is cheaper to purchase and equally effective, but less manoeuvrable among growing plants. Both types, however, are long-lasting if washed out immediately after use and placed out of harm’s way. Sprays also should be kept out of harm’s way and a “poison cupboard,” in which these and other household or workshop poisons may be locked, is well worth while." This may be quite easily made from any suitably sized box and attached to the wall in the shed or garage.

Older gardeners have trained their fruit trees on the , espalier system, thus saving much room and enabling more varieties to be grown. Training may be carried out on a wall, wire or post and rails fence. Single rods or maiden trees are planted 10 to 12 feet apart and are cut back to 18 inches from the ground. Three buds only are selected, two to grow horizontally, one to each side, and the top one to grow as a vertical leader. It is a general rule to add one pair of horizontal branches each year. To space them correctly the leader should be cut back to about 15 inches above the first pair of horizontals, and the top three buds are again selected and trained. Side shoots developing from the horizontal branches are shortened back during the summer to four or five leaves to encourage the development of fruit buds and divert the flow of sap to the extremity of the branch. This is undoubtedly the best means of obtaining the greatest amount of fruit for the space occupied. Apples and pears are most suitable but should not be worked on strong vigorous stocks. Too-vigorous trees need too much cutting and are slow to commence fruiting.

Research and selection at the East Mailing station in England has resulted in a number of apple stocks being grown for specific purposes. Some are most suitable for growing in light soils, others are vigorous or moderately vigorous as desired. The one desired by the home gardener is the dwarfing stock “Mailing 12,” which produces dwarf heavy-crop-ping trees. These are now available in New Zealand, though they will probably be in short supply for some years. It will be well worth while ordering ahead and waiting a year or two.