FARMERS AND FRUIT TREES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 601, 1 September 1909, Page 10

FARMERS AND FRUIT TREES.

"EACH*ACCORDING TO HIS LIGHT." It is'surprising'(writes our travelling correspondent) how littlo knowledge sofac men display while planting fruit treos. This is all the more remarkable when it is applied to the farmer, who certainly ought to have nn elementary knowledge of fruit-growing. This leads mo up to what I saw in a placo not far from ltangitikei. I had called oil a farmer, and was told that he was in'the orchard. Thither 1 went, and 1 found him and an- assistant busy planting trees. Ho was quite frank with me, saying that- ho know notniug about fruit trees. I thought it strange, as he had been brought up 011 a farm. However, ho asked mo if I knew anything of tho subject, and whether he ought to prune the trees ho was planting, as hitherto he had simply left them alone. His man had dug some uico neat, round holes, about eighteen inches deep; eoino raw manure was placcd in the bottom, then tho tree, and over the roots a good coat of manure was laid, and finally the hole wa3 filled up, with an endpavour-some pyramid of soil round' the stem. It all looked quite artistic, till ono took hold of tho trees, when the least touch knockcd them over. It does seem a pity that so feiv caro to learn how to do things in th# right way. Hero was a man doing according to Ms light, which, after all, was so much darkness. He had not taken tlio trouble to learn'how to do it properly. First, the holes .were too deep and not wide enough, as they required tc 00 sufficiently wido to allow of the roots being spread out. All bruised and long thin roots should bo cut back to a clean end. On no account should manure bo placed directly on tho roots, and - particularly raw manure; it should be either 011' the surface or just below, to allow tho rain, to wash its elements down. Then the trees should not be planted deeper than when they wore in the'nursery: the mark is easily soon 011 the stem. When the tree is placcd in tho hole fino earth shoijld be shovelled, over the roots, and tho tree dumped up and down to Ecttle tho soil among the roots. ' After the roots are oovered, and before the filling up is done, tho tree ehould bo tied to' tho stake, which should, have been previously put in (where one is used), and then "the soil firmly trodden all round. Next comes tho pruning, and "this is where''nearly all. amateurs fail. They are afraid to use the knife. When 1 cut back one of my friend' - trees he said, "Oh!" and thought I had spoiled it. A3 a matter of fact, it is easier to spoil them by leaving too much wood on than by pruning hard. I'suppose it is natural for ono who does not' know to fe?l dismayed when lie sees two-thirds of the nice long, straight branches cut off,:- "It seems such ,a 'waste, you know.". This is an operation that should only 'be done with a sharp knife, to make a clean cut, because if tlig bark is left jagged and bruised it not only dies back,-hut often leaves hiding places for blights and pests of all. sorts. ' ''