IN THE ORCHARD.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1662, 31 January 1913, Page 8

IN THE ORCHARD.

WORK FOR FEBRUARY. Dealing with the work to be carried out in the orchard during February, Mr. W. A. Boucher,, of'the Department ot Agri',culture, says thut occasionally orchards of young trees are seen .where the cultivation of the soil has been entirely neglected. It is, says Mr. Boucher, a great mistake to suppose that because the trees have commenced to bear, the labour mid of keeping the soil free from growth of weeds and grass is not justified, During the warm dry months of summer clean cultivation, of the soil is absolutely essential in order that the trees maj; have the- full benefit of the, moisture in the 'soil; in tho caso of young trees to develop their growth, and in the case of older trees to develop both growth and crops. Spraying for codlin moth will no longer bo necessary in the case of some of the earlier ripening varieties of apples, but the vigilance of the orohardist must not be relaxed to prevent infection of laterripening varieties. In most districts of the Dominion a fairly heavy flight of moths is usual about the middle of February. In spite of all previous efforts to keep the moth under control, if the fruit is not protected by a coating of arsenate of lead, in anticipation of this flight, a more or less considerable percentago of • loss by infection may still be experienced. In districts where humid climatic conditions .have, been experienced during the month of February considerable losses of Jsome varieties of apnles have been occasioned owing to bitter-rot of the apple. Unlike apple scab, or."black spot" as it lis sometimes called, which attacks the , fruit in-tho early part of tho season, bitter-rot will hardly bo noticed until the fruit has commenced to ripen. Development then is rapid, and no time must be lost in taking the necessary measures for control by spraying with tho Bordeaux mixture, 4-5-50 formula. ,' With-the continuance of warm weather, the Iceclv pest will still find ample opportunity for doing n considerable amount of injury to the foliage of pear, cherry, and plum trees unless the leaves have bren well protected : asainst attack by spraying with arsenate of lead. Serious iniur'v to foliage even late in the season will affect the vitality of the trees during the following season.