IN THE ORCHARD.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1714, 3 April 1913, Page 8

IN THE ORCHARD.

Work for April. W illi tho exception of I lie gathering and storing, or packing .shipping, of laic varieties of apples and pears, the 11104. iniporliinl of Ihe summer work in (lie orchard will have been completed. Still, ns tlio lime lor undorlakiug important winter work is approaching, il would 1m as well to arrange for procuring .such supplies of red oil. bluestone, etc.. as may b" fur the winter spraying. The us? of a red-nil spray for Hie control of mussel scale, red spider, and woolly aphis has proved very effective, as well as for (lie control of red spider en peaches, but. il may be as well for the benefit of new subscribers to reneat a warning already given in this journal villi regard to the- use of red-oil sprays. Tho winter strength should only bo applied when the trees aro quite dormant. To spray too early before the growth of tlio season has become properly ripened, especially in. the ease of peaches, will probably produce disastrous results. Cultivation. As tho trees of most classes of fruits are now approaching a, dormant condition, "tlie'y will derive no further benefit from the cultivation of tho soil during the current season. Soil-working in established orchards may. therefore be allowed to ceaso for a time. , / Cover Crops for Orchards. Attention. was drawn in the last issue of this journal to the necessity of planting at intervals a cover-crop of some kind in order to restore to the soil the humus which becomes exhausted, after a period of systematic and thorough cultivation. If such a crop lias not bpen planted- earlier in the season, rape or. mustard may still ba sown with advantage for ploughing under ill the spring. Both are hardy and will m'ako good growth under conditions which would be altogether unfavourable to other vegetation that might ba selected for cover-crops. P.lanting New Orchards. There are but few districts in this Dominion where shelter from prevailing winds is not an important factor in connection frith tho planting of an orchard. If shelter has not been provided, it may even bo preferable in some localities to postpono the planting of an orchard for a season, sot out the necessary shelterbelts, and by manuring and cultivation induce a maximum of growth, so that when the orchard trees are planted the shelter belts will already have becomc well established. There are two periods when the planting of new orchards may be parried out —autuiuu and spring. Many growers prefer autumn to spring planting, but it must be remembered that in any Case tho condition of the soil at the time of planting is a ,most important consideration. ' In some seasons when persistent rainfall sets in early the soil becomes and remains wet and cold, just at the time when the planter has intended to set out. liis orchard. In such instances planting should bo deferred until. spring. In the meantime the trees should be heeled in, a well-drained, block of land 1 being selected for the 'purpose. Tlie preparation of the land for the planting of an orchard should be very thoroughly earned out. Intending Planters should never lose, sight of the fact that an,orchard is intended to be practically permanent, and. that mistakes made prior to planting cannot bo eaily rectified afterword. Drainage is, of course, most important. In some instances tile draining to take tho water iuvay from low-lying sopts may be necessary, but as much of the land that is now being planted is undulating, thus afford- ' ing natural drainage, tile draining will not bo Teqtiired to any great extent. With few exceptions the land should be deeply worked and well subsoi led, foi' in districts where tlio rainfall is not necessarily heavy but at times persistent, even hillside land will lie very wet often for some time if tho soil has only been lightly ploughed. , " Strawberry Planting, _ Tho foregoing remarks with regard to the preparation of the land for an orchard apply equally well to the preparation of land.for strawberry culture, if tho grower desires to secure the best 'possible return from his beds. The plants should bo set out when the soil is moist, ( but in good friable condition. In some districts the month of April is the most suitable time for planting, in others the month of Maj;. As in many'localities, the strawberry is very subject to attack by leaf-spot (Sphaerella fragariae), during the winter months it -is advisable to spray the young plants soon after they' have become well established with the Bordeaux mixture, summer formula. , '' A good thing is soon snatched up."' Tis an old proverb, but true, and it is because the "Anderson" Oil Engines aro good that so many farmers grasp the opportunity of. securing one. The smooth easy running of the makes this engine the ideal power to drive Milking Machines. The engine requires so little attention while running, that a tremendous amount of labour is saved. Thus tho "Anderson" is not only a wageearner, but a wage-saver also. Order an "Anderson" Oil Engine to-day and join the ranks of, tho more prosperous farmer. Every "Anderson" Engine is made in New Zealand. Anderson, Ltd., Christchurch.Advt.