ORCHARD WORK FOR MAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1734, 26 April 1913, Page 8

ORCHARD WORK FOR MAY.

HINTS-BY AN EXPERT,

Discussing the work to be carried out in tho orchard next month Mr. W. A. Boucher, of tho Orchards Division of tho Department of Agriculturojias tho following to say regarding autumn plantm"in some districts the month of May frequently proves suitable for autumn planting: Man} 1 growers prefer autumn to spring planting of orchard lands. Much, however, depends upon the nature of the soil and climatic conditions of tho season whether autumn planting is desirable or otherwise. Two most important considerationg are tho nature of the soil and its condition when tho'setting out oi an orchard is contemplated, in the case of light, free, well-drained soils planting may be carried out in spite of showery weather sometimes experienced during the months of May and June, but in the cnso of raoisture-retenlivo clay lands, even when well prepared, the rainfall will at times'reduce tho land to such a saturated condition that planting should be deferred uiitil spring, when, with dry warm weaA ther, the. <?oil will havo become friable, again and suitable for working. Should fruit-trees ordered 111 the early part of Ihe season come to hand when the land is not in a satisfactory condition for planting, they should be heeled in for the time being, to be lifted again and planted out when the soil hqs become moist and friable. '

"111 some districts of the Puniinioii," Mr. Boucher udds, "the, prunhif: of orchard trees may now ho commenced with advantage. Instances havo occurred, however, where heavy* winter pruning has been commenced when tho trees vcro still in full foliage and the leaves green and, floshy. This practice is one that cannot he recommended, as in time tho removal of ti large quantity of vigorous foliage would react seriously upon tho vitality of tho trees. ' "In some of the colder districts of the Dominion poaches and nectarines will havo shed their leaves before tho end of May. Tn order to protect the trees from attack, by tho fiingils, commonly known as 'die-back,' they should bo thoroughly sprayed with the Bordeaux mixture, 10-

10-40 formula. This is desirable because 'die-back' fungus attacks during the winter months tho bark and buds of the young {wigs of the season's growth—that }c tho fruiting woojl of tho following seayon. From this it will be seen that prospective crops of peaches and nectarines depend very largely upon the caro lifeslowed in keeping the trees free from (lie ilicAise. It is to be noted that the strong winter formula of tho Bordeaux mixture recommended above is not to be applied to the trees until they have shod' their leaves." \