COMMERCIAL FRUITGROWING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1754, 20 May 1913, Page 10

COMMERCIAL FRUITGROWING.

AN EXPERT'S VIEWS. . Discussing tho question, of the establishment of commercial orchards a representative. of a southern paper was given some interesting information by Mr. Courtier, ono of tho Government fruit experts who had tho following to say.— "Tho best distances apart to plant trees are: —Apples, IS to -0 feet (131 to 100 trees per acre); pears, 20 feet (100 trees per acre); peaches, 18 feet (134 trees per acre). I consider that the system of planting on tho square is the best for al general purposes. As regards the actual planting of the trees, an important point is to cut oil all crushed and broken roots ; uo not plant, too deeply, not deeper than the trees were planted at tho nursery. Don't ,bo afraid to firm and tramp he ground above the roots well, but the top. inch or so of soil may bo left looso lo catch moisture and provent the ground from cracking. Tho trees should I* cut hard back after planting to within 3 or 'A inches of the prenoii.-, season's growth. I think that tlio total cost of getting a commercial orchard ready and planted with trees would be about .£7 ' per acre. 'Phis would he tho cost ot doing things on a fairly large scale; planting an aero or so would ho. a littls more expensive. Tho estimate.of £7 per acre is made up as follows:—Preparing etound, wC2 10s.; trees (say) iM; planting 10s. When the orchard is planted tho. cultivator and harrow may bo kept Koms and the weeds abolished. While the trees are young there is no harm in planting potatoes, onions, and such like crops between the rows. Putting in small fruit trees, sucli as currants and gooseberries, is rather a waste of time becauso they will have to come out in a few years time, when the trees get big. If it, is found that the fruit trees aro growing too luxuriantly and vigorously, at the expense of the fruiting qualities, it is not a bad plan to sow clover between tho .rows. This crop absorbs much or the moisture in the ground, checks the growth of tho trees, and sets the tree to fruiting. When the desired object has been attained, the clover can be ploughed in, and will form a good dressing of green manure.' An orchard should r>9 in piofitable bearing in about six to eight years, and I think that a fair estimate ot the average net profits, taking tho good year?, with the bad, is .£3O per aero. Sometimes it may be a great deal more than this, and it should seldom be much below .it. The estimate is made on the condition that the orchard is looked after properly ou modern and scientific lines. If care is not taken the owner may register a loss, and not a profit. Too much stress cannot be laid upon the question of pruning; it is most important that this bo done properly, and its chief use is to ensure regular crops. If pruning is (lone well, the orcliardist will not get bumper crops one vear and failures tho next, but should 'bo able to count on an average return each season. ,A sharp lookout must bo kept for diseases and pests, and, briefly I may classify, them as caused bv\ (a) eating and chewing pests, ()>) sucking pests, (c) fungoid diseases. lioughiv the. remedy for the first is nisenato of lead spray; (b) red oil spray for winter, and kerosene emulsion for summer; (c)' Bordeaux mixture and lime and sulphur washes for a winter dressing.