IN THE ORCHARD.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1868, 30 September 1913, Page 10

IN THE ORCHARD.

THE WORK FOR OCTOBER. Tho Gdvbrnmont Pomologist, Mr. W. A. Boucher, gives tho following outline of orchard work for October: — Tho cultivation of orchards that havo been planted in heavy'lands requires careful attention, especially during tho early part of tho season. It tho ploughing bo left too late—in fact, until the spil has become dry—this may bo found to bo almost impossible to pulverise thoroughly. In any such instance'the result would perhaps be worse than if no ploughing had been doue, for if a dry season bo experienced the loss of moisturo would possibly be greater from ploughed land that will not pulverise than from the saxno land left unplougiiod.

Fungus Diseases. Apple-scab (Fusicladium dendriticum), Pear-scab (Fusicladium pyrinum;, and Apple-mildew (Podosphoeru leucotricha). —Spring weather such as is frequently experienced in October proves favourable -to tho development and . rapid spread of most of the fungus diseases that attack fruit and fruit trees, Measures taken, to prevent attack as far as possible are tho only ones that are really satisfactory, it has -been pointed out previously that the samo climatic inlluenccs that induce the swelling of tho buds on orchard-trees also induce the development of tho. dormant germs of tho various fungus diseases that fcause much trouble and sometimes considerable loss to the grower, it is .therefore essential that such treatment should be applied as will severely check ■ilie above-mentioned discuses jn an early stage of development. For this purpose nothing has yet been found that has proved to bo quito equal to tho Bordeaux mixture —10-10-40 formula. Many other compounds have been tried and discarded, bccause, being very soluble, they wero readily washed from the tree's by the first' shower of rain that fell after tho . trees had been sprayed.- With such climatic conditions as are usual in most parts of New Zealand, only a. compound that will adhero ir.. spite' of rainfall can bo regarded as being in any way satisfactory for tho prevention of attack by fungus diseases. Canker (Ncctria ditissima). —A number of specimens havo been received and ■ inquiries made regarding this disease. In any orcjiard' where it has boon found a careful examination of. the trees should be made from time to time during tho spring, and all affected twigs or limbs removed, care being taken to cut back to clean hoalthy wood and liurn all diseased cuttings. This method of treatment, combined with tho systematic iise of the_ Bordeaux mixture, will prove effective in speedily eradicating this diseaso from an. orchard.

Insect Pests. Missel Scale and Red Spidciv Reference to theso pests is mado in order to point out tnat effective measures for their control should have been taken, earlier, and also to warn growers against using the home-prepared redoil emulsion or tho ready prepared ndsciblo oils at tho winter strength when tho buds have commenced to swell. Unfortunately, letters aro received, from timo to .time' indicating that injury lias been.-.caused, to trees that have been sprayed either too,.early, in tho autumn or too late ill the spring. However—but this will apply more to the domestic than to .the commercial grower—if by any mischanco spraying has : not yet been carried out tor tho control of theso .pests, the kerosene,, emulsion applied when tho young insects are on the movo will bo found to bo ail 1 effective remedy. , .Kerosene Emulsion. —:A spring and early summer remedy' for scale insects when: oil'the move, and thrip on citrus and deciduous fruits. Proportions: Kerosene, •: 2 gallons; common soap, ill).: boiling water, 1 gallon. Preparation: Placo tho " soap in the water, which should' by preference; be rainwater. Hard water is unsuitable, but if only- such is to bo had, mako it soft by adding some soda. Boil till tuo . soap is thoroughly dissolved; then take it off the firo and the solution into the kerosene; thoroughly churn up by placing both suction and delivery ends of. the spray-pump hoso in the liquid and pumping steadily for a icu minutes. The emulsion should then, it perfect, .form a 'cream which thickens on cooling without any appearance of freo kerosene. For most plant-lico (aphides) and other soft-bodied insects, such as scale insects, when on the move, from twelve to twenty parts ot water are added to one of the emulsion. Codlin-moth. —In many districts the codliri-moths will bo on tho. wing .before tho: end of this month, although not in largo numbers. Of late years a- vast" amount of good work has been done and-.. considerable sums of -money spent in reducing the ravages of this post. Growers should therefore avoid tho possibility or any increased percentage of fruit being attacked by the'motli. It has come under observation that in some instances, owing to the use of brands of arsenato of lead deficient in insect-killing power, not only the larvae of the codlin-moth, but-theso' of"other troublesome eatinginsects have escaped destruction in spito of.careful spraying. It cannot pay any grower to purchase an inferior brand of arsenato of lead, thus saving a trifle in tho cost per pound, only to find later, after tho necessary sprayings liavo been effected at considerable expense for labour, that tho percentage of' unmarketable fruit is unduly high. Spraying for codlin moth should commence as soon lis possible after the petals have fallen. F lo delay tms first spraying is to invite results more or less, unsatisfactory, especially in tho casoot many varieties of pears, for, should the calyx havo closed before the first application of the arsenato of lead has been made, a considerable loss of crop will almost certainly ensue. Instead of using the combined spray for eatinginsects aud fugnus diseases attacking the apple and pear, some "growers now prefer to apply tho arsenate of lead and tho Bordeaux mixture separately. It is consiQefed that under certain conditions of season and climate tho combination of these spraying compounds may result in burning to a greater or less degree. Although tho increased cost for the labour required to spray ail orchard twice instead of once is .considerable, some growers prefer to incur this rather than risk possible burning to fruit and foliage. / ■ Woolly Aphis.—lt is' now very generally agreed that winter' spraying with the red-oil emulsion has a decidedly beneficial effect in decreasing the viruleuco of the attacks by .this pest. I'urtlier, if tlio winter spraying bo followed v by the painting of any colonies of aplus that may bo noticed (with tho red-oil emulsion undiluted) young trees especially will remain for some considerable ' timo freo, or comparatively free, from ! the ravages of this most objectionable j -pest.

Citrus Fruits. Scalo insects on citrus fruits usually hatch out fjuito irregularly during the months of spring and early summer, so that scalo 011 the move, as well ns scnlo of greater age, will he found often in profusion. In tho case of tho black scalo, which is common on citrus iruits in New Zealand, the protective covering remains soft for some time after tho insnct is hntchccl from tho so tiiat the kerosetio emulsion is effcctiv?

at that stage of existence as well as against the younger insects. Tomatoes. This popular article of diet in most localities is subject to attack by both insect . pests and fungus diseases. Spraying with the summer formula of the Bordeaux mixture and arsenate of lead as for codlin moth will bo found effective against these troubles. In spraying with the Bordeaux mixture special earc should be taken to coat the under sides of tho leaves well.