ORCHARD WORK

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 205, 15 September 1937, Page 13

ORCHARD WORK

Spraying Must Be Attended To At Once BUD DEVELOPMENT (By Mr N. J. Adamsoii, Orchard Instructor). With tho improretnent in weather conditions there is gfeat activity at present in the orchards and spraying is the order of the day, Bud development may be regarded as fairly lormal although, prior to the recent rains, trees were somewhat retarded. However, movement has beea rapid in the' last few days, and trees are in (it condition now for receiving the flrst fuugicide spray used in the programme ior eontrol of black spot and powdry mih dew. The main apples varieties are at the ''green-tip'' stage of blossum bud developmentj and should be receiving a spray this week. In the case of Jonathan, Stufmer, Cox's, and Dunns, Jime sulphur 1* — 30 is recommended ; other varieties, such as Dougherty and Eelicious particulaply, which are more prone to black spot' trouble, are bettei sprayed with Bordeaux, strength 4 — 50. There should be no delay now in applying a fungicide spray to pears. Bordeaux 5 — 4—50 is recommended for most varieties. There are exceptions, however, when it is desirable to ttse "lime" sulphur in preference tO Boi" deaux, even in the firSt spray, This applies particularly to Josephines, Recent rains Were vei^y benefictal to the orchards, Conditions were certainly very dry for this tittie of the yeaf and, in view of afi antidpated keavy frop, more moisture was reqtilred, The exceptionally dry state of the soil was indicated by the manner in which the rains were so readily absorbed and the comparatively dry state evident so soon following. Early cultivation ts essential now to conserve all available moisture in order to secure the best conditions for tlie development of what should me an exceptionally heavy crop