THE ORCHARD

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 6

THE ORCHARD

The Principal of the School of Horticulture, Burnley, id writing in the Victorian Agricultural Journal, gives some valuable information in regard to apple culture, and points out to growers the necessity of planting the< varieties of apples that are most suited tc their respective localities and climate. One of the most important changes effected in Victoria has" been the reduction of kinds and varieties of fruits grown, and the increase of those that are suited to the place and the requirements of the various and most profitable markets. The problems of management have been decreased, as it has been found easier to learn ihe peculiarities and. wants of a few varieties than of a great number. A market for the disposal of the crop is now more readily found, and buyers for export or manufacture seek the growers who have large quantities of the kind and class of fruit they require. The writer further says that a good keeping and carrying apple that is not fit to ship by the middle or April at latest is not likely to pay as an export variety, and an average price of about 9s per case must be obtained to afford a fair profit after all expenses are paid. Cox's Orange Pippin is stated to bo one of the most profitable of export apples, judging by prices obtained in London, but, so far as the southern districts of Victoria are concerned, the Jonathan is considered the best variety to plant, and comparing Jonathan with Cox' 6 Orange Pippin the latter produces (states the authority mentioned) about one bushel of export fruit to the three produced by the Jonathan. Another apple strongly recommended for Australasia is the Northern Spy. The tr"ee is a vigorous grower, though a shy bearer when young, but producing good crops of excellently flavoured apples when mature, if properly treated. This apple tree is said to be thoroughly proof against the attacks of the woolly aphis, and is now generally used, by nurserymen as ». stock on which other varieties are budded or grafted. In New Zealand, where the rainfalj is fairly heavy and the climatic conditions generally ccol, the woolly aphis ds certainly one of the worst pests of the apple grower, and the Northern Spy should therefore be a good variety for farmers and others to grow who have limited time tc devote to the orchard. A point of interest is supplied by a writer in the New Horticulture, in which he 'states that the method of planting deciduous trees with as many roots as possible is wrong, and that the roots should nearly all be removed as well as the head, leaving little more than a stub at each end, and after planting and the earth returned, a rammer should be used to solidify the soil. This opinion is mainly confirmed by the principal of the School of Horticulture, Burnley, who says that the roots may safely 'be cut back to within three inches, of the stem, the head being treated accordingly, and this authority states that he has practised this method of planting for many years, and can therefore vouch foi its correctness. New Zealand has, during the last few years, very largely increased its output of apples, and many more orchards are being laid out every year, co that the experience of experts fn our sister Commonwealth should be of value to those engaged in orchard culture in this Dominion.