THE ORCHARD.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 11, 28 December 1923, Page 3

THE ORCHARD.

[By W. H. Rice and J. W. Collard, in the Journal of Agriculture.] STONE FRUITS. The period of stone fruit harvest will soon be at peak, and marketing 1 of the crop i i the best possible condition should h? the aim. This can be done only by careful selection at picking: time. Once the fruits have attained size for the variety close watch should b2 kept for signs of ripeness. Ripeness from the orchard is tfs point of view is rather different from the ripe condition expected by the consumer. Ripeness for the grower is when the fruit has attained that degree of advancement beyond which it would commence to become soft ripe. On the judgment shown by the picker in selecting fruit which is mature but not soft ofbm depends the difference between profit and loss. It is very rare for all the fruits on any tree to be found in condition in less than three pickings, while it is astonishing to the uninitiated what development tak.es place in the smaller fruits which are left on the tree at first picking. Observation discloses that a large proportion of the over-ripe peaches and nectarines come from the inner part of the tree. Fruits exposed on the outer parts naturally colour up better and are rove readily seen; those in the sheltered parts very rarely take on colour +o indicate riDeness, yet, once they have attained size ripening takes place even more rapidly than with exposed fruits. Close attention should therefore be given to fruit grown on the inner parts of the trees if loss due to over-ripeness is to be eliminated. Careful grading as to size and quality also assists towards presenting the fruit in the best condition. Fruit packed on size reduces the risk of a loose pack and shaking contents and consequent bruising in transit; fruit of the one quality packed together also presents a better appearance. With the risk of brown rot appearing in a ripening crop or developing in transit every effort should be made to counteract this disease. Lime sulphur, 1-125. plus 01b of atomic sulphur, should be applied up to within, sav, 10 d 'vs of picking. Though at all times there is uncertainty of control this mixture is giving the best results of any in use at the present time. Further measures for control are the use of new cas.es, and above | all. the prevention of skin puncture. I After the fruit is harvested the J orchardist should go over the trees, j cut out anv broken limbs, and daub f the, cut with, coal tar to prevent the entry of silver blight. The land can j then be sown down to a cover crop. J 1 Any crop found suitable to the dis- ] • trict is preferable to weeds, but a J leguminous crop should be chosen if , * such can be grown.

PIP FRUITS. Now is the time to concentrate on getting the pip fruit area of the orchard into the most advanced condition. Jf any work falls in arrear at this season it is most difficult to overtake, as picking, etc., will soon demand first consideration. Cultivation should be continued to kill weeds, and most specially, to break the earth crust after any shower of rain. Seasonable pests and diseases to be prevented or controlled are codlin moth, leaf roller, leech (arsenate of lead, lilb to 100 gallons); powdery mildew (lime sulphur, 1-100, or atomic sulphur, sib to 100 gallons); also pruning off all mildew-infected tips if time allows; leaf hopper, red mite, woolly aphis (nicotine, 1 pint to 100 gallons); and black spot (bordcaux, 3-4-40, or lime sulphur, 1-100). With the fruits showing signs of colour it is now more than ever necessary to avoid as far as possible the spray being deposited in drops, otherwise the colour will be spotted. The casein spreaders are best for this purpose, causing an even diffusion of spray often desired but net attained prior to the introduction pf this valuable adjunct. Casein in the crude form requires special preparation, but there are several brands of prepared material on the market. An efficient dosage is Jib per 100 gallons of any spray. There is at this period a market lor the more advanced sizes of such cookers as Alfriston, Lord Suffield, Prince Alfred, etc. Some degree of immaturity is permitted thus early in the season when cookers are in strong demand, size being the main Consideration. Immaturity is not permissible in marketing early dessert sorts, such as Irish Peach, Astrakhan, Quarrenden, etc.; indeed it is to be avoided in them. Fruits arriving in immature condition usually meet with poor demand and injuriously affect the market. When a market opens slack and low it is often difficult to restore confidence or prices. That immature fruit has a depressing effect is well known to those who view' the markets as a. whole; but is not sufficiently recognised by those who each send a few.cases, which combine to cause the effect.

ORGANISATION. Orchard conveyances, packing sheds, grading machines and fruit harvesting gear should now be put in order to receive the crop, cases made up, and preparations made for action generally. Special boxes should be reserved for handling the fruit in the orchard and clean cases used in which to pack the fruit for market. When the cases are used in the orchard they often become discoloured and dirty and bring discredit on -the contents. The movement among growers for concerted action in the endeavour to improve market conditions depends for success a good deal on the individual orchardist. While the main organisation can do much good it must fail in paii; if not altogether, unless supported by the grower perfecting his own orchard organisation hy providing proper packing facilities, materials, etc. While .efforts should be made to economise by reducing marketing costs efficiency should be the keynote; but without forethought and organisation efficiency is interrupted. This w-ill apply with equal force whether the channel of distribution be through a central controlling board, merchant or auctioneer.

CITRUS CULTURE. In groves where lecaniuin oleae scale has not been efficiently dealt with by the early application of red loil emulsion. 1-40, in the spring, a ■further application of this spray f should now be made. Tt is ‘noticeable that quite a'numbev of growers are not dealing with this pest as they should. Some growers have gone so far as to say that spraying with red oil emulsion will not efficiently chock the spread of the scale, but T am firmly of opinion that this troublesome pest can be almost completely controlled by the careful and judicious application of the emulsion at the correct periods. A citrus tree is always a hard tree to spray in an efficient manner, as, owing to its glossy foliage, one is apt to consider that all parts of the tree have been well covered with the spray when such is not the case. In many instances too little attention is paid to the proper covering of the under surface of the leaves, which, especially in the case of the lemon, is the chief breeding' ground of the scale. Again, a large number of growers, who for one reason or another allow their trees to grow too quickly, and in some cases allow- the lower branches to drag right on to the ground, are , preventing to a large degree the i carrying out of proper spraying. Tf two applications of the oil are not sufficient then a third one should be made, applied at (he- time best calculated- to catch young scale on the move. The defoliation caused by the use of oil, of which one hears so much from some growers, is to a very large extent caused either by faulty emulsification or badly-mixed sprays. No doubt also in some instances the defoliation may be traced to weakness in those particular trees. Where the application of bordeaux. 4-4-40, has been deferred, this may yet be applied. s FIREBLIGHT.

It may now be reasonably expected that fireblight will show up in various localities at any time during this season of the year. The second infection namely,’ tip infection may be looked for in apples at any time from now on. It is too early at the time of writing these notes to definitely state the degree of freedom or otherwise from fireblight of orchards in the Auckland district, but it is pleasing to note that up to the present lime only one infection has been identified in the commercial areas. Although this is the case it does not follow- that I any other district will be in such a happy position, and it is therefore necessary to maintain a strict watchfulness over all pip fruit- orchards, I whether they are situated in an area where fireblight has previously been knowui to exist or not. Although fireblight has been existent in New- Zealand now for three j years it is possible that there may be. some growers who have not yet made themselves conversant with the procedure to be adopted in the event of the disease being identified. The disease is easily detected at this stage, whereas later in ther season—during the winter months—it is difficult, and in many cases impossible,.-to locateControl measures consist in the removal of diseased portions of infected trees. On lateral shoots cut some inches below cankers; on larger branches cut out the cankers and all discoloured tissue with a sharp knife. The wounds should then be sterilised with a corrosive-sublimate solution and painted over with coal tar. It is important that all instruments used—secateurs, knives, etc.—should be sterilised after each cut. This is j necessary so that these instruments will not spread infection. All severed laterals, cankered portions, etc., should be immediately burned, for if they are allowed to lie about they will be the source of further infection now and in the following spring. For sterilising knives, secateurs, etc., use formalin, 1 part, and water, 20 parts. Mix and keep in a convenient wide-mouthed receptacle, so that the instruments can be readily dipped in it. Quick immersion will be sufficient to kill any organism likely to be present. For disinfecting areas on the trees that have been cut use corrosive sublimate, J part, and water, 1000 parts. This equals i tabloid to J pint of water. Apply with a small brush. This is a deadly poisonous compound and should not be left lying about. ■ Keep it ir. a glass, or earthernware receptacle—not in a tin—and do not dip 1 knives or secateurs into it, as metal? decompose the solution. As a wound covering' after sterilisation with corrosive sublimate use * pure coal tar. Apply with a stiff brush. It is practically harmless to the tree, and when coated on the wound prevents the entry of parasitic fungi.