CLEAN UP THE TREES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1022, 12 July 1930, Page 28

CLEAN UP THE TREES

WINTER SPRAYING lu the production o£ clean, sound de-1 ciduous fruits the spraying of the! trees at different periods is necessary, j During the winter when scale insect, i red spider, woolly aphis and the spores of fungi are resting, actiou should be taken to destroy the pest. After the trees which have been infected have been pruned they should be sprayed with a solution of red oil and nicotine sulphate. It will cleanse the branches of red spider, aphis and scale. One gallon of red oil. and a pint of nicotine sulphate (blackleaf 40) should be diluted in SO gallons of water. A little extract of soap will help break the oil globules and induce a satisfactory mixing. Usually it is necessary to spray apple and pear trees with the oil solution. They should have attention immediately after pruning. About three weeks later they should receive a spraying with full strength Bordeaux mixture for the purpose of destroying the spores which cause black spot. Bordeaux mixture consists of 41b fresh quicklime, 61b bluestone, and 50 gallons of water. The method of preparation is important. In one barrel with half the water dissolve the bluestone, and in another the lime in the balance of the water. When the ingredients have been dissolved they should be run at the same time into a larger barrel. The mixture is then ready to spray over the trees. Experienced growers are of the opinion that spraying against blackspot Is not done soon enough for the best results. They favour treatment before there is signs of bud expansion. Bordeaux mixture has also been found effective in the case of leaf curl of peaches.