FARM AND GARDEN,

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 163, 31 July 1886, Page 5

FARM AND GARDEN,

Pruning Fruit Trees (Concluded), Thesb shoots, 'thus'" shortened, will produce from two to four oaore shoots tho following year, and the tree, if this practice is continued) will soon assume the appearance as if, grown to form part of a fence. If the top of the tree gets too thick I would thin out one-half, or even more, if necessary, of the previous year's growth, and cut back such shoots as may be necessary to preserve the desired form, trying at all times to develop fruiting spurs. * The peach trees, > especially where the leaf curl is prevalent, will be frequently filled with small dead branches, and < small ■ branches that perhaps have borne fruit ■ the previous year ; these should all be cut away,. and it will occasionally be found necessary to cut back the old wood quite severely in order to obtain a new growth of healthy wood. The great consideration in pruning is to keep sufficient good fruiting wood for the incoming season, and at the ?ame time promote sufficient new growth for the following season's crop. The peach produces its fruit on the shoots formed the previous season. By this practice the peach, which is generally considered a short-lived tree, may be retained in a good healthy condition and produce good crops of fruit for many years. Of all kinds of pruning lam most in favour of summer pruning of fruit trees, and lam quite certain that where it has been once tried and properly carried out the best results are obtained. While the tree is growing all unnecessary or worthless shoots can easily be removed, and by a judicious pinching or cutting back shoots that are making too much growth for the symmetrical habit of the tree we may force it to make a stronger growth where nesderL and save the necessity of cutting out an unnecessary amount of wood the following season, at the eanae time causing a number of those pinched or cut shoots to make flower-producing buds for next season. The aboveespecially applies to apples, pears, and plums. As for the peach trees, they are inclined to make growth from the extremity of the branches and produce their fruit buds there also, and if lett to themselves they soon become unsightly objects with long naked branches and the new growth of fruiting wood at the extreme ends. By careful summer pruning, cutting back the leading shoots, the tree can be kept in better shape and strong upright growth obtained nearer the main branches, also nearer the ground, instead of at the extremity of long branches, which are liable to get broken or »plit when loaded with fruit. I believe that the apricot, which is not very productive in the Auckland district, could (where planted on suitable soils) by a judicious summer pruning be made to bear fruit with as much regularity as any other tree. I consider that the pruning and the manuring of fruit trees should be one of the questions that all parties who plant fruit trees should try and master as far as possible, as on these die future well-being and cropping capabilities of Itheir trees must depend ; and I would add, in conclusion, that what is worth doing at all is worth doing well. A neglected orchard is not only unprofitable but is really an unsightly object. A wellcultivated, well pruned, and properly cared for orchard is a source of profit as well as affording the highest enjoyment to its owner. We in New Zealand have got much to learn about the cultivation of fruits suitable to our climate. But the different fruit growers associations springing into existence will do much to place matters on a better basis Destroy the Insects. Orchardists must soon begin to examine their fruit trees if they wish Bound fruit the coming season. The Codlin moth and other insect pests remain comparatively dormant through winter, and can be destoyed more easily at the approach of warm weather than at any other time. Thorough scraping of trees is recommended when any loose bark, old or new, is seen on the body or main branches of the apple, pear and quince: When the proper time arrives place bands of sack, cloth or old carpet round the body of the trees, one band two inches above the ground and the other below the forks, or, still better, an old sack being thrown into the forks of the trees, so as to entrap larvro of the Codlin moth at the very time they come out of the fruit to build their nests. The bands should be examined every ten days from the middle of January till the beginning of June, and a last time during the winter. These two very simple rules are regarded as the best way yet devised for fighting the Codlinmoth and checking its ravages. Washing the trees alone will not prove an effectual preventative of the Codlin moth, though it may be. beneficial. Reliance must be had principally on the scraping of the trees and the use of the bands. Our people should go to work at once, ecrape the trees whenever they need scraping, and be ready to entrap the larvre of the Codlin moth at the very time they are preparing for anothor brood, and in this manner save the largest part of their crop of fruit, whatever it may be. Horticulturists should take an interest in this matter and each one attend to it, for it is not encouraging for one orchardiat to work diligently while a more indolent neighbour is neglectful. Mobs on Fruit Trees. The different parasites which grow and nourish upon fruit trees are not only detrimental to the health of trees, but ore a great drawback towards obtaining good crops of fiuit. Moss and lichens grow very freely on a good number of fruit trees. These stop up the pores, cauhing a considerable amount nf miachief every season, .giving, also', splendid cover for the different insect pests to harbour in and propagate themselves., Immediately after the winter or rest pruning has taken place, all trees infested by 'mosses should receive a thorough overhaul; | The, moss growing on the trunk: and main, branches should be scraped off ' with : a pieoe of hoop iron 1 , takiqgeare riot'to cut into the bark. ; Afterwards, give.; all the „Jimbs it 'good , wash with > J thicky< f mixture - of-; lim"e> -JlndV; '-' "jiso?4^r¥alho l 'S h'syringjei -*; email branches pw'i^aV', a w)tK lime- water, , afterwards dusting them r with dry* lime.

The above treatment will not only get rid of the mOBB,m 088, but will also be the means of destroying the laryce of .a large number of insectß. Lime is! the t cheapest fand most effectual method of killing all moaa or fungoid growth j besides, when waahed off the trees, it supplies a valuable manure to the roots, and most soils around Auckland are deficient of lime.