TREATMENT TO FRUIT TREES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2227, 14 July 1891, Page 3

TREATMENT TO FRUIT TREES.

The proper time to trim deciduous trees, shrubs, vines, etc., is from the time the leaves are all off; when circulation ceases, to the time they start to leaf out again, for the reason that if the tree, vine, or shrub is supporting too much wood, cut out When the sap is down. When the sap flows again this surplus of wood cannot be supported any longer ; hence what remains is directly benefited. This is one of the strongest reasons for pruning in the winter time. It requires long years of observation and experience to be able to discern the diffierent kinds of wood in a tree, and also to know how to properly thin out the trees and leave the tops well balanced. After a tree is properly trimmed it should be. scraped, provided it has old loose bark upon it, and care should be taken not to irritate the sap bark. It should be scraped well up into the branches, and after this is done the tree should be washed as follows :—Take oneforth of air-slaked lime to three-parts of green cow manure, and about tAvo table-spoofuls of pulverised alum to a pail of this wash, and mix together as thick as can be put on a brush.

Thousands of insects house under this old bark and lay their eggs, and when the trees start out they go into the blossoms, and the fruit matures Avith them in it, and that is the reason of so much Avormy fruit. Scraping also opens the pores of the tree, and brings the sap back to the natural heat and rains. Lime Avill destroy the insects and eggs, the coav manure will soften the bark, and the alum Avill help to hold the Avash on longer. The tree, vine, or shrub should also be attented to at the roots, for on these they depend for support. The ground should be loosened around as far asthe small roots go, Avhich is generally as far as the branches extend, and a good amount of old rotten manure should be Avorked in. If it is grases ground, take the sods off carefully and spade in the manure and then replace the sods. If this is done once in six or seven years it Avill be found very effective; but suckers should ahvays be kept out, as they are rightly named,

If the tree, shrub, or vine grows very fast, it is necessary to head it back half its yearly growth, for trees that grow so fast are apt to get barkbouftd and split open and blossom, but seldom bear fruit, as the blossoms fall off. In such instances the trees should be trimmed when in full leaf, so as to cut away life. They should be headeid back well and thinned out ; also dig a trench around the tree 18in deep to a foot wide, cut off every root, then fill up with small stones, cover with shavings or anything that wont rot, and then fill up with loam. This remedy has never failed me yet in many long years of experience in bringing such trees into bearing fruit. Where a tree is din or Sin through the trunk, dig the trench out each way from the tree about 3^ft.