ORCHARD NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 May 1939, Page 3

ORCHARD NOTES

SEASONAL OPERATIONS IN THE WAIRARAPA. SPRAYING AND PRUNING. The following information relative to seasonal operations in the orchard has been supplied by the Government Orchard Instructor at Masterton, Mr M. Davey. Spray Bordeaux mixture 5-4-50 or Bordeaux powder 1 lb to 8 gallons to control the following diseases: Leaf Curl in peaches and nectarines; shothole or scab on apricots; Black Spot on apples or pear scab; Cane Wilt and Leaf Spot on raspberries; Leaf Spot of currants and Botrytis of Gooseberries. The effect of the above sprays applied at this time of the year is to clean up debris of infected foliage and spores of fungi over-wintering on the trees, providing a clean start prior to spring spraying.

Spray Emulsified Oil 1-20 to kill scales on apples, pears, black crprrants, and raspberries.

Spray Lime Sulphur 1-5 to control scales on stone fruit trees, raspberry and loganberry canes. A top dressing of fertilisers such as blood and bone, fowl manure or other organic manure can be made to the trees to replace depleted plant food. Lightly forked in round the trees, with the action of winter rains the plant nutrients will percolate to the roots, and stimulate growth in| tne spring.

It may be noted that where copper sulphate solution such as Bordeaux mixture is employed unless a wood container is available, a large proportion of the soluble copper is lost. This can be prevented by covering with ordinary paint the sides of tin vessels when used. It should also be noted that when oil sprays are used in conjunction with other sprays such as Lime Sulphur, the fungicide must preceed the use of oil sprays otherwise the fungicide must preceed the use of oil sprays otherwise the fungicide is shed from the surface of the trees by the oil.

Pruning can be commenced from now on without detriment to the trees. All diseased and exhausted portions of the trees should be removed, and a general shortening back of last season’s growth practised.