25S Agricultural Gazette of N.S. W. [Mar. 2, 1908. 



Orcl]ard I\otes. 



W. J. ALLEN. 



March. 



The most important work t(i \)^ cuiiicd out this montli is the harvesting of 

 fruit, preparing the land to receive covci' (•ro])s, atteiidiiig to pests, and tin- 

 preparation of land whicli is to be planted tliis coming winter, as also tlie 

 ordering of the necessary trees. 



For those who are exporting apples, the earlier in the month the fruit 

 can be sent to London the bettei- are the chances of its bringing good prices, 

 as when the season is normal to early, the early and medium markets are 

 usually better than the late ones, as it happens at times that some of the 

 earlier summer fruits clash with the late sliipments of apples, and it is 

 therefore well for exporters of apples to liear this in mind. 



See that all fruit is well graded as to colour and size, and packed neatly 

 and closely in nice, new, clean cases ; the latter to be neatly branded before 

 they leave the packing house with the name of the variety, the grade — that 

 is whether thc^y are selected, specially selected, or choice ; but never put first, 

 second, or third grade, as the quality of all grades should be equally good — 

 the only difference being in the size and colour. 



Some varieties of fruit when picked under-ripe will, during certain seasons, 

 develop black spots, on the voyage, similar in appearance to the bitter pit. 

 It is therefore best to see that such varieties are not picked uiiiil they are 

 ripe, in which case tlie fruit is not so liable to become so marked. 



During the beginning of February splendid soaking rains fell all over the 

 coastal area, which up to that time had suffered from a prolonged drought, 

 ard many of the older citrus trees were languishing. The splendid rains have 

 caused most of the trees to freshen up, and the fruit is fast filling out. Not- 

 withstanding the dry weather experienced, there are some very fine apples 

 and pears in many of those orchards which have received good attention, and 

 where the trees are not very old. These fruits, when ])laced on the mark(>t, 

 are bringing very higli prices. 



Where it is the intention of the orchardist to sow cover crops this fall 

 among the trees or vinps, it will be well to have the land prepared and the 

 crop put in by the end of this month. Grey field peas, black tares, and lye 

 may be sown, the last-named variety being the quickest-growing crop. Last 

 season's expei-ience taught us to put this -crop in early in the fall, and get it 

 ploughed under earl) in the spring, while the land has sufhcient moisture left 

 in it to plough well. 



Fruit Hi/, wherever prevalent, must receive unremitting attention. It is 

 well to place tins containing kerosene around the trees which are carrying 

 fruit, in ordei' to trap as many flies as possible. 



Coaling il/o^/t.- Continue to examine the bandages on all trees in orchards 

 carrying fruit, and for a few days after the fruit is picked ; occasional grubs 



