Jan. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 65 



Orchard Notes, 



January. 



I 



W. J. ALLEN and W. le G. BRERETON. 



Most of the fruit areas had more or less beneficial rains durins: December, 

 and it is to be hoped that care has been taken to see that as little as possible 

 of this has been lost to the trees either by evaporation or through the growth 

 of weeds. This will have involved the use of cultivators and hoes. Such 

 weeds as summer grass grow very quickly at this season, and where it has 

 happened that repeated showers have prevented the use of the cultivating 

 implements, allowing these weeds to grow beyond the control of the cultivator, 

 the plough will have to be brought into use. Tt is in such cases that light 

 multiple ploughs are very useful, as it is obvious that this work must be 

 pushed through quickly, or much loss of moisture will occur before it is 

 completed. 



Any of the land near the trees, both young and old, that cannot be reached 

 by the cultivator or plough should be worked and kept clear of weeds with 

 either the pronged or fiat hoe. The conservation of moisture in the soil for 

 the trees at this season is important, not only in order to mature the hanging 

 fruit, but also for the formation of well-nourished fruit buds for next 

 season. Consequently it is bad policy to neglect the early varieties from 

 which the fruit has been gathered. 



Seed for Cover Crops. 



In the districts where the rainfall is generally sufiicient, or where irriga- 

 tion is practised, it would be wise to order the necessary seed now. On the 

 coast the Grey field pea is giving satisfaction for this purpose; but for inland 

 parts the trouble is to get a crop which will give sufficient growth before 

 it is time to plough it under in July, and so far rye has not been surpassed 

 in this respect. 



Budding. 



Provided the sap is running freely, budding of either nursery stock or old 

 trees can be carried out this month. Where old trees to be worked were cut 

 back at the end of the winter, they should by this time have made plenty 

 of young shoots mature enough to bud into. 



The bark of these shoots is not thick, and should offer no diflSculty, even 

 to the novice, but it is wise to work more shoots than will ultimately be 

 required for the formation of the new tree, as there is likely to be some loss 

 from heavy winds and other causes. Moreover, with thick limbs, if at least 

 two shoots are left, one on the top and one on the bottom side, the sap is 

 kept moving on both sides, and there is no chance of the bark dying away on 

 one side. If both are budded, both resultant shoots should be trained in the 

 c 



