142 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Feb. 2, 1920. 



Orchard Notes* 



February. 



W. J. ALLEN. 



Little or no cultivation is necessary during this month, except where irri- 

 gation is practised. The most important v/ork will be the handling of the 

 main crops, and the picking, packing, and marketing of same. Attention may 

 be drawn to the fact that many growers fail to realise the importance of picking 

 their fruit early in the mi^rning, when it is cool, gradii g it whde it is 

 cool, .nd packing it while it is cool. If growers would adopt this method 

 they would be well recompensed for early rising by increased returns. 



The great necessity for grading cannot be too strongly emphasised. It 

 may be mentioned that certain Sydney fruit agents have brought under the 

 Department's notice the effect which grading has on the j)rices realised on 

 the market for fruit. In half-cases of certain recent consignments there was 

 large fruit of good quality, mixed with small and indifferent fruit. These 

 half-cases were difficult to sell at 4s. 6d. ; on the other hand, there was a big 

 demand for well graded apricots, which realised from 10s. to 12s. per half- 

 case. 



Zante currants will be ripe at the end of this month. Care should be taken 

 to allow the bunches to ripen thoroughly before picking. Some varieties 

 of pears, such as Williams, will be ready for picking at the beginning of the 

 month. This pear should be picked when it is green. 



Work in the Citrus Orchard. 



While this is considered one of the best months for carrying outfum gation, 

 under no circumstances should it be done if the trees are out of condition 

 through lack of moisture in the soil. A tree suffering from drought, or want 

 of cultivation, can easily be damaged by either spraying or fumigating. 

 Fumigation should be carried out at night, or during the cool part of the day, 

 always avoiding hot days. During recent years we have carried out fumiga- 

 tion work in March and April, so as to avoid the hot weather of February. 

 This seems to have been satisfactory, and the scale has been killed and the 

 trees kept free from damage. 



In citrus orchards, where good rains have fallen, it is now a good time i o 

 plough. On steep hillsides, and where land is liable to wash, shallow plough- 

 ing (the ground being left in the rough) seems to be the best practice. 



It has been found in the coastal districts that this month is a suitable time 

 to apply artificial manures to citrus trees, especially where the trees have 

 received a good supply of moisture. 



