Mar. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W, 221 



Orchard Notes* 



Marcb. 



W. J. ALLEN and S. A. HOGG. 



Preparing Land for Planting. 



If intending planters have not already prepared their land, no time should 

 be lost in doing so. It is always advisable to have the land ready some 

 considerable time before planting. Such work as clearing, grubbing, 

 ploughing and subsoiling should be carried out very thoroughly. In some 

 districts, particularly near the coast, the fungus disease known as Armillaria 

 mellea attacks many of the roots of our native trees, and if allowed to remain 

 in the soil young citrus trees which may be planted subsequently are likely 

 to suffer. Autumn has been found very suitable for planting citrus tree* 

 in our coastal districts, but in the case of low-lying frosty situations it has 

 been found that spring is preferable. 



Harvesting. 



During this month the picking, packing and marketing of fruit will be 

 general. iSuch fruits as raisin grapes and sultanas should be ripe at the end 

 of the month, but care must be taken not to pick them until the berries have 

 obtained their full maximum of sugar. Prunes also will be ready for picking^ 

 and processing, and in many places apples and pears should be picked and 

 despatched to market or for cold storage. In the case of apples and pears 

 — particularly the former- — a certain proportion of fruit will be unsuitable 

 for market but may be profitably utilised if converted into pulp. This 

 requires an outfit, which, it is understood, can be procured at a small cost 

 from some of the leading merchants in Sydney. Whei-e pulping is not 

 practicable, the fruit may be dried, but in this case a small evaporator will 

 be required. 



Grading and Packing Fruit, 



The necessity of grading and packing fresh fruit as well as dried fruit 

 cannot be emphasised too frequently. The fresh fruit should be picked 

 early in the morning, if possible, when the fruit is cool but dry ; should it be 

 damp it must be allowed to dry before packing. The cases should be 

 lined with clean paper, and in the case of high grade apples, pears, peaches, 

 nectarines, lemons, or oranges it is preferable to wrap them individually. 

 The cases should be packed to their utmost capacity, care being taken tO' 

 avoid putting more in a case than will allow of the lid being firmly 

 pressed down to keep in contact with the fruit and so prevent it moving 

 during transit. 



In packing grapes at least 24 lb. should be packed in a grape case (half 

 bushel). The attention of the Department was lately drawn to an instance 

 where such packing to capacity was neglected. A certain grower forwarded 



