446 Agricultural Gazette qf N.S.W. [June 2, 1920. 



Orchard Notes* 



June. 



\V. J. ALLEN and W. le Gay BRERETON. 



Planting. 

 Provided the soil is in good condition, well prepared and neither too dry 

 nor too wet, the present month is a good time for planting all deciduous 

 trees. The reasons for planting as early as possible after the trees are 

 dormant were pointed out in last month's notes. 



Care should be taken that the roots of the young trees are not allowed to 

 dry out between the times of digging up in the nursery and planting. Any 

 damaged roots should be removed before planting. The centre of the hole 

 should be kept high and the roots spread around this small mound with a 

 downward tendency. 



Use moist fine surface soil for filling the hole, and see that this is worked 

 in close and firm around the roots. When planted, the trees should be cut' 

 back hard before the buds burst. This is done in order to start the head 

 between 15 and 18 inches from the ground ; also because some of the roots 

 have been lost in transplanting, and those that remain are not established 

 and cannot be expected to maintain all the top grown during the previous 

 season. A pamphlet on laying out and planting an orchard may be obtained 

 free of cost on application to the Under Secretary and Director, Department 

 of Agriculture. 



Pruning. 



All deciduous fruit trees will be in fit co^idition for winter pruning this 

 month. To make the best use of the season, it is advisable to work first on 

 the stone fruits that make the earliest start in the spring, leaving the later 

 starting pome fruit for subsequent treatment. 



Some hints on pruning stone fruits were given in last month's notes. As 

 the tree comes under very close observation during pruning, the orchardist 

 should keep a close lookout for any pest or disease that may be attacking it, 

 marking the tree for special treatment where necessary. 



Orchard Burners. 



It is as well to draw attention again to the use of orchard burners ; this is 

 the cheapest method of disposing of the prunings. Directions for converting 

 an old square iron tank into a burner were published in the Agricultural 

 Gazette for June, 1918. 



Winter Spraying. 



The annual winter application of lime-sulphur (winter strength), or 

 Bordeaux mixture, for the control of peach leaf curl can be delayed until 

 July, except in the case of early blossoming varieties, such as Bell's 

 November, or Edward VII, which should receive their application now. 



Though Bordeaux mixture is equal to litne-sulphur, if applied while the 

 trees are dormant, for the control of peach leaf curl, the latter is preferred, 

 as it also checks the spread of San Jos6 scale. 



Harvesting. 



If prices warrant, it is well to lighten the load of orange trees by marketing 

 the fruit that is coloured and up to size. Lemon trees should be gone over 

 regularly, and any fruit picked that is fit. 



