THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 101 



from the ground and the first three shoots are allowed to grow. The 

 next year two buds are selected that will send out branches to form a 

 circle, and the shoot is cut off just above them. The following year 

 two more buds are selected from each branch, to fill up the gaps, and 

 divide the space equally all around. The tree then is vase shaped, to 

 give each branch an equal share of sun and air, as no one branch can 

 shade another. By allowing the sun to shine right down into the tree, 

 the wood on the lower part of the branches ripens and develops fruit 

 buds, and by the time it comes into bearing the fruit is clustered round 

 the bottom of the branches, and the upper parts can grow strong and 

 be pruned back sufficiently each year to make them fairly stiff. No 

 branches should be allowed to start more than two feet to two feet six 

 inches from the ground. They will then bend over with the weight of 

 fruit without breaking, and all pruning and picking can be done from 

 the ground. 



After sufficient branches are provided care must be taken to encour- 

 age laterals at a fair distance apart, to allow free air space. The manner 

 of treating the laterals and fruit spurs depends on the variety of fruit 

 and growth of wood. As the branches grow they need a greater length 

 of wood left each year, and when sufficiently long the ends are left 

 uncut to check the growth. It is in the placing and treatment of the 

 fruit spurs and laterals that the skill and intelligence of the orchardist 

 is required, and no department of orchard work pays as well for the 

 exercise of brain power as this. 



It is the custom of the best orchardists in Tasmania to prepare laud 

 for planting by first digging under drains four feet deep, along the 

 hollow places, and plowing across them to a depth of seven to eight 

 inches, and following with a subsoil. The most effective tool is an 

 ordinary two-horse swing plow with the mold board removed, and a 

 narrow share put on. The sole plate acts as a "mole" plow, and leaves 

 a good drain leading to the under drain. This prevents water logging 

 and promotes a vigorous growth, and encourages the main roots to go 

 down into the broken sub-soil, where they are not so exposed to changes 

 of weather. 



The ordinary distance apart for planting is from 6| feet to 18 feet, 

 according to the vigor of growth. . Fullv 95 per cent of Tasmanian 

 orchards are now planted with BLIGHT-PROOF STOCKS. The 

 method adopted bj^ all leading nurserymen is to take all roots that can be 

 obtained when digging up nursery stock and graft a piece about 4 inches 

 long on to a Northern Spy scion. These are planted about 2 to 4 inches 

 apart, in rows 2 feet apart. The next year they are taken up and 

 replanted in rows 3 feet apart and spaced 9 to 10 inches in roAvs. During 

 the summer they are budded with the required varieties. These stocks 

 are found to be practically immune from woolly aphis, and it is an easj^ 

 matter, by spraying with kerosene emulsion or other suitable material, 

 to prevent infestation of the branches. It is by attending to these 

 rules that Tasmanian apples have won so high a place in the world's 

 markets, foi- fiavo;r and quality — W. E. Shoobridge, Commissioner from 

 Tasmania. 



