576 Journal of Agriculture. [9 Sept., 1907. 



THE ORCHARD. 



James Lang, Harcourt. 



General rains having fallen during the past month, the ground is now 

 in good condition to facilitate operations in the orchard. Where peas have 

 been sown for green manuring they should be ploughed under as soon as 

 they are in bloom. In the event of the weather setting in dry the ploughing 

 in should be done at once, as it is very difficult to make a good job when 

 the ground gets hard ; this applies more especially to those districts north 

 of the Dividing Range, where dry weather sets in fairly early. To choose 

 the right time for this work the orchardist must, generally speaking, be 

 guided by prevailing weather conditions in his district. 



Where it is intended to apply artificial manure to the orchard, it should 

 be done just before ploughing. Attention is again drawn to the table of 

 manure values published in the February number of the Journal. By 

 consulting this orchardists can always obtain the best value for their 

 money in the purchase of manures ; regard should be given to the quantity 

 of potash contained in the orchard manures offered for sale — a larger 

 percentage of potash would be an improvement. 



Pruning should be finished earlv in the month, even in the latest 

 districts. Planting also should be completed. It is better to defer plant- 

 ing till next season than plant too late, for the trees as a rule do not 

 establish themselves before the dry weather sets in, and cannot therefore 

 make a satisfactory gro'Wth unless well looked after in the way of watering 

 and mulching. 



Grafting should also be done this month. Any old trees of unsuitable 

 varieties should be headed back and regrafted with a variety more suitable 

 to present market requirements ; this should not be neglected, as there is no 

 profit in growing fruits that will only realize a low price in the market. 



Spraying will occupy a good deal of time during' the month. Where 

 red oil or crude petroleum is being used, do not apply them after the buds 

 burst, or great injury will be done to the trees ; these are winter sprays 

 and should not be used during spring or summer. Spraying with Bordeaux 

 mixture for Black Spot {fusicladium. dentriticum) will also require attention 

 towards the end of the month ;■ the spray should be applied just 

 when the trees are bursting into bloom. The Black Spot has been more 

 than usually prevalent during the past season, and has appeared in some 

 districts which have been free from it for many years. No time therefore 

 should be lost in checking its spread. Where the Black Aphis has put in 

 an appearance peach trees will need spraying. Kerosene emulsion and 

 tobacco wash are the best remedies to keep this pest in check. For curl in 

 the leaf, spray with Bordeaux mixture as soon as it appears. Bordeaux is 

 also the best remedy for the shothole in the apricot and should be applied 

 just when the buds are bursting. 



Citrus fruits may be planted, and they will do better now than if put 

 in during the winter. 



Strawberry beds may still be formed ; there will be less trouble with 

 weeds now, but fruit during the first season will be verv little. 



