TH6 JOURNAL 



OF 



T^fte department of Mgncufture 



OF 



VICTORIA. 



Vol. XVI. Part 3. 11th March, 1918. 



APPLE CULTURE IN VICTORIA. 



By J. Fdrrell, Orchard Supervisor. 



(Contiimed from page 8S. ) 



GrEEA' MANrRING. 



Besides siipph'ing plant food, green manure improves tlie physical 

 condition of most soils, and particularly those deficient in liumus. It 

 has the effect of consolidating loose, sandy soil, and the soluble plant 

 food is thus retained in the humus provided by the green manure instead 

 of being washed out by heavy rains. The incorporation of vegetable 

 matter in stiff clay soil causes its particles to separate, and this alters its 

 physical condition to a more friable character. 



Pertile soils teem with minute organisms or bacteria and these 

 produce continual changes which have a beneficial influence on the 

 growth of the trees. Bacterial activity is largely affected by the amount 

 of organic matter present, the quantity of soil moisture, and temperature. 



The intense soil cultivation, so essential to the growth and produc- 

 tivity of apple trees in this country, has the effect of exhausting rather 

 ({uickly the supply of humus. Where stable manure is not procurable, 

 crops for green manure should be grown between the trees and ploughed 

 in to replenish the supply of humus. Leguminous plants such as peas, 

 beans, vetches, &:c., are most suitable for green manuring on account of 

 their power of accumulating their own nitrogen. These plants are 

 faA'orable to the growth of organisms, colonies of which develop in the 

 nodules produced on their roots. These organisms collect nitrogen as 

 they multiply in the nodules. The plants should not be ploughed under 

 until they have arrived at the stage of having accumulated their maxi- 

 mum of cell sap. This condition usually occurs about the time the 

 plants are in full bloom. 



The field pea (Pisum arvense) is much used by our orchardists for 

 green manure. The peas are usually sown broadcast, and lightly 



1293. 



