10 May. 1918.] Orchard and Garden Notes. 317 



ORCHARD AND GARDEN NOTES. 



E. E. Pescott, F.L.S., Pomologist. 

 The Orchard. 



CuLTIVAiTION. 



Cultivation work should be well on the way by this time. The 

 ploughing should be advanced, so as to leave plenty of time for other 

 orchard work. Autumn ploughing may he rough, but care should he 

 taken to plough to the trees, so that a drainage furrow is left between 

 the rows. 



Manuring. 



It is just possible, where heavy crops have been carried, that a top 

 dressing of stable manure will be required to add humus to the soil. 

 The fertility of the soil must be maintained; and, although stable and 

 chemical manures as a general rule are of undoubted value as tree stimu- 

 lants, well-cultivated and thoroughly tilled land will always carry fair 

 crops with far less manure. Further, if the orchard land is well 

 drained, cultivated, and sub-soiled, any manures that are used will be 

 far more beneficial to the trees. The more suitable the conditions that 

 are given to the trees, the better they can appreciate and assimilate 

 their food. 



Perhaps the most useful and valuable of manures is stable manure. 

 It is of great use, not only as a manure and as an introducer of neces- 

 sary bacteria into the soil, but its value in adding humus to the soil is 

 incalculable. Organic matter, such as stable manure, introduced into 

 the soil quickly becomes humus; this greatly ameliorates and improves 

 soil conditions. It is impossible to say what quantity of stable manure 

 is necessary per acre; that can be determined only by circumstances. 

 Orchards in different climates and varying soils will require differing 

 quantities. A too liberal use of stable manure will be over-stimulating 

 in most cases, and at all times an excess beyond Av^hat is necessary for 

 present use will only be waste, as humus is readily lost from the soil, 

 once it is in an available food form. 



It has been pointed out in these notes previously that an improved 

 physical condition is far more profitable to the fruit-grower than the 

 continued use of manures. A tree will be far more productive if it is 

 happy in its soil conditions; uncomfortable conditions will always result 

 in unprosperous trees. 



A dressing of lime, using about 4 or 5 cwt. per acre, is of great value 

 in stiff or heavy orchard lands; and it may be given at this season. The 

 lime, which must be fresh, should be distributed in small heaps between 

 the trees, covered with a layer of soil, and allowed tO' remain for a few 

 days before ploughing or harroAving in. 



Pests. 



The advice given last month for spraying should be followed, particu- 

 larly where any oil emulsions or washes are to be used. 



