64 Journal of Agriculture . [8 Jan., 1908. 



THE ORCHARD. 



James Lang, Harcourt. 



The splendid rains wiiich liave just fallen will be of incalculable benefit 

 to the fruit crops which in very many cases were suffering from the pre- 

 vailing dry weather. The rain came in time to be of the greatest benefit 

 to the fruit crops. It is not very often that such copious rains fall at 

 this season of the year throughout the State, and it is possible after this 

 break in the weather that we may get frequent showers throughout the 

 summer and so keep the fruit growing and allow it to swell off to a 

 satisfactory size. It will be necessary to again scarify the orchard, if 

 possible, while the ground is moist. This will prevent the surface from 

 caking and conserve the moisture longer than would otherwise be the 

 case. 



Spra\ing for codlin moth will still require attention, at fortnightly 

 intervals. The second brood is now hatching out, and careful spraying 

 is necessary to keep the moth in check as far as possible. Where woolly 

 aphis is showing the trees should be gone over again and dressed with 

 the potash sulphur remedy. 



Gathermg and marketing the fruit will now take up a great deal of 

 the time of the orchardist. Although croi>s are much lighter than usual, 

 the increased prices obtained will help to make up for the deficiency in 

 quantitv. Tho^e growers who intend shipping to the London and German 

 markets should make early arrangements for cool space. The London 

 market is likely to be very good this season, as the supplies from 

 America have been very much below the average of previous seasons. Owing 

 to the American shortage, the market will be practically bare of apples 

 when the con.signments from the Commonwealth reach London and good 

 prices are sure to l)e realized for all shipments arriving in good con- 

 dition. When packing their first consignments shippers should be careful 

 to see that the fruit is clean, especially from the bitter pit. The disease 

 named ahvays develops more in the first two consignments than in the 

 later shipments, and is a cause of great complaint from the London Inivers. 

 Extreme care should therefore be exercised in seeing that the fruit is 

 free from this disease. Vegetable Pathologists throughout the world have 

 been devoting a great deal of time to ex^^eriments in trying to find out 

 the cause of this disease, but so far without any definite results. 



In looking over the account sales of fruit received from London last 

 season one is struck wnth the good prices realized by some of the early 

 ripening varieties of apples. Such kinds as Gravenstein, Kentish Fill- 

 basket, Lord Nelson, Puricv, Reinette de Canada, and Emperor Alexander, 

 arrived in good condition and brought from ten shillings tO' twelve shillings 

 per case. This shows the care now taken b}' the Shipping Companies in 

 regulating the temperature of the cool chamber as a few years ago it was 

 impossible to land these early varieties of apples in anything like good 

 condition. The best prices, however, were realized for Jrmathan, Cleopatra, 

 Munroe's Favourite, Esopus Spitzenberg, Newtown Pippin, and London 

 Pippin, and the grower who can ship these varieties in quantities will 

 always realize the best average price. 



