^86 Journal of Agriculture. [8 July, 1908. 



interfere with the appearance of the fruit when set. Their effect on the 

 fruit is somewhat similar to that caused by the use of too strong a spray. 

 The apples become rusty, and, as the tissues expand with the growing 

 apple, a well defined frost zone is impressed upon the fruit, and even if 

 not mis shapen its color is rendered unattractive. Frosts occur on calm, 

 still nights. The warmer air rises, and the colder and denser air flows 

 down the slopes to the lower levels. This air movement, to a very great 

 extent prevents frosts, and the grower on the sloping land is more advan- 

 tageously situated than the one in the valley, where the cold and frosty 

 air is likely to he pocketed. 



Soils. 



A good sandy or light loam with plenty of humus and a nutriti\e clay 

 subsoil is, generally speaking, the most congenial ipr apple growing ; 

 though, amongst the different varieties, some will have a pronouiiced pre- 

 ference for different soils. 



Between the surface soil and subsoil there should be no hard pan, as 

 the fibrous roots of the trees in attempting to pass through such a stratum, 

 perish, either by being choked in summer by its contraction, or drowned 

 in winter. Nearly all the silurian and granite formations, and the alluvial 

 soils dependent on them are exceptionally suitable for apple orchards. 

 Land on which the peppermint, stringy-bark, messmate, and the she-oak 

 grow, though poor in quality, is eminently adapted for fruit culture. 



The texture or physical condition of the soil is more important than 

 even its fertility. By the judicious application of chemical manures we 

 can more economically increase its fertility than its mechanical activity. 

 The absence of humus from, sandy soils renders them too loose and leachy, 

 and from clayey soils too cloddy. To supply this want, farm-yard manure 

 must be added at regular intervals, or green-manuring operations carried 

 out whenever required. 



The subsoil plays a more important part in fruit growing than probably 

 in any other phase of agriculture, since the roots of fruit trees feed at a 

 much greater depth than those of cultivated plants generally. Hence, 

 before setting out a plantation, it is imperative to determine the charac- 

 teristics of the sub.soil, as, upon its congeniality and suitability, to a great 

 extent depend the life and vitality of the tree. 



On the red soils which have no subsoils accessible to the roots of apple 

 trees, this variety of fruit cannot be grown at all comparable to that grown 

 on granite and silurian formations who.se subsoils are rich in plant food. 

 Trees on the red soils are immoderately rapid in growth, and uncontrollable 

 even under the most skilful and practical management. They are so late 

 in coming into bearing that the grower's patience is exhausted and his hopes 

 destroyed, before he can secure a remunerative return. This at least has 

 l>een the experience of growers who planted in such soils, and who had 

 thought at the out.set to have had ideal environments for the raising of 

 apples. Whereas, trees grown on such soils as recommended above are 

 kindly in growth, obedient to management, early in maturing, and generous 

 in production. 



Preparation. 



Having .selected his site the grower must be exceptionally particular in 



removing all the roots of native timber before planting, as from these the 



fungus Armillaria mellea spreads to the roots of the fruit trees, and, in 



a remarkably short time, causes their death. Throughout the State the 



