4° Journal of Agricidtiire . [ii Jan.. 1909. 



THE ORCHARD. 



Janus Lang, Harcourt. 



During December the weather has been ver) dry, no raiai^ of any 

 cx>nsequence having fallen, and as far as appearance goes, the outlook 

 for January is much the same. Where the surface of the orchard has 

 been kept well scarified and free from weeds, there is still a good supply 

 of moisture in the subsoil which will carry the trees on for some time 

 yet. It will be well to keep the scarifier going after any shower of rain 

 w'e may get, as it keeps down weeds ajid leaves the surface soil in good 

 condition. 



Where water is available for irrigation the trees should be liberally 

 supplied. In a season like the present the advantage of a good supply 

 of water is apparent to all, as trees having plenty of moisture are enabled 

 to mature their fruit to a good marketable size, and are left in a much 

 better condition for next season's crop. 



Gathering and marketing the fruit will now take up a good deal of 

 time. Cherries have been a good crop, and owing to the hot weather they 

 have ripened earlier than usual. Apples will be fit tO' gather for export 

 quite a week earlier than usual. The apple croj> promises to be very 

 good, the fruit so far having swelled up to a good size, larger than usual 

 so earlv in the season, and if the development continues the qualit}' for 

 export should be excellent. 



Bitter Pit has not yet so far affected any of the apples ; it may, 

 however, appear later on. Orchardists should make a note of the time 

 wd:ien they first observe any sign of the disease so far as to know at what 

 stage of the growth of the apple it makes its appearance. Th's disease 

 has become more prevalent of late years than formerly, and no remedy 

 has yet been discovered to check the spread, of it. Scientific observers 

 in different parts of the world ai^e now engaged in investigating the cause, 

 and it is to be hoped that success will attend their efforts, and lead to 

 the discovery of some remedy that will check its spread. 



Spraying for Codlin Moth will still require attention during the 

 month, as the second brood of moths will soon appear, especially in 

 those districts north of the Dividing Range where the climate is warmer. 

 To neglect spraying now, is to undo a great deal of the work already 

 done. Bandages should be examined carefully, every ten davs and all 

 grubs destroyed. This should not be neglected, as many of the grubs 

 have now left the apple and entered the chrvsnlis stage and will soon 

 develop into moths ready to lay a second lot of eggs. 



Where the Woollv Aphis has appeared on the apple trees, the thin 

 spray wood in the interior of the tree, if affected, should be cut out and 

 the diseased parts dressed with the sulphur potash remedy previously re- 

 commended (page 126, February, 1907). 



Newlv planted Citrus trees will require water to help them over the 

 summer ; also mulch around the roots with straw or other litter as it keeps 

 the ground damp for .some time after a watering. 



Budding stone fruits mav be done towards the end of the month, and 

 on through Februarv. Where the bark of the stock does not run freely, 

 give a good soaking of water two or three davs before the operation is 

 to be done. This will cause the bark to rise much more frt^ly, aaid 

 facilitate the success of the operation. 



