39- Journal of Agncidturc. [to June. 1909. 



ORCHARD NOTES. 



/. Croii'ni, Principal, School of Horticulture. Burnley. 



June and July are the most favorable months for planting deciduous 

 trees in the greater part of Victoria. Early planting is advisable in the 

 hotter and drier districts if the soil is well prepared and in a moderately 

 moist condition. The newly planted trees strike roots early and are able 

 to withstand warm and dry changes that are liable to occur far better than 

 those that are planted a month or so later. 



Where the soil is sandy and porous planting mav be done shortiv after 

 a heavy fall of rain without prejudice to the future success of the trees. 

 In the case of stiff retentive soils that are liable to puddle, if at all wet, 

 it is necessary to wait until the excess of moisture has drained away before 

 attempting to plant. Holes must be made to a depth sufficient to accom- 

 modate the tree as it stood in the nursery row (or slightly lower), the soil 

 must be trodden firmly to prevent subsequent settlement, and must be 

 firmly packed about the roots. The foregoing points make up the proper 

 planting of trees and it is evident, if the work is done while the soil 

 is in a wet and sticky state, that it will bring an adhesive soil to a putty- 

 like condition, and prevent the admission of air. and when drv. in a great 

 measure, a sufficient supplv of moisture to the roots. 



The most suitable soil for the culture of fruit trees generally is a sandy 

 or porous loam overlying a mellow clay subsoil ; the least suitable, the 

 black tenacious soils overlying basalt rocks. Whatever may be the chemical 

 value of these latter soils from a fertility point of view, it is undoubtedly 

 a fact that the physical features are such that fruit trees fail to thrive 

 when planted in them. The results of over fifty years' experience in fruit 

 growing in this State show that scarcely any profitable commercial 

 orchards exist, or have existed for any time, on the black clay loams men- 

 tioned, or on deep, peaty, swamp soils, while good fruit is produced in 

 every part of the State on the silurian or granitic soils, compared with 

 which the deep friable soils of older volcanic origin are decidedly inferior. 

 The sandy soils of the coastal districts are suitable for the culture of pears 

 and other fruits, and alluvial soils are also first class in many districts for 

 fruit growing. The character of the subsoil and clay is often of more 

 importance than that of the surface or true soil, a great depth of which is 

 not necessary for the production of trees that Avill bear fair and regular 

 crops of fruit of high qualitv. Drainage is probably the most vital con- 

 sideration in the culture of fruit trees and vines, and the most important 

 factor in this respect is the tenacity or porosity of the clay, or other bottom 

 soil. It has been often stated that the success of orchards planted on the 

 site of old mining diggings is largely due to the shafts, &c., acting as 

 drains. The same results can be seen in the same districts where no 

 shafts have been sunk. The subsoil is porous and rubble-like and, except 

 in odd instances, never becomes water-logged. The reefs that carry gold 

 bearing quartz are known as silurian and ordovician. 



In addition to the soil consideration, aspect and moisture are very im- 

 portant matters in many parts of the State. In the Goulburn Valley and 

 other districts of a like character the dominating factor is the water supply. 

 Aspect does not require much consideration in such places, but it may 

 mean success or failure in other. A situation, say at Monbulk, where the 

 soil does not receive direct sunlight until mid-day or later is useless, no 

 matter what the soil, drainage, and moisture may be. An easterly or 

 north-easterlv slope is most suitable in such situations. Low situations are 



