476 



Journal of A(//-/cii/i lire, Victoria. 



10 Aug., 1916. 



of Munroe's Favorite, Cleopatra, Adams' Pearmain, and Nickajack tiees 

 have been grown to maturity, found wanting, and cut down in certain 

 southern districts of Victoria owing to this cause, although they are 

 mostly prolific bearers when cultivated north of the Dividing Range. 



Preparation of the Land. 



When the preliminary essentials — locality, site, soil, and climate — 

 have received consideration, attention should be directed to the prepara- 

 tion of the land. 



If it is decided to plant on virgin soil, which is mostly preferable, 

 the land, if timbered, should be cleared, and all roots carefully removed 

 to a depth of about 2 feet. This facilitates deep plougliing and sub- 

 soiling operations, and prevents the spread of the root-fungus (Ar miliaria 

 mellea), which, if not treated, soon attacks the roots of the young fruit 

 trees, becomes a menace to them, frequently causing their death in a 

 remarkably short time. This fungus, being saprophytic, is capable 

 of living on the dead roots of the forest timber until those of the young 

 trees are reached. 



Plate 5. — Slickers at Work. 



The removal of the roots also reduces to a minimum the opportunity 

 of the apple root-borer {Lejitops Hopei) attacking the roots of the young 

 tresa. To eradicate this pest from the orchard area before planting 

 operations commence, no suckers or undergrowths should be allowed to 

 vegetate. They should be dug out and burned rather than ploughed 

 under. 



Clearing operations are n:ore easily carried out during winter than 

 at any other time, and when this work is completed in early spring the 

 land should be ploughed and subsoiled, if possible.* The latter opera- 

 tion alters the original formation of the subsoil, assists drainage, which 

 tends to aerate the soil, more moisture is retained during dry weather, 

 thorough cultivation is facilitated, and finally trees planted on soil 

 treated as described thrive better, come into bearing sooner, and produce 

 more uniformly heavy crops of fruit than those cultivated under less 

 congenial conditions. 



* Except whore the sub-.soils are loose and offer free drainage. 



