lo JijLV. 1912.] Orchard ami Garden Notes. 453 



ORCHARD AND GARDEN NOTES. 



E. E. Fcscott, Friucipal, Scliool of Horticulture , Burnley. 



The Orchard. 



Planting. 



The planting of deciduous fruit trees will still be continued on the 

 lines laid down in last month's notes. Care should be taken to have the 

 soil thoroughly sweetened and aerated, the roots should be well trimmed, 

 and the young tree firmly planted. Owing to the time that elapses between 

 the removal of the tree from the nursery row and the planting of the tree 

 in its permanent situation, practically the whole of the fibrous and feeding 

 root system has been destroved. Tt will be well to remove all of the finer 

 roots, and to thoroughly trim Itack the stronger ones ; this will allow the 

 tree to make a new root system for itself. 



Stringfellow's method of removing the whole of the roots, leaving only 

 a stub, as referred to in the Journal for July, 1909, is not advocated, but 

 a modification of this might be adopted, whereby the root system of the 

 young tree will be vigorously pruned, in order that no detrimental effect 

 will remain as a result of the transplanting of the tree. It should be 

 borne in mind that a vigorous root trimming will require a corresponding 

 sewre pruning of the head. In trimming or cutting the roots, all cuts 

 should have a downward face ; this will allow, when the wound callu.ses, 

 of a downward growth of roots from the callus. If the wound or cut 

 be on the upper side of the root, in all probability suckering will result. 



In planting a commercial orchard, it has been previously advised that 

 the number of varieties should be limited, and that, as far as possible, 

 these varieties should have a corresponding bloom period. The necessity 

 for cross-fertilization is becoming more apparent each year, and it is now 

 definitely known that cross-fertilization results in greatly increased crops, 

 and also in fruit of an increased size. In the experiments of Waite on 

 the " Pollination of Pear Floweis," and of Lewis and Vincent on '' The 

 Pollination of the Apple," their results were invariably that the largest 

 fruits were crosses. Fruit-growers in this State have observed that where 

 blocks of different varieties of the same kind of fruit have been planted 

 alongside of each other, the adjoining rows of the two varieties have always 

 carried the heaviest crops. Experience is thus against the planting of 

 large blocks of any one \-arietv ; at the same time, the varieties must not 

 be multiplied indefinitely. 



The Jonathan apple is generally considered to be a consistent bearei 

 and self-fertile; but even this prolific variety may be made to largely 

 increase its yield by intermingling with another variety having a similar 

 bloom period ; and it has been found that the Sturmer Pippin is one of 

 the best for the purpo.se. Dumeiow's Seedling, Reinette du Canada, and 

 Stone Pippin also flowei at the same time. For fuller information on this 

 subject reference may be made to the articles in the Journal for January, 

 191 1. 



Pruning. 



Pruning operations will now be in full swing. In pruning the \oung 

 trees, heavy pruning will be required in order to produce strong growth 

 and a good frame 3 but as the tree advances in age. the pruning will be 



