5o5 ] oiinud of Agricidiiirc , Victoria. [lo Aug., 191 2. 



There are other varieties of fruits whicli often pro\-e unprofitable on 

 account of their non- or partial fruiting. This sterility or partial sterilitv 

 is to a great extent a varietal characteristic due to underlying causes which 

 may sometimes be remedied by cross-fertilization, whilst in other cases the 

 thinning out of the fruit spurs has often the desired result. In the Diamond 

 Creek district, Keiffer pear is extensively grown, and in many ca.ses is 

 worthless as a cropper. This unprofitable condition generally occurs where 

 the trees are planted in rich soil, producing very vigorous perpendicular 

 growth, and isolated from oiher- varieties blos.soming simultaneously. When 

 planted in poor country, the vigorous growth is checked, and trees often 

 bear well. This varietv is very susceptible to the influence of cross-fer- 

 tilization. Such varieties as Harrington's ATctoria, Howell, Le Coute, and 

 others have proved suitable as a cross with Keiffer. AVHiere this variety 

 is established and has proAed sterile or partly so, a sufficient number for 

 cross-fertilizing purposes should be cut down and re-worked with one of 

 the above varieties. Bailey's Bergamot is another variety often barren of 

 fruit, though blossoming profusely each season, l)ut the writer has brought 

 it into a state of fruitfulness by crossing with Williams' Bon Chretien. 

 Spur-pruning is advised as a remedy for want of bearing in Winter Nelis 

 pear. Earlv Guigne cherrv often proves a very light cropper when grown 

 isolated from other helpful varieties. It, however, appears to be very 

 favourablv influenced by such varieties as Black Bigareau and Early 

 Lyons. 



Coe's Golden Drop plum ''also is prone to barrenness. No definite 

 results have so far been obtained by crossing, but Pond's Seedling is recom- 

 mended as a varietv likely to prove beneficial as a cross. In the case of 

 a young orchard being established containing any of the.se self-sterile or 

 partially self-sterile varieties, suitable trees should be planted near them 

 for cross-fertilization purposes. 



Draining of Orchards. 



It has been said that the better the drainage, the .surer the water supply. 

 This is sound advice, for land well drained and worked is enabled to draw 

 up by capillarv action, and hold, sufficient water for the use of the trees. 

 Unrirained land is cold, and being filled with water in winter time, the 

 beneficial influences of soil aeration are absent. 



In hot weather such soil is generallv caked, hard, and dry, and under 

 such conditions it is not difficult to understand the reason why so many 

 trees " go off " in orchards, and become unprofitable during the existence of 

 such conditions. 



Orchards, to prove highly profitable, must be established under the best 

 possible conditions of soil drainage, either natural or artificial. Few are 

 naturally drained ; parts of them may be, but generally weak or rather wet 

 patches exist, and the trees " go off " in those places. Plate No. 2 .shows 

 a Reinette du Canada apple tree groAving vigorously. This tree was placed 

 in a badly-drained situation, and did not make any satisfactory growth 

 until a drain was laid and the tree cut back. The strong growth seen in 

 the photo, is the direct result of the work. 



In a perfectlv-drained orchard, the trees develop uniformly. In fact, 

 when looking along the rows of trees in such orchards, it is difficult to notice 

 any difference in the general appearance of the trees of same variety 

 and agi8. Plate No. 3 shows two rov^s of such trees. It will be seen that 

 these trees are thrifty in giowth and even in general development. This is 

 the kind of orchard that proves profitable — every tree being able to produce 

 maximum crops. 



